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(Photo credit: today.com) 

After­­ the devastating realization that her wish for a pet unicorn wouldn’t (and couldn’t) come true, Annabelle Earl wished for the next best thing: to be a flower girl at a wedding.

The 4-year-old from Brooklyn, NY, who her mother Kim describes as “a hopeful romantic,” heard about the joys of being a flower girl from her babysitter’s daughter. Only problem? There was no one the Earl family knew who was getting married.

That’s when Kim sprang in to action, coming up with the brilliant idea to have Annabelle stand at the City Clerk's office in Manhattan, which holds $25 marriage ceremonies for around 20,000 New Yorkers a year. With a floral dress, lace gloves, a bouquet of roses and a sign that read “Can I be your flower girl?”, Annabelle was ready for any couple who was in need of her services.

The high hopes of being called on to be a flower girl began to plummet in Kim’s eyes while passers-by smiled, but did not request any more guests at their party-of-two wedding parties. Annabelle, however, remained persistent and began asking couples if she could be their flower girl.

Finally, one couple agreed, explaining that Annabelle was “too adorable to say no to.”

During the actual ceremony, though, there was a pair of cold feet—and they weren’t the bride’s! Suddenly nervous, Annabelle took refuge in her mother’s arms during the ceremony, only to be put down at the end so she could give the bride a bouquet.

Afterwards, as a sweet treat, Annabelle’s mom took her to a bakery and let her pick out a piece of cake to eat as ‘wedding cake.’

Despite the nerves, Annabelle says she definitely wants to return to the City Clerk’s office again to bring smiles to even more newlyweds.

"I want to go back to City Hall," she said. "It made me happy."

by Kate Radin | 2/1/2016