Your wedding rings symbolize your new bond and eternal love for one another. And the ceremonial keeper of these symbolic items (and wearer of an adorably teeny tux) is your ring bearer.
The ring bearer walks up the aisle after the bridesmaids and before the flower girl, carrying the wedding rings to the altar on a little pillow. The ring bearer is usually a young boy between the ages of four and eight. But you can make the role your own. Choose a young girl, group of kids, or your dog to do the honors. (Extra points if you can get your dog to wear a teeny tux.)
To avoid catastrophe, entrust the real rings with the best man and maid of honor, and have the ring bearer bring up a fake pair. Of course, if you feel like you have enough moving parts already, it’s perfectly acceptable to go without a ring bearer altogether.
Pro tip: If the ring bearer is a young child, you may want to seat his parents near the front of the aisle. That way they can encourage him onward if he gets nervous.
While definitely not mandatory, having a wedding party is a great way to honor your most important people. Take some time with your partner to learn about the traditional roles of the wedding party. Think about if and how those traditions are important to you, and who you want to stand beside you on your big day. Then, by all means, make it your own.
