Junior Bridesmaid Dresses: How to Include Younger Girls
By Kennedy Blue | Bridesmaid Dresses in 70+ Colors, Sizes 00-32 | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step guide to choosing junior bridesmaid dresses, setting age guidelines, and coordinating younger girls with your bridal party without the guesswork.
Quick answer
Treat junior bridesmaids as their own category: typically ages 8 to 12, included in the party but wearing a dress that fits a still-growing body. Choose a style that echoes your bridesmaid look in a simpler silhouette, order through a size chart rather than guessing, and give the junior bridesmaid a say in the final pick so she feels part of the group.
Set an age range before you set a dress budget
Most families use 8 to 12 as the junior bridesmaid window, with girls younger than 8 often serving as flower girls and teenagers usually wearing the same dress as adult bridesmaids. Decide this early because it changes how many dresses you order and whether you need a separate junior size run. If the girl is close to the cutoff, ask her parents what she would be comfortable wearing for a full ceremony and reception.
Pick a silhouette that respects her age and the wedding tone
A junior bridesmaid should look connected to the bridal party, not like a miniature adult. A simple A-line or sheath in the same color family reads as coordinated without feeling mature. If your bridesmaids are wearing a bold neckline or high slit, choose a modified version for the junior dress. Kennedy Blue offers junior-appropriate options within its bridesmaid line, and the Ava dress is a good reference point for a softer, boho look with flutter sleeves and a low back that still feels young.
Use the size chart and order for growth
Junior bodies change quickly, so measure at the time of ordering and avoid buying several sizes up. A dress that is too large can be harder to alter than one that is slightly snug. Check the size range for the specific style; Kennedy Blue carries sizes 00 to 32, but not every dress is available in every size. If the dress has adjustable features like a tie back or straps, that gives you a little room without a major alteration.
Coordinate color without matching the adults exactly
You can keep the junior bridesmaid in the same color as the bridesmaids or place her in a lighter or darker shade of the same hue. That small difference signals her role without making her feel singled out. If you are using a color palette, bring a swatch to the fitting so the junior dress reads correctly under venue lighting. For a coordinated look, the same chiffon fabric across the party helps everything photograph well together.
Let her try the dress on before the final order
A junior bridesmaid is old enough to have opinions about how a dress feels when she sits, walks, and raises her arms. If your store offers an at-home try-on, use it. The Discount Ready-to-Ship Fatima is an example of a clearance option that ships immediately, but note that clearance dresses are gently worn at-home try-on dresses and may have minor imperfections. For a junior bridesmaid, a ready-to-ship dress can be a practical choice if the size and color work, but inspect it on arrival.
Step-by-step: including a junior bridesmaid
- Confirm the age and role: Agree with the parents on whether the girl is a junior bridesmaid or flower girl, and note her age. Common mistake: assuming a 13-year-old wants a junior dress when she may prefer to match the adult bridesmaids. Checkpoint: the parents and the girl both know what she is wearing and why.
- Choose a dress style that fits her age: Select a silhouette that mirrors the bridesmaids but with a more modest neckline or sleeve. Common mistake: ordering a scaled-down version of an adult dress with a high slit or deep V. Checkpoint: she can sit, walk, and dance comfortably in the sample.
- Measure and order the right size: Take fresh measurements and compare them to the specific dress size chart, not her everyday clothing size. Common mistake: buying two sizes up for growth, which creates expensive alterations later. Checkpoint: the size chart for that exact style confirms the fit.
- Coordinate the color with your palette: Use a swatch to match or complement the bridesmaid color, and decide whether she wears the same shade or a lighter one. Common mistake: ordering from a screen without checking a physical swatch. Checkpoint: the junior dress color reads correctly next to the bridesmaid dresses.
- Do a try-on and inspect the dress: Have her try the dress on with the shoes and undergarments she will wear, and check seams, hem, and any clearance imperfections. Common mistake: skipping the try-on and discovering a fit issue the week of the wedding. Checkpoint: the dress is comfortable and event-ready before final alterations.
Kennedy Blue styles that work for junior bridesmaids
- Ava: Kennedy Blue Ava is a boho bridesmaid dress with a V-neck, pleats on the bodice, flutter sleeves, a sheath skirt with slit, low back, tie feature in back, and boning in the bodice. It accommodates a height of up to 5'11". The flutter sleeve and tie back make Ava a gentle, age-appropriate option for a junior bridesmaid who wants a dress that feels special but not overly mature.
- Discount Ready-to-Ship Fatima: Discount Ready-to-Ship Fatima is a clearance bridesmaid dress in select sizes and colors with chiffon fabric, spaghetti straps, a square neckline, gathered bodice, A-line flowy skirt, and pockets. Clearance dresses are gently worn at-home try-on dresses and may contain minor imperfections. If you need a junior bridesmaid dress quickly and the available size and color work, this is a budget-friendly route, but you should expect possible minor wear and check the dress as soon as it arrives.
- Morgan Mother of the Bride Dress: Morgan Mother of the Bride Dress has a high-quality chiffon skirt, embroidered bodice, V-neck, slightly off-the-shoulder 3-inch sheer straps, V-back, flowy A-line skirt with slit, and pockets. While Morgan is designed for mothers, its embroidered chiffon and A-line shape show how a similar fabric and silhouette can tie the junior bridesmaid into the wider wedding party look.
