Possibly the cutest part of your wedding is having little flower girls and page boys toddling down the aisle with petals or a ring cushion. But although it’s a big day for you, it’s an even bigger day for those little cherubs and it’s important to make sure that they’re comfortable, happy and confident in taking part in your wedding.

First off, you’ll probably want to keep the number of kids in your bridal party to a minimum. Let’s face it, they say never to work with children or animals for a reason! If your ceremony is taking place at nap time then you might want to re-think your choice of child… it’s not fair on them or you to have a sleepy, grouchy, probably snotty kiddo stomping down the aisle!

Next, give them age-appropriate tasks. Keep it simple and they’ll be happy just to be involved. Traditionally, the page boy carries the ring cushion up the aisle and then hands it over to the best man for safekeeping. Flower girls can carry baskets of petals or mini bouquets. Quite honestly, their main goal is simply to look gorgeous and that’s an easy job!

A good tip is to get a few photos of the kids before the ceremony, while they’re still full of energy and freshly dressed! Wonderful candid photos can be taken throughout the day, with the children playing, dancing and pretending to be the grown ups. Don’t expect them to stand and pose for lots of photos just because they look the part!

When thinking about wedding outfits, there are lots of options these days, even on the high street. Again – keep it simple. They’re going to be running around for most of the day and don’t want to wear constricting, itchy or stiff clothing. And be prepared for it to get messy too: grass and mud, food and drink, and definitely cake! Don’t pay a fortune for kids’ wedding outfits or you will be on edge all day trying to stop them ruining them, and that’s no fun for anyone.

You can colour co-ordinate flower girl dresses to your wedding dress or your bridesmaids’ dresses, and page boy outfits to the groom and groomsmen’s suits. Or you can stick to black and white to make it easier to find cheap options. If you find it impossible to match the right colours then simply use matching bouquets and buttonholes to co-ordinate. For shoes, flats are better for little girls, and even black trainers can do for boys. Remember: comfort is paramount!

Make sure your flower girls and page boys try on their clothing before day – off-the-peg outfits can vary hugely in size for different age groups, and you might want to make a few adjustments or exchange something. You can even rent flower girl and page boy outfits, although you may worry even more about losing your deposit to stains and rips that way!

And remember to get your flower girls and page boys a very special present for their efforts – weddings can be overwhelming for little ones, as well as being hugely exciting and special for them too.