What’s the Difference Between a Page Boy and a Ring Bearer? (2024)

There comes a point, during your wedding-planning adventure, when you need to start deciding who’s in your wedding party. You probably had a maid of honour and best man picked out right away. But what role should you give your adorable little nephew or 10-year-old brother?
You have likely heard the terms ‘page boy’ and ‘ring bearer’ many times before. But if you’re confused as to what they mean, and what the difference is, you’re not alone. Is a page boy and ring bearer the same thing? What does each role consist of? And which one should you have at your wedding, if any? Let’s find out.

Is Ring Bearer the Same as Page Boy?

Page boys carry out very similar roles to ring bearers. They’re both important young boys in the wedding party – for example, they might be son, nephew, or cousin of the bride or groom, or even the maid of honour’s son. They both wear adorable little suits, and walk down the aisle alongside the bridesmaids.
The difference between page boy and ring bearer is a matter of what country you’re from. Page boys are traditional in European weddings, whereas ring bearers are customary in the U.S.
You will hardly ever see the term ‘page boy’ used in the U.S. And in fact, the term has started to become a little outdated on our side of the pond, too. More and more often, we’re seeing ring bearers at U.K. weddings.
It’s up to you whether you have a page boy or a ring bearer at your wedding. Let’s take an in-depth look into each role.

What Is a Page Boy?

The term ‘page boy’ doesn’t have anything to do with the pages of books. In fact, it comes from the old-fashioned word ‘page’ meaning a young male attendant. The word is most likely derived from the Latin word pagus, meaning servant.
Pages were common in medieval times. They would assist noblemen, such as lords. One of their roles included holding up their robes during processions, to stop them dragging along the ground.
This is where the role of page boy at a wedding originated. Page boys would traditionally walk behind the bride, holding up the long train of her wedding dress.
In modern weddings, of course, many wedding dresses don’t have long trains. But page boys are still around – mostly to look cute, rather than carry out any important duty.

What Does a Page Boy Do?

If your wedding dress doesn’t have a long train, you can still have a page boy. But instead of holding up your dress, he can hold something else while he walks down the aisle. This is usually a cute sign, such as this Mr & Mrs placard. Alternatively, he could simply hold hands with one of the bridesmaids!

What Does a Page Boy Wear?

The main role of a page boy is to look adorable as he walks down the aisle, so his outfit is important. Page boys usually wear a full two or three-piece suit. Usually, it’s a miniature version of the suits worn by the groom, best man and ushers (including a matching tie). If you’re renting the page boy’s suit, he should change into something else for the reception, to avoid spilling food or drink down it.
If your pageboy is very young, he needn’t wear a real suit. He could simply wear a white shirt, smart trousers and suspenders, with a little clip on bowtie.

How Old Should a Page Boy Be?

Page boys are typically between the ages of 3 and 10 years old. However, there is no lower age limit – even toddlers and babies can be pageboys (they just might need some help getting down the aisle).
Most boys over the age of 10 won’t be interested in being a page boy – the title has childish connotations because of the word ‘boy’. Ring bearers, on the other hand, can be older.
What Is a Ring Bearer?
In the U.K., the wedding rings are traditionally held by the best man. He keeps them in his pocket throughout the ceremony, presenting them to the officiant when requested. But having a young ring bearer is an adorable alternative.
The term ‘ring bearer’ can be used instead of ‘page boy’ to refer to a young male member of the wedding party. It’s most common in the U.S. Instead of holding up the wedding dress train, the ring bearer carries the wedding rings.
What Does a Ring Bearer Do?

A ring bearer’s job is fairly straightforward: he bears the rings. Specifically, he carries the bride and groom’s wedding rings down the aisle. They are either supported on a wedding ring pillow or in a ring display box. He usually walks alongside the flower girl (or junior bridesmaid).
For safety, the rings are usually tied onto the cushion or box using ribbon (so that if it’s dropped, the rings don’t roll away). If your ring bearer is very young, you may wish to give him fake rings to carry (the best man can keep the real ones safe).

What Does a Ring Bearer Wear?

Ring bearers typically wear the same outfit that a page boy would wear: that is, a miniature version of the groom’s or groomsmen’s suit. Many suit hire companies, such as Moss Bros, offer suits in both adult and child sizes, so you can get an exact match. Bow ties are more appropriate than neckties for younger boys.
As we mentioned before, your young ring bearer should change into his own clothes during any part of the day where food or drink is involved.

How Old Should a Ring Bearer Be?

As with page boys, ring bearers are typically under 10 years old. However, because they actually have to carry something – the rings – they must be old enough to walk down the aisle unaided, and carry a cushion or a box without dropping it. Most ring bearers, therefore, are over the age of 5.
Because the title of ‘ring bearer’ sounds slightly more grown-up than ‘page boy’, they can be a little older (10, 11, or 12). By the time they’re in their teens, though, consider the role outgrown.

Should I Have a Page Boy or Ring Bearer?

You don’t have to have a page boy or a ring bearer at your wedding. While page boys are more traditional than ring bearers, neither role is compulsory. So if you’d prefer a child-free wedding, or there simply aren’t any little boys in your family, you needn’t have either.
If there is a young man that you’d like to take part in your wedding, the choice is yours whether he should be a page boy, or a ring bearer. You can give him whichever title you’d like, and have him hold your train, the rings (or faux rings), a sign, or nothing at all! If there are two little lads in your life, you could have both a page boy and a ring bearer. It all comes down to your personal preference.

Can a Girl Be a Ring Bearer?

The title of ‘page boy’ is pretty self-explanatory: it’s a male role. There’s no such thing as a ‘page girl’. The female version of the page boy is the flower girl! They both perform similar roles – walking down the aisle before the bride – but whereas the page boy carries the train, the flower girl carries a flower basket or mini-bouquet.
There’s nothing stopping a girl from being your ring bearer, however. The title is gender-neutral in itself, and while ring bearers are usually boys, you can have your own rules at your wedding. If your little niece or sister would rather carry the ring than a bunch of petals, feel free to make her your ring bearer.

Wedding Party Roles for Older Boys (10+)

Ring bearers and page boys, in general, are quite young. The typical age limit for both is 10 years old (though ‘ring bearer’ is a little more age-flexible than ‘page boy’).
So, what do you do if there are no young boys in your life, but you have a slightly older male relative (such as a 13-year-old cousin)? If he’s happy to do it, he could be your ring bearer – but a more grown-up alternative is a ‘junior usher’.
Junior ushers don’t actually need to guide anyone to their seat, if they aren’t mature enough to do so. But they can stand at the venue’s entrance looking dapper, and greeting guests alongside the adult ushers.

What’s the Difference Between a Page Boy and a Ring Bearer? (2024)

FAQs

What are the duties of a page boy? ›

Let's take a closer look at the duties of this role:
  • Carrying the bride's train. ...
  • Ring bearing. ...
  • Escorting the flower girls. ...
  • Scattering flower petals. ...
  • Coin bearing.

Why are they called Page Boys? ›

The term 'page boy' doesn't have anything to do with the pages of books. In fact, it comes from the old-fashioned word 'page' meaning a young male attendant. The word is most likely derived from the Latin word pagus, meaning servant. Pages were common in medieval times.

Does the page boy match the groom? ›

A pageboy suit is usually the same as either the groom or groomsmen. We recommend matching the colour and style to the groom or groomsmen to make the youngster feel important and included. Match his tie to the colour of the bridesmaids or flower girl dresses.

What is a page boy at a wedding? ›

Page Boys are basically young male wedding attendants who traditionally helped carry the bride's train as she walked down the aisle (In the past bride's trains were always very long).

How old should a ring bearer be? ›

Typically the age range most appropriate for a ring bearer or flower girl falls between ages 4 to 10 years old. However, weddings today showcase toddlers and even infants in these distinguished roles.

Does the ring bearer have to be a boy? ›

The tradition is flexible, so the ring bearer doesn't necessary need to be a boy - the important thing is for the role to be performed right. So, if you have a girl which meet the criteria of age, then you can pick her to be your ring bearer. She has to carry the rings exactly like the boy would.

Do page boys carry the rings? ›

Some couples may choose to have both a page boy and a ring bearer – the ring bearer will be the one to carry the ring pillow and present the wedding rings to the couple. The page boy will walk down the aisle but they don't need to hold anything and typically walk down holding hands with the flower girl.

Who holds the bride's dress? ›

Traditionally, page boys carry the bride's train, especially if the bride is wearing a dress with a long train. Because of the difficulty of managing a train, page boys are generally no younger than age seven, with older boys being preferred for more complicated duties.

Do page boys wear ties? ›

Most people tend to style their page boy just as they've styled their groomsmen and being able to hire pre-tied cravats, patterned ties and top hats in kids' sizes makes this possible. On the flip side, if you want to give him a gift to say thank you, a tie you've bought him to wear on the day works well.

What Colour do page boys wear? ›

A dark blazer and white shirt with a dark tie or bow tie are appropriate for the page boy. They need only wear a white-ivory shorts and a polo shirt, accessorised with a sash or belt in the wedding's accent colour, if the day is really hot.

Who does the groom usually walk down with? ›

Groom. Traditionally, he walks down the aisle solo but some grooms prefer walking down the aisle escorted by both parents. Other grooms prefer a more subtle approach by entering the ceremony from the side of the venue (following the officiant and followed by the groomsmen) to take his place at the altar.

Do page boys wear buttonholes? ›

Men's buttonholes.

Traditionally the Groom and groomsmen (ushers and page boys) along with fathers of the bride and groom will all wear a buttonhole. If budget allows then it is also a nice gesture from brothers and grandfathers to also wear a buttonhole.

Who chooses the page boy? ›

Page boys are usually between the ages of 3 and 10 and are often a close relation of either the bride or groom. Although, who you choose is really up to you as it could be a nephew, cousin, godson or son of a close friend. It depends on what suits you.

Who is traditionally the ring bearer? ›

Most often, ring bearers are children of those close to the couple. They might be the kids of the maid of honor or best man, the couple's nephews, or the children of other friends or family members.

Who picks the ring bearer? ›

The ring bearer is typically either a bride's or groom's nephew. However, the son of your maid of honor or best man can act in this role. If you have a young boy of your own, the job of ring bearer is a perfect way to get them involved.

Who holds the wedding rings during the ceremony? ›

In a traditional ceremony, the ring keeper is the Best Man, and he holds the rings until called upon for the Ring Exchange in the wedding ceremony. But it doesn't have to be the Best Man; anything goes here. I've had couples choose one ring to go to the Best Man and the other to the Maid of Honour.

Do you wear your engagement ring on your wedding day? ›

This leaves many wondering which finger their new ring should go on or if they should even be wearing their engagement ring to the ceremony. It's perfectly normal, however, to wear both the engagement ring and the wedding ring during your wedding ceremony – how you wear them is up to you.

Do you wear your engagement ring when you walk down the aisle? ›

Do you wear your engagement ring on your wedding day? Yes, but not anywhere! Traditional etiquette requires the bride to move her engagement ring to her other hand (if necessary) while walking down the aisle. This must be done if the wedding band is to be placed onto the finger currently "taken" by the engagement ring.

Who puts ring on first in wedding? ›

Traditionally, the groom goes first in the exchange of rings. Although most couples choose to follow tradition, there's no rule that says you can't switch things up. If one of you is more comfortable than the other in front of an audience, then you might want that person to go first, so the other will be less nervous.

How old did a boy have to be to become a page? ›

Usually around twelve years old, early pages were often local orphans or children of widowed mothers and their Senate income helped the family. Today, Senate pages come from all 50 states. Still appointed and sponsored by a senator, they must be high school juniors, at least sixteen years old, and attend school.

Does the ring bearer give the rings to the best man? ›

In a traditional wedding ceremony order, the ring bearer is after the maid of honor and bridesmaids and precedes the bride. The ring bearer walks down the aisle with ring bearer pillow in hand and gives the rings to the wedding officiant or best man once they reach the altar.

Who walks the brides mom down? ›

Traditionally, a groomsman should walk the mother of the bride down the aisle. However, as with most details of a modern ceremony, the couple getting married is free to make any adjustments or choices they would like when wedding planning.

Who throws the bride her shower? ›

Who Throws a Bridal Shower? The bridal shower is usually hosted by the maid of honor, close friends, bridal attendants, or bridesmaids. No matter who is hosting, be sure to communicate clearly to make sure you aren't planning two separate showers.

Which mother walks down the aisle first? ›

The groom's parents precede the bride's mother during the processional. Here's a rundown: After the ushers have seated all of the guests, the grandparents start up the aisle, followed by the groom's parents. Then the bride's mother takes her turn. She is the last to be seated before the bridal party procession begins.

Are page boys ring bearers? ›

The Purpose of a Page Boy

Across the pond, our American friends refer to page boys as ring bearers and they walk down the aisle in tandem with the flower girl. Page boys tend to be between the ages of 3 and 10 and are most commonly of close relation to the bride or groom.

Do page boys have pocket squares? ›

How adorable is it when the page boy looks like a mini version of the groom? Most suit hire companies will offer ties, waistcoats and pocket squares in a wide range of sizes, meaning you replicate the style of your groom and his party.

What can a Ring Bearer carry? ›

The ring bearer traditionally carries your wedding bands that have been tied to a small pillow or secured in a small box. If you're worried about the rings getting lost, you can have your ring bearer carry a sign, banner, basket, or a set of backup rings instead. When does the ring bearer walk down the aisle?

What should the mother of the groom not do? ›

Here are a few things a mother-of-the-groom shouldn't do.
  • Don't overshadow the bride's mother. ...
  • Don't act (or dress) like a bridesmaid. ...
  • Don't get too critical. ...
  • Don't steal the bride's spotlight with your mother-of-the-groom outfit. ...
  • Don't try to invite extra guests. ...
  • Don't skip the pre-wedding events.
Jul 2, 2019

Who seats the mother of the groom? ›

5 minutes prior to ceremony: The groom's mother is escorted to her seat by the head usher, a son, or the groom. The groom's father follows and sits next to her.

Who traditionally gets buttonholes at a wedding? ›

A buttonhole, sometimes called a boutonnière, is a little flower worn in the lapel of a suit. They're normally worn by the groom, ushers, fathers, stepfathers and any other male members of the couple's immediate family.

Who wears corsages at wedding? ›

Traditionally, mothers and grandmothers will wear a corsage with two or three blooms, worn either on the wrist or pinned to their left lapel. Alternatively, they can carry a miniature bouquet or a single stem.

What do you call a little boy in a wedding? ›

A page boy is a young male attendant at a wedding or cotillion. This type of wedding attendant is less common than it used to be, but is still a way of including young relatives or the children of relatives and friends in a wedding.

What are some duties of a page? ›

Senate page duties consist primarily of delivery of correspondence and legislative material within the Congressional complex. Other duties include preparing the chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk.

What are pages duties? ›

Pages are usually responsible for putting returned books and other items in their proper places on the shelves. They are also responsible for keeping items in the right order. Some handle requests for retrieving materials that are in secured areas, and others may be responsible for checking items back in.

What were the duties of a page? ›

A young boy served as a page for about seven years, running messages, serving, cleaning clothing and weapons, and learning the basics of combat. He might be required to arm or dress the lord to whom he had been sent by his own family.

What can page boys hold? ›

Traditionally the page boy would hold the train of the bride's dress – however, nowadays it is more common for them to simply walk down the aisle with the flower girl or ahead of the bridesmaids.

What did a boy become after a page but before a knight? ›

To be a knight, a nobleman's son had to first become a page and then a squire. At around seven years old, the boy was sent away to another noble household. There he worked as a page until he was about 13, when he was made a squire. As a squire he to learned how to fight and use weapons.

Why are they called pages? ›

The word "page" comes from the Latin term pagina, which means, "a written page, leaf, sheet", which in turn comes from an earlier meaning "to create a row of vines that form a rectangle".

What did it mean to be a page? ›

a(1) : a youth being trained for the medieval rank of knight and in the personal service of a knight. (2) : a youth attendant on a person of rank especially in the medieval period. : a boy serving as an honorary attendant at a formal function (such as a wedding)

At what age did a boy become a page? ›

When a boy, or more likely his parents, decided that he wanted to become a knight, he would go to live in the household of a knight when he was seven years old. There he would serve the knight as a page.

What are the 3 stages of becoming a knight? ›

To become a knight the successful completion of three stages was required: page, squire, and knight. At the age of seven, a male born from a noble family would leave his home to become a page and begin training for knighthood. The page would be required to join the household of another knight or nobleman.

Is a page an assistant? ›

Many legislative bodies employ student pages as assistants to members of the legislature during session. Legislative pages are secondary school or university students who are unpaid or receive modest stipends.

What is a squire and a page? ›

A squire was typically a young boy, training to become a knight. A boy became a page at the age of 7 then a squire at age 14. Squires were the second step to becoming a knight, after having served as a page.

What are the ranks of knights? ›

Since the 15th century, orders of chivalry, often as dynastic orders, began to be established in a more courtly fashion that could be created ad hoc.
...
Typical insignia and ranks.
ClassCommon names
IIGrand Officer, Commander 1st Class, Grand Commander, Knight Commander, Knight Companion, Commander with Star
4 more rows

What is a knight's servant called? ›

varlet Add to list Share. In medieval times, when a man was training to be a knight, a varlet, or special servant, would assist him. In paintings of young knights, there is often a trusty varlet at his side. If you heard someone say, "Varlet!

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