Despite the staunchness of marriage, the institution is still subject to changing trends. Rituals fade in and out of popularity and marriages have changed over the years as a result. Weddings have changed, too — as have wedding parties — and flower girls are no exception. Over the years, the role of the flower girl has evolved.
Anna Post, the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post — a socialite who became an etiquette columnist and founder of the Emily Post Institute Inc. — described the modern-day role of a flower girl in an article for Inside Weddings (via The Emily Post Institute). Post explained that the flower girl follows the ring bearer and is the last member of the wedding party to walk down the aisle, laying out a path of flower petals for the incoming bride.
This is the flower girl tradition popular today, but the roots of the role are a little bit different and not very well-known.