Lace top flower girl dress

A floor-length ivory ball gown for flower girls aged 2 to 14. Features a sheer illusion lace bodice with botanical appliqués, butterfly cap sleeves with scalloped edges, a crystal rhinestone waistband, lace-embroidered hem border and a satin back bow. Also available in white.

There are four specific details that make this lace top flower girl dress stand out from comparable options at this price. The butterfly cap sleeves with their scalloped petal edge. The crystal rhinestone waistband running across the front at the high waist. The botanical lace appliqué border that traces the entire hem of the ball gown skirt. And the sheer illusion lace that covers the full back of the bodice, closed with a column of pearl buttons and finished with a long satin bow at the waist.

Each of those details would be enough to set a dress apart on its own. This dress has all four, and a ball gown skirt with enough volume to create the kind of photographs that wedding parties keep for decades.

Product Details

• Colour: Ivory. Also available in white
• Silhouette: Full ball gown, floor-length, sweeping to the ground with exceptional volume
• Neckline: Round neckline with a clean edge sitting comfortably at the base of the neck
• Bodice: Sheer illusion lace with botanical leaf and vine appliqués covering the full front and back bodice. The appliqués are raised and precisely placed throughout
• Cap sleeves: Butterfly-style cap sleeves that fan outward from the shoulder with a scalloped petal edge, creating a soft wing shape. The sleeves use the same lace as the bodice and continue the appliqué pattern
• Rhinestone waistband: A continuous row of crystal rhinestones running across the front waist at the high waist join, creating a sparkling belt effect
• Sash and back bow: A satin ribbon sash ties at the back waist into a clean, structured bow with long trailing tails that drape down the back of the skirt
• Back closure: Pearl button closure running down the centre back from the neckline to the waist
• Skirt: Full-length, exceptionally voluminous tulle ball gown skirt with cotton and satin underlining for maximum fullness
• Hemline detail: A border of botanical lace appliqués in a scrollwork and floral pattern traces the entire hem of the skirt, creating a defined lace edge all the way around
• Underskirt: Not required. Optional underskirt available at additional cost
• Materials: Polyester, tulle, cotton, lace, satin
• Sizes: Ages 2 to 14 years
• Occasions: Weddings, First Holy Communion, pageants, formal portraits
• Care: Hand wash recommended. Do not bleach

See the Dress on a Little Girl

The video below shows this dress worn by a child model, giving a clear sense of how the ball gown silhouette, the rhinestone waistband and the lace hem border all look in person.

The Four Defining Details

1. The Butterfly Cap Sleeves

The cap sleeves on this dress are not the narrow, functional type found on most sleeveless-with-coverage designs. They fan outward from the shoulder in a wider, petal shape with a scalloped edge that follows the border of the lace. The effect is closer to a butterfly wing than a conventional cap sleeve, creating a soft, decorative silhouette around the shoulder that is clearly visible from the front, the side and above in photography.

The sleeves use the same lace and the same botanical appliqué pattern as the bodice, so they sit as a natural continuation of the bodice rather than a separate piece. The scalloped edge follows the actual edge of the lace motifs rather than a straight cut, which gives the sleeve a delicate, finished appearance that cheaper interpretations of this style rarely achieve.

2. The Crystal Rhinestone Waistband

At the high waist join between the bodice and the skirt, a continuous row of faceted crystal rhinestones runs across the full width of the front. This is not a sash or a ribbon with embellishment: it is a dedicated rhinestone waistband that sits flat against the dress and catches the light as the child moves.

In indoor ceremony and reception lighting, the rhinestones reflect light intermittently and create a sparkle at the waist that is visible from a significant distance. In photographs, the band catches light differently at each angle, adding a dimension to the front view that a plain satin waistband or a bow alone could not provide. The satin sash runs on either side of the rhinestone band, framing it and leading to the back bow.

3. The Lace Hem Border

The lower edge of the ball gown skirt carries a wide border of botanical lace appliqués in a scrollwork and floral pattern. These appliqués trace the entire circumference of the hem, creating a defined decorative band around the bottom of the skirt.

This detail is most visible when the skirt fans out to its full circumference, which happens when the child walks, turns or when the dress is spread out for photographs. In the back view product image, the full extent of the lace border is clearly visible sweeping around the hem of the skirt. It gives the dress a finished, couture-like quality at the hemline that distinguishes it from dresses where the skirt is plain tulle throughout.

4. The Pearl Button Back

The centre back closes with a column of pearl buttons running from the neckline to the waist. As with the rhinestone waistband, this is a detail that adds quality to the back view of the dress specifically. When the flower girl walks down the aisle, the back view is what most of the guests will see. The pearl button column against the sheer illusion lace, above the satin bow with its long trailing tails, creates a complete and considered back view.

The Ball Gown Skirt

The volume of the skirt is exceptional. The tulle layers over cotton and satin underlining create a silhouette that fans outward dramatically from the high waist, creating the classic princess ball gown shape that photographs so strongly for wedding occasions. The skirt holds its shape throughout an event, maintaining its circular fullness whether the child is standing, walking or dancing.

The floor-length hem sweeps to the ground and pools very slightly at the back when the child is standing still, which adds to the formal, ceremonial quality of the dress. The lace border at the hem keeps the visual interest concentrated at the bottom edge of the skirt and gives the full circumference a decorative finish that adds to the overall impression at every angle.

An optional underskirt is available at additional cost if even more volume is wanted, though the dress is fully formed and complete without it.

Key Features at a Glance

Occasions This Dress Is Made For

Weddings

As a flower girl dress for a wedding, this is the option to choose when the formality of the occasion calls for the highest level of detail. The rhinestone waistband, the pearl buttons, the lace hem border and the butterfly sleeves all combine to create a dress that photographs as a genuine centrepiece of the bridal party rather than a supporting element.

For brides planning formal church ceremonies, country house weddings or black-tie receptions, the silhouette and the construction quality of this dress suit the setting at every level. The ivory version coordinates with most bridal gowns and the white version suits ceremonies where a crisp, bright palette is wanted. For guidance on coordinating the full bridal party, the complete flower girl dress guide covers the key considerations in detail.

First Holy Communion

This dress is an outstanding choice for First Holy Communion. The full ball gown silhouette in white or ivory, the lace bodice with modestly covering cap sleeves, the pearl button back and the rhinestone waistband all give the dress a ceremonial quality that is exactly right for this occasion. The detail level and the construction justify the investment for a milestone that families mark for life, and the photographs from a communion in this dress will have a quality that plainer options cannot match.

Pageants and Portraits

The combination of the rhinestone waistband, the butterfly sleeves, the lace hem border and the full ball gown silhouette creates a dress with significant visual presence at every scale. In pageant settings, the dress commands attention from a distance. In portrait photography, the four signature details give the photographer multiple focal points to work with, and the lace hem border in particular is a detail that only becomes fully visible when the skirt is spread to its maximum width, which experienced photographers will know how to capture.

Size Guide

Measure your child’s chest, waist and hip and compare with the chart below before ordering. This is the floor-length version; use the “Long Skirt” column as your reference for the skirt length at each age.

How to Measure Your Child

1. Chest: measure at the fullest point, keeping the tape flat and level all the way around
2. Waist: measure at the natural waistline, just above the navel
3. Hip: measure at the fullest point, typically 7 to 9 inches below the waist
4. Compare the Long Skirt column with your child’s waist-to-floor measurement to confirm the length is appropriate for their height
5. If between sizes, always choose the larger size and adjust with the sash if needed

Care Instructions

Hand wash cold in a mild colour-safe detergent. Do not bleach, machine wash or tumble dry. The rhinestone waistband, the pearl buttons, the lace appliqués and the satin bow all require gentle handling to maintain their condition.

After washing, reshape the bodice and the cap sleeves by hand while damp and hang on a padded hanger in a cool space to air dry. Do not wring or compress the tulle skirt. Use a garment steamer on the skirt section, holding the steamer at a distance from the fabric to avoid flattening the tulle. Do not steam directly on the rhinestone waistband. For the lace areas, use a cool iron through a damp cloth if pressing is needed, avoiding direct contact with the appliqués.

Store in a breathable garment bag hanging on a padded hanger. If the dress is purchased well in advance, try it on several weeks before the event to check the fit and arrange any alterations. Check the rhinestone and pearl settings are secure before each use.

Who This Dress Is For

• Brides planning high-formality or church weddings
• Parents choosing a premium flower girl dress with maximum detail
• Families preparing for First Holy Communion
• Parents who want a full ball gown silhouette for their flower girl
• Pageant parents looking for a maximum-impact competition gown
• Families booking formal portrait sessions
• Grandparents making a significant occasion dress investment

This dress sits at the premium end of the flower girl range in terms of detail and construction. The combination of four distinctive design elements, each of which would individually justify a higher price point, makes it one of the strongest value propositions in the collection at £129.99. For families coordinating this dress with a junior bridesmaid in the same bridal party, the Junior Bridesmaid Dress with Sleeves is the natural companion piece, available in ten colours for older girls.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Flower Girl Dresses

If you are comparing styles or coordinating the full bridal party, here are other popular dresses from the collection: