Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals and Baskets
23 Adorable Alternatives to Petals For Your Flower Girl to Toss
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No matter how much thought you put into your wedding hair and makeup look, your youngest family members can so easily steal the show at a wedding. Maybe it's the itty bitty dress clothes, but flower girls and ring bearers are often the most memorable part of a ceremony. So take advantage of the fact that all eyes are on these little helpers! In particular, being thoughtful about what your flower girls are carrying with them and tossing as they walk down the aisle. Baskets filled with rose petals are the most common flower girl accessory, but it doesn't have to be that way. There are plenty of basket alternatives and alternatives to petals to explore with your flower girl, to add a touch of romance or whimsy to your ceremony, or even to save money. Some of them can even double as wedding favors.
A few things to keep in mind: If you're having an outdoor ceremony, you'll want your flower girl's petal alternatives to be biodegradable and animal safe, or be ready to clean them up after the ceremony. And if you're having your flower girl toss a petal alternative that's heavy or hard, you might want to do some practice sessions to make sure they've got the hang of dropping items gently, rather than hurling them into the crowd. (That's why some basket alternatives are a good idea — that way, your flower girl just has to carry an item, rather than master the walk-and-throw.)
Without further, ahem, "I do," here are 23 alternatives to petals and basket alternatives for your flower girl to tote down the aisle.
— Additional reporting by Mirel Zaman
1 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Eucalyptus Leaves
400+ Pcs Dried Real Eucalyptus Leaves ($17, originally $20)
This biodegradable petal alternative has a ton of perks. The leaves carry a mild but soothing fragrance, and they're safe for outdoor weddings without needing to be cleaned up. They're also sturdy enough to withstand little fists, and flutter to the ground so beautifully.
2 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: A Confetti Flutter Stick
Confetti Flick Flutter Sticks ($22, originally $26)
You can hand these out to guests for post-wedding (they come in packs of 20), or give them to your flower girl(s) to wave as they walk down the aisle. The tissue paper confetti is biodegradable, and will float so prettily with a simple wave of the hand.
3 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Dried Flowers
Flower Confetti + Cones ($9 and up)
Choose between different colors of dried flowers to perfectly match your wedding palette. The confetti is easier for little flower girls to grab and toss than petals, and the colors look so beautiful floating down into the aisle. You can funnel the flower confetti into cones and hand out to guests to use instead of rice once the ceremony's over, too.
4 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Autumn Leaves
100 Autumn Leaves ($48)
If you're having an autumn wedding, you could simply fill your flower girl's basket with leaves from outside. But if you're in short supply, these dried leaves in the perfect assortment of colors will do. They're great for outdoor weddings, because you don't have to worry about cleaning them up.
5 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Mini Pinecones
Mini Pine Cones ($5 and up)
Another perfect touch for a fall wedding: mini pinecones. They're small enough to let your flower girl get a good handful, and they won't need to be picked up after outdoor ceremonies. They offer the perfect rustic autumn touch. Just encourage your flower girl to sprinkle them as she walks, not hurl them toward guests — you don't want anyone to get hit.
6 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Bubbles
150 pack Mini White Double Heart Bubble Bottle ($30)
This requires some coordination. But if your flower girls are up for the task, have them blow bubbles as they take a slow stroll down the aisle. It never fails to elicit a chuckle from guests. They can use any brand of bubbles (or a bubble gun, for less coordination), but this option comes in a 150-pack, so you can hand them out to guests for after the ceremony too.
7 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Travel-Themed Confetti
360 Pcs Map Confetti Hearts ($12, originally $13)
These cute idea is perfect for couples who love to travel or who are making travel part of their theme. The heart-shaped cutouts from maps let you carry the theme through your walk down the aisle in an unexpected way. But it's best for indoor weddings, since you'll want to sweep these hearts up after.
8 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Mini Starfish
Tiny Starfish ($7 and up)
If you're having a beach wedding, this detail will absolutely delight your guests. You can place a bulk order of six, 12, or 25 pieces (and you can make multiple orders, of course). Arrange them on either side of the aisle before you walk, or have your flower girl drop them as she heads toward the altar.
9 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Pastel Biodegradable Confetti
Biodegradable Wedding Confetti ($4)
This pastel mix is the perfect pretty alternative for a pastel-themed wedding, and it's biodegradable to boot. Each sheer circle will flutter to the ground so gracefully, even if your flower girl is grabbing by the handful.
10 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Gold Confetti
Gold Ivory Confetti Mix ($17)
If your wedding colors include gold, this biodegradable confetti is perfect for you. A lot of biodegradable confetti is plain white or pastel, so we love this gilded option, which lets you make a statement even for outdoor weddings, without worrying about the impact something like glitter might have.
11 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Rice Paper Confetti
Snow White Water Soluble Rice Paper Biodegradable Confetti ($13)
You can choose between different colors of this confetti, but we're partial to the snow white. The light rice paper mimics petals almost perfectly, and is totally biodegradable.
12 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Heart-Shaped Tissue Paper Confetti
White Tissue Paper Heart Confetti ($8, originally $10)
We're all for tiny, thoughtful details to elevate a wedding, and this heart-shaped confetti is a great one. Your guests may think it's regular petals at first, but then they'll notice the tiny hearts — and their own hearts will melt a little. And yes, it's biodegradable.
13 Flower Girl Alternatives to Petals: Wooden Leaves
Fall in Love Table Confetti ($13)
This is another good option for fall weddings. Have your flower girl drop these wooden leaf cutouts, which are printed with a romantic message. Sprinkle some around the guest book table too to extend the theme.
14 Flower Girl Basket Alternatives: A Personalized Lantern
Personalized Wedding Lantern Centerpiece ($43)
This option lets your decor to double duty. Have your flower girl carry a lantern down the aisle — it gives her something to swing, and if you pop a faux candle inside will cast a romantic glow. Then pop the same personalized lantern on your guest book table or the bride and groom table so guests can get a closer look.
15 Flower Girl Basket Alternatives: Heart Balloons
6-inch Red Color Heart-Shaped Latex Balloons ($12, originally 15)
A bright red heart-shaped balloon is the perfect surprising touch. You can tie it around your flower girl's wrist (if she's younger) or have her carry a whole bunch down the aisle with her, and tie them to a chair at the reception that night. You can buy latex or foil balloons, but you'll want them filled with helium.
16 Flower Girl Basket Alternatives: Personalized Parasol
Personalized Parasol Custom Text ($49)
Rather than have your flower girl carry a basket of items to toss, have them stroll down the aisle carrying a sweet customized parasol. Less pressure on the little one, no clean-up after the fact, and it still makes a big and memorable impact.
17 Flower Girl Basket Alternatives: A Faux Candle
SOFTFLAME Flameless LED Candles ($9, originally $18)
Have your flower girl carry a (faux, for safety) candle down the aisle with her. This is especially beautiful if your ceremony is taking place in the evening or in a dimmer building — the flickering light adds a ton of romance to her walk, and is sure to bring a smile to everyone's face.
18 Flower Girl Basket Alternatives: A Floral Hoop
Blushing Rose Carrying Hoop ($80)
Another flower girl alternative is a pretty carrying hoop like this one. You retain the wedding-y floral element and it can be swung to create movement, without the mess of petals.
19 Flower Girl Basket Alternatives: A Sweet Sign
Lillian Rose Comes The Bride Flower Girl Ring Bearer Sign ($12)
Another alternative for flower girls is a simple and sweet sign, that alerts guests the bride is about to make an appearance. This is a great option for younger flower girls, who may struggle to walk and throw — especially when all eyes are on them.
20 Flower Girl Basket Alternatives: Pinwheels
Solid Pastels Double Layer Spinning Pinwheels ($14)
For a summery or more casual wedding, having your flower girl walk down the aisle with a pretty pinwheel or two can be a great alternative to tossing flower petals. The pinwheel will spin as she walks, creating a blur of color like petals soaring through the air — without creating any mess.
21 Flower Girl Basket Alternatives: A "Magic" Wand
Flower Girl Wand ($28)
What flower girl wouldn't love to walk down the aisle swishing her very own magic wand through the air? Tell her she's spreading some very special love magic, and she's sure to keep the streamers flowing the whole way down the aisle.
22 Flower Girl Basket Alternatives: A Dog — and a Festive Leash
Wedding Dog collar ($26)
If you're incorporating your dog as part of your ceremony, having your flower girl walk them down the the aisle, holding a decorated leash, offers a perfect alternative to petals.
