Ring Bearer Definition
The ring bearer is the miniature groomsman of the wedding party. His duty is to bear the ring, though his significance is much more. The rings symbolize the binding of two into one, thus responsibility of delivering the objects is quite symbolically important. Rings have been "born" to the alter of a wedding for centuries by various modes of transports and carriers. But the ring bearer of modern western weddings is the classic image of a young boy dressed like a man carrying a small pillow.
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Duty
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The ring bearer has one duty--to enter the wedding procession with both wedding bands. The bearer usually enters after the bridesmaids and groomsmen, but always before the bride. He can be accompanied by a flower girl, or walk in front of or behind her. When the ring bearer reaches the alter, he hands the rings off to the best man to guard for the remainder of the ceremony.
History
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The history of the ring bearer, like most cultural and customs history is foggy. Multiple cultures and religions use rings to symbolize the binding of the couple during a wedding, and where there are rings, there is someone or something to hold and deliver them. Though many scholars believe the carrying of rings to the betrothed during the ceremony is a tradition that dates as far back as ancient Egypt, the tradition of a small boy in man's clothes originated in Northern Europe. Medieval European folklore holds that the wedding ring was presented to the bride on the tip of a sword to represent the seriousness of the action, as well as symbolize a warning against infidelity (Davidson). The boy and the pillow became a fashionable trend in Victorian England and quickly spread. Known as the Pageboy, the young man was dressed in a page's outfit with a lacy collar and large white sash around the waist. His original task was to carry the bride's train, but he also carried her prayer book and the rings (Haug). His duty morphed over time into bearing the ring only.
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Appearance
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Today, the ring bearer no longer wears the lace and sash of a Lord Fauntleroy suit, but he continues the tradition of dressing as an adult. The ring bearer, a young male typically between the ages of 5 and 10, is usually dressed in a small tuxedo of the same color as those of the groom and groomsmen.
The Pillow
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In most weddings today, the bearer carries the rings to the alter on top of a small pillow or cushion. The pillow allows the rings to be seen by those seated in the pews and gives them an air of importance and honor. In many modern weddings today, the bride and groom elect to break the pillow tradition and use a small decorative box, bowl, piece of glass or beach rock, or even a small handbag.
Connection
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In most modern weddings today, the ring bearer is a relative or close friend of the bride or groom's family. A cousin, nephew, child of a close friend, or even a younger brother or son of the bride or groom are all possible choices to assign the roll to.
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References
- Photo Credit boy at pergola image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
