But truth be told, beyond carrying the rings, I didn’t know much about ring bearers! We didn’t have one, and my son wasn’t yet born when my closest friends and family members got married. It was high time I learned about this quintessential wedding party role!
Whether you’re picturing a hand-lettered banner, a sweet little suit, or a wagon pull that makes the whole room melt, we’ve gathered our favorite ring bearer ideas to inspire your own. And if you fall in love with any of these looks, click through to see the full wedding. For even more inspiration, browse our Real Weddings directory.
Our Favorite Ring Bearer Outfit Ideas
From sweet little suits to hip suspenders and shades, here are a few selections of our favorite modern ring bearer attire.
Matching Tan Vests with Lavender Bow Ties
If you’ve got two ring bearers, dress them as a set and let the cuteness compound. These brothers wore matching tan vests and trousers over crisp white shirts, finished with lavender polka-dot bow ties, little white boutonnieres, and brown loafers. The vest-and-bow-tie combo is dressy enough for the aisle but loose enough for a kid to actually move in.
See Melissa and Tony’s Sedona Wedding →
White Shirt, Suspenders, and a Blue Bow Tie
This is the no-jacket formula that works for almost any wedding: a crisp white shirt, taupe suspenders, charcoal trousers, and a patterned light-blue bow tie. It reads polished in photos but skips the stiff jacket a young kid will inevitably try to take off. Pick a bow tie in your accent color and you’ve tied him into the palette in one easy move.
See this Old World Spanish Wedding at Rancho Mirando →
Cream Vest with a Red Bow Tie
Coordinated but not identical is a smart way to dress the ring bearer next to the groomsmen. While the men wore tweed vests, this little guy stood out in a cream vest and trousers with a white shirt, a bright red bow tie, and a matching boutonniere. A pop of color on the smallest member of the party makes him easy to spot in every group shot.
See Kristin and Andrew’s Austin Wedding →
Grey Vest, Lavender Tie, and Sneakers
Here’s proof you don’t have to put a kid in dress shoes he hates. This ring bearer wore a grey vest, white shirt, and lavender tie up top, then grounded the whole look with grey low-top sneakers. He matched the groomsmen’s grey-and-purple palette exactly, sprig boutonniere included, while staying comfortable enough to sprint if the moment called for it.
See Rebecca and Jacob’s Oregon Barn Wedding →
Tan Vest and a Striped Tie
A long tie instead of a bow tie reads a touch more grown-up, which suits a slightly older ring bearer. This one wore a tan vest over a white shirt with a navy-and-grey striped tie, khaki trousers, and a small sprig boutonniere. The earthy tan-and-khaki combination is a natural fit for a rustic or garden wedding.
See Kim and James’s South Carolina Wedding →
Tan Vest with Cowboy Boots
For a country or barn wedding, swap the dress shoes for cowboy boots and watch the whole look come together. This ring bearer paired a tan vest, white shirt, and khaki pants with scuffed-in brown boots, matching the flower girl beside him. Boots are also a genius practical call: they stay on, they handle grass and gravel, and the kid probably already owns a pair.
See Stacey and Jeremiah’s Ohio Barn Wedding →
Khaki Suspenders and a Bow Tie
Match the ring bearer to the groomsmen’s suspenders and he becomes the tiny mascot of the lineup. This little one wore the same white shirt, khaki suspenders, and khaki pants as the men, with a tan bow tie of his own, and stood front and center mid-yawn. Suspenders are forgiving on a small frame in a way that a fitted jacket never is.
See Kathryn and Taylor’s Georgetown Wedding →
Straw Hat, Suspenders, and Shorts
For a summer or outdoor wedding, lean all the way into seasonal and dress the littlest one in shorts. This toddler wore a white short-sleeve shirt with taupe suspenders, navy shorts, white sneakers, and a straw hat with a navy band. It’s weather-appropriate, impossibly sweet, and a relief for any parent dreading a long-sleeve meltdown in the heat.
See Karen and Paul’s Ontario Wedding →
Grey Vest and a Flat Cap
A flat cap adds an instant dose of vintage charm to a ring bearer’s look. This one wore a grey vest, white shirt, and matching grey trousers topped with a grey newsboy-style cap, leaning into an old-world, slightly dapper feel. A hat is also a sneaky-useful prop: it gives shy kids something to fuss with instead of freezing up.
See Mandy and Eric’s West Vancouver Wedding →
Black Suspenders and a Black Bow Tie
For a more formal or black-tie-leaning wedding, a sharp black-and-white palette scales down to kid size beautifully. This ring bearer wore black suspenders and a black bow tie over a white shirt with black trousers, walking the aisle alongside the flower girl. Clean, classic, and it photographs crisply against almost any backdrop.
See this Succulent Wedding at Lord Hill Farms →
Khaki Suspenders and a Green Tie
Suspenders are a toddler’s best friend, and this one wore them well: a white shirt, khaki suspenders, khaki pants, and a little green tie for the family-farm ceremony. The relaxed earth tones suit a casual barn or backyard wedding, and there’s not a stiff waistband in sight. Comfortable kid, happy photos.
See this Pig-Themed Barn Wedding →
Seersucker Shorts and a Tie
A long tie on a short-sleeve shirt is peak little-gentleman energy, and it works for a warm-weather wedding. This ring bearer wore a white short-sleeve button-down with a navy polka-dot tie, light seersucker shorts, and a small red poppy boutonniere to match the wedding’s color motif. Dressy on top, breezy on the bottom: the ideal summer compromise.
See Sarah and Chad’s Maine Wedding →
Light Grey Suits with Coral Ties
When you want the kids in full suits, a light grey jacket keeps the look soft rather than severe. These ring bearers wore light grey suits with coral ties and pink rose boutonnieres, the ties pulling straight from the flower girls’ coral dresses. Matching the children’s accent color to the rest of the wedding party makes the whole processional feel intentional.
See Tiffany and Brandon’s Arizona Wedding →
Light Grey Suit with a Black Bow Tie
A light grey suit with a black bow tie is the dressed-up end of the ring bearer spectrum, and it looks every bit as sharp as the groom’s. This little guy wore his with a white shirt, a sprig boutonniere, and black shoes for an elegant backyard wedding. If your celebration leans formal, a proper little suit will never look out of place.
See Katie and Stephen’s Backyard Wedding →
Light Grey Suit with a Navy Tie
Same light grey suit, different mood: swap the bow tie for a long navy tie and the look skews a little more classic. This ring bearer wore his with a boutonniere as he walked the rose-petal aisle ahead of the bride. Navy is the safest accent color there is, so this combination works for nearly any season or palette.
See Shannon and Travis’s Orcutt Ranch Wedding →
Sharp Charcoal Suit for an Older Ring Bearer
An older ring bearer can carry a proper grown-up suit, and the result is more junior groomsman than little kid. This one wore a dark charcoal full suit, sharply tailored, as he walked the garden aisle. For a tween or older child, skip the bow tie and novelty pieces. A clean, well-fitted suit is all he needs.
See Julianne and Ryan’s Roche Harbor Wedding →
Navy Pinstripe Suit with an Aqua Tie
A pinstripe adds texture and a little personality to a navy suit. This ring bearer wore a navy pinstripe jacket over a white shirt with a bright aqua tie and a sprig boutonniere. A punchy tie color keeps a darker suit from feeling too serious on someone so small.
See Brandi and Lee’s Austin Wedding →
All About Ring Bearers
To start, I delved into what exactly is a ring bearer. It sounds obvious, but I wondered, does it have to be a boy? How old should they be? Who started this tradition anyway?!
What Is the Role of a Ring Bearer?
The origins of the ring bearer aren’t clear. Ancient Egyptians were thought to use a pillow to carry wedding jewelry. Old-world Europeans had a male member of the wedding party hand the rings off with the tip of a sword. We can see elements of modern ring bearer roles in these traditions. Still, it seems like somewhere along the way, someone wanted to up the cuteness factor.
Low and behold, today’s ring bearer was born, and tasked with the responsibility of looking adorable while carrying the bride and groom’s rings down the aisle. The ring bearer will walk down the aisle after the wedding party. The ring bearer goes after the maid or matron of honor and before the flower girl. When they reach the altar, they usually pass the rings on to your officiant or the best man.
However, your aww-inducing ring bearer doesn’t need to be able to walk at all! Most ring bearers are between the ages of three and eight. This is so they can perform the job on their own. But that doesn’t mean younger or older children can’t be honored with the job.
Younger ring bearers can be escorted by the flower girl(s), carried by familial members of the wedding party, or even pulled down in a decorated wagon. Cute.
But my first thought was, if they can’t walk, how can they be trusted with the rings?! Even the grown adult best man can feel the pressure of such a great responsibility.
You might be surprised to find out that only the bravest souls allow their ring bearers to carry the actual wedding bands. Many couples use decoy bands and choose to keep the real rings in the officiants or best man’s pocket.
It’s a big job for a little boy. Or, girl, or pet. Your ring bearer doesn’t have to be a boy – or even a human. The tradition isn’t married (pun intended) to gender, so feel comfortable choosing whoever you think is suitable for the role! Or, go without a ring bearer entirely. It’s your wedding day.
How Do You Choose a Ring Bearer?
Choosing a ring bearer is just like picking another member of your wedding party. There are two components. The first is that the selected person is often someone who you are close to, like a family member or friend, or in this case, the child of a friend.
The second part of the equation is their character and personality. Pick someone who you are confident in completing the task. We all love adorable little kids in our weddings, but we don’t want them to steal the show for the wrong reason. If the little one you have in mind is shy or very stubborn (read: susceptible to a tantrum), you might want to reconsider. Or think of ways to avoid disaster.
How Old Should a Ring Bearer Be?
Wedding ring bearers are commonly between the ages of three to eight years old, though this isn’t a firm rule. Remember, most couples want them to walk down the aisle. Commonly, children younger than three won’t walk on their own down an aisle full of strangers without lots of bribery or a miracle.
If the person you have in mind exceeds this age, consider forgoing the ring bearer and making them a junior groomsman. What’s a junior groomsman? A wedding party member who’s too old to be a ring bearer but not old enough to be a groomsman. Though there’s been a recent trend of college-aged male flower “men,” so anything is possible!
Side note: our editor’s cousin just got married and had a 28-year-old flower man, complete with a fanny pack full of petals. It was hilarious. He also happened to double as the “ring bearer” and delivered the rings to the best man once he made it down the aisle.
If you are going for a more laid-back wedding vibe, we highly recommend considering this goofy trend. You’re sure to get some genuine smiles in your photos, at least!
What Should a Ring Bearer Wear?
Your ring bearer’s attire should be consistent with the rest of your wedding party. The easiest way to make everyone look cohesive is to pay attention to color schemes. Don’t forget about matching formality, too.
We love charming little tuxedos, but khakis or even cool Bermuda shorts can be a great choice. If you’re having difficulty deciding, browse some of our favorite picks below!
Who Should Pay for the Ring Bearer’s Outfit?
If you’re already stressed about the budget, you’ll be relieved to know that the child’s parents usually pay for the ring bearer outfit. On occasion, depending on the relationship to the bride or groom, one member of the happy couple might buy the attire.
Additionally, some couples purchase the outfit as a gift or thoughtful token. This is especially true if it’s more casual attire that could be enjoyed again and again after the wedding day.
Ring Bearer Blessings for the Happy Couple
Children have long been included in weddings with the idea that they bring innocence and blessings of prosperity. We’re all for this symbolism, if it means we get to feature our adorable nephew or son in a too-cute suit!
Hopefully, you found some great inspiration for the role of your own ring bearer in your wedding. But remember: ultimately, it’s your big day. Let a “little man” bear the rings, leave it to the best man, or maybe shake things up and go sans ring bearer altogether. Whatever brings a smile to your face as you walk down that aisle!
Don’t forget to pin this to your Wedding Planning Board for later!
