Nicki Macfarlane talks weddings and flower girls

With the wedding season upon us, I’ve asked fashion designer Nicki Macfarlane, known for dressing flower girls, bridesmaids and page boys for celebrity and society weddings, to share some of her thoughts on how to dress and prepare flower girls:

How many flower girls do you think is ideal for a wedding and what is the typical age range?
Nicki Macfarlane: It really all comes down to the bride and who she wants to include in her big day. One thing we have learnt is that there is no such thing as a typical wedding! My very first client had 22 bridesmaids, so that was quite an undertaking, but then we had another wedding with 35! Thinking about how old they are, it’s most important to make sure that the dresses are appropriate for their age and they can carry out their role as part of the ceremony. Weddings are such a joyous occasion and it’s crucial that everyone feels comfortable with what they have to do and have fun doing it.

What are the best options for brides who want to add a touch of colour and link the flower girls outfits to the wedding theme?
Nicki: As with everything it’s crucial to listen carefully to what the bride is looking for. It’s her big day and she should feel totally comfortable with every part of the occasion. We start the process by sitting down with the bride and discussing her ideas and wedding theme. We then build on those until we find something that works. It could be with the choice of the main fabric for the dresses or a splash of colour in the sash or bows that are part of the design. Clever use of accessories such as shoes and hair bows can also bring the theme’s colour into their outfits. My personal favourite is little girls in different shades of sweet pea colours in the summer and red or navy with a metallic sash in the winter!

What are the most popular dress styles in your collection?
Nicki: At the moment a big seller is the Imogen. The 3D flowers make it so summery and fresh. Another, which is perfect for slightly more grown up bridesmaids is Mia. It has a wonderful, twirly tulle skirt and lace bodice with a neat belt.

A personal favourite of mine is the Eleanor dress, and the fact that it looks so totally different in the two colourways, we just love the elegance of this dress. And also the Francesca with the cloud-like organza sash. I love the vibrancy of it in Firecracker and Blue Moon colours. When it comes to our clients, lots of them fall in love with the Serena dress in an almond or our Mirabelle dress in Larkspur. Both dresses compliment the majority of wedding themes without being to bold or detracting from the bride.

What advice can you give to someone who will have the important role of being a flower girl this summer?
Nicki: Quite simply it would be to make sure they have an amazing time and enjoy the day. Weddings are always magical occasions, and even after 30 years of making dresses I still get that buzz of excitement from helping someone with their special day. The flower girls are a huge part of that and they should enjoy their day in a beautiful dress too, nearly as much as the bride!