|
Even if the rings on his lacy pillow are faux, including a
ring bearer is a
great way for a youngster to be a part of your wedding. Read up on our ring
bearer rites here!
If you're going to have a ring bearer in your ceremony, remember:
- Most ring bearers aren't any older than 8 or 9. If you have an older young
man whom you want included in the wedding, make him a junior groomsmen or
usher instead.
- Ring bearers usually walk down the aisle right before the flower girl.
Sometimes the flower girl and the ring bearer walk down the aisle together.
- Although there is nothing more adorable that a little boy in a tuxedo,
that is certainly not a requirement. Ring bearers can also wear a suit, or
short pants and knee socks, which may be more practical for the family
because he can wear them again.
The "cute" factor. Having children in the wedding party
originated during Queen Victoria's reign, when more was definitely better than
less. These days, wedding guests still go crazy over little ones coming down the
aisle. Since the best man is usually hanging on to the rings anyway, most the
time the ring bearer is used if you have a young boy whom you wish to include in
the wedding.
What do we do with the rings? If your ring
bearer is especially young
(or feisty), we suggest tying two faux wedding rings on his pillow, because a
lot can happen between the foyer and the altar. Then the bride asks the maid of
honor and the groom asks the best man to hang on to the real rings until the
time comes. If he is really going to carry the rings, give him the pillow the
second before he's "on".
Where does he sit? As far as having them stand with the wedding party
at the altar, most flower girls and ring bearers are too young to stand still
through an entire ceremony. It's probably best to have their parents seated up
near the front, so after their walk, they can go straight to sit with Mom and
Dad.
Who watches them before we begin? There are several ways to handle
this delicate situation. You may ask the maid of honor or one of the bridesmaids
to hold on to him until her big moment arrives, especially if one of them is
related to the little boy. You can also ask one of the parents to wait in the
back with him, but that means they will either miss a portion of the ceremony or
will have to walk in after it's already begun.
The receiving line. Usually the ring
bearer is not required to stand in
the receiving line. After his big debut, his only other requirement is getting
his picture taken.
|
