Is There an Age Limit for Ring Bearers?

There’s no age limit for ring bearers. Like most things in a wedding, it’s governed by tradition and convention, not rules and limits. But there are a few guidelines that can help you make the decision about whether or not to have a kid as a ring bearer at your wedding.

How Young Is Too Young?

There are very practical reasons why you don’t want a boy that is too young for your ring bearer. Young children may have difficulty walking down the aisle (heck, if they’re too young, they can’t even walk!) In general, children under the age of three are completely unpredictable. If you’re prepared for and want chaos at your wedding, go ahead and put one of these kids in your wedding party.

That said, two year olds can be adorable, and if they do their thing right, it can be the most precious memories and pictures from the entire day. It’s like taking a chance on an outdoor wedding—the weather might be bad, and you should have an alternate plan, but it’s often worth the risk.

How Old Is Too Old?

Again, there’s no limit to how old the ring bearer can be, but most recommendations say you should choose someone under the age of 10. By that age, the kids are typically no longer “cute,” and if that’s your main purpose in having a ring bearer, it would be defeated. Over the age of 10, too, boys may get resistant to the notion of being a ring bearer. They don’t like getting dressed up and don’t want to take part in your “stupid wedding” anyway.

But that doesn’t really mean that you can’t have a ring bearer older than 10. If you aren’t going for a cutesy look, and the kid is fine with it, then ask them at any age. Since in the absence of the ring bearer the rings are held by the best man, it doesn’t really seem weird to have an adult as a ring bearer (and it might be helpful to pair up a dad with his daughter if you’re going to have a really young flower girl who might be reluctant to walk down the aisle by herself.)

Other Options for Including Kids

It’s also important to remember that there are other roles boys can play in a wedding if they’re not appropriate for a ring bearer. They can do a reading if they’re old enough, help with seating or handing out programs, attend the guest book, or any number of other things. If you really want them in the wedding, take the time to identify an appropriate role for them to play.

If you are looking for a beautiful Denver wedding venue where your ring bearer will look their best, please contact Stonebrook Manor today for a tour.