Ring Bearer
Preparing and Outfitting Your Ring Bearer
A ring bearer is usually a young boy between the ages of 4 and 8 who has a
special connection to the bride and groom. He may be related to them, or
just be a family friend. He walks down the aisle before (or with) the flower girl,
or last bridesmaid, with the wedding rings (optional) tied to a small pillow.
How to Choose a Ring Bearer
Look for a responsible young man who is important in your life, and will take his
role seriously. If you are having trouble choosing between two ring bearers,
there's no reason why you can't have two ring bearers. Give them each a ring
to carry and send them down the aisle together.
Or, if you're having a long train, get two boys to act as train bearers instead.
Avoid choosing someone who is too young - he will be confused and perhaps scared. An older boy (12+ years)
may be more suited for a job such as reader or usher. If your only choices are unsuitable or not that close to
you, there's is no reason why you have to have a ring bearer - simply give the rings to the best man to hold.
Can a Ring Bearer be a Girl?
Absolutely! Depending on how feminine your ring bearer is, she may wish to have some flower petals on her
pillow as well, and wear a dress that matches the flower girl's.
Preparing Your Ring Bearer For His Role, and Calming the Nerves
Seat his parents on the aisle, near the front so that he can see them when he walks down the aisle and during
the ceremony itself. Ask a groomsman to be his "buddy" and make sure he uses the restroom before the
ceremony. You may wish to ask his parents to cut down on the sugar intake the morning of the wedding.
Avoid the pressure on him by tying only fake rings to the pillow, and wait to give him the pillow until
immediately before he goes down the aisle. Also, ask his parents to bring a change of clothes - young girls are
usually happy to wear dressy clothes all day, but young boys are often itching to get out of them!
Most importantly, remember the younger your ring bearer, the more you have to be prepared to be okay with
whatever happens. If you're the perfectionist type, choose an older ring bearer, or go without.
What He Should Wear?
Some people love the look of "mini-groomsmen" where the ring bearer wears a tiny tuxedo. If you're dressing the
flower girl in a white dress, rather than matching the bridesmaids, you may wish to find a white outfit for the
ring bearer as well. For the littlest ring bearers, an Eton jacket with short pants is a classic.
Resource: Nina Callaway of About.com
Preparing and Outfitting Your Ring Bearer
A ring bearer is usually a young boy between the ages of 4 and 8 who has a
special connection to the bride and groom. He may be related to them, or
just be a family friend. He walks down the aisle before (or with) the flower girl,
or last bridesmaid, with the wedding rings (optional) tied to a small pillow.
How to Choose a Ring Bearer
Look for a responsible young man who is important in your life, and will take his
role seriously. If you are having trouble choosing between two ring bearers,
there's no reason why you can't have two ring bearers. Give them each a ring
to carry and send them down the aisle together.
Or, if you're having a long train, get two boys to act as train bearers instead.
Avoid choosing someone who is too young - he will be confused and perhaps scared. An older boy (12+ years)
may be more suited for a job such as reader or usher. If your only choices are unsuitable or not that close to
you, there's is no reason why you have to have a ring bearer - simply give the rings to the best man to hold.
Can a Ring Bearer be a Girl?
Absolutely! Depending on how feminine your ring bearer is, she may wish to have some flower petals on her
pillow as well, and wear a dress that matches the flower girl's.
Preparing Your Ring Bearer For His Role, and Calming the Nerves
Seat his parents on the aisle, near the front so that he can see them when he walks down the aisle and during
the ceremony itself. Ask a groomsman to be his "buddy" and make sure he uses the restroom before the
ceremony. You may wish to ask his parents to cut down on the sugar intake the morning of the wedding.
Avoid the pressure on him by tying only fake rings to the pillow, and wait to give him the pillow until
immediately before he goes down the aisle. Also, ask his parents to bring a change of clothes - young girls are
usually happy to wear dressy clothes all day, but young boys are often itching to get out of them!
Most importantly, remember the younger your ring bearer, the more you have to be prepared to be okay with
whatever happens. If you're the perfectionist type, choose an older ring bearer, or go without.
What He Should Wear?
Some people love the look of "mini-groomsmen" where the ring bearer wears a tiny tuxedo. If you're dressing the
flower girl in a white dress, rather than matching the bridesmaids, you may wish to find a white outfit for the
ring bearer as well. For the littlest ring bearers, an Eton jacket with short pants is a classic.
Resource: Nina Callaway of About.com
| Copyright © 2009 Carolyn Burke - Wedding Liaison |
