Choosing an outfit for your ring bearer is one of the sweetest (and sometimes trickiest) parts of wedding planning. He's small, he's probably not used to dressing up, and he still needs to look like he belongs with the rest of the wedding party. The good news: the right bow tie does most of the heavy lifting. Here's how to pick one he'll actually keep on all day.
Start With the Wedding Colors
The easiest way to make your ring bearer look pulled together is to match his bow tie to your wedding palette, not necessarily identical to the groomsmen, but clearly part of the same family. Browse the full Shop by Color page to see every shade at a glance, or jump straight to a popular wedding color like navy and royal blue, burgundy and red, dusty blue and teal, or soft neutrals in champagne and beige. If your color scheme leans romantic, blush and dusty rose and sage green are two of our most requested wedding shades. For a formal affair, our wedding and everyday accessories collection has classic options that pair beautifully with the groomsmen's ties.
Comfort Is Everything for Kids
A ring bearer only has one job, walk down the aisle without a meltdown, and a scratchy, tight bow tie will not help. Every bow tie in our Little Gentleman collection is handmade and pre-tied, so there's no fumbling with knots before photos start. Each one has an adjustable neck strap and a secure hook closure, so it stays put through hugs, cake, and dance floor chaos, but slips on and off in seconds, no tiny fingers required.
Getting the Size Right
Ring bearers run the gamut from toddler to almost tween, so sizing matters more than people expect. We make kids sizing for ages 2 to 8 and adult sizing for 8 plus, both with an adjustable strap that gives you real wiggle room instead of one fixed neck size. Sizing details are listed on every boys' product page, and when in doubt, size up slightly since the adjustable strap will take up the slack.
Match Him to Dad (or the Groom)
If your ring bearer is the groom's son, nephew, or little brother, a matching set is a sweet way to tie the wedding party together, literally. Our bestselling Daddy & Me sets come in matching adult and kids sizes, so dad and son can wear the same color and pattern down the aisle. It's also a lovely detail for engagement or save-the-date photos, long before the wedding day. Pair it with a pocket square for a slightly dressier look, our bow tie and pocket square sets make that easy without any extra guesswork.
Quick Checklist for Ring Bearer Bow Ties
- Matches (or complements) the wedding color palette
- Pre-tied, so there's no last-minute knot-tying backstage
- Adjustable neck strap for a comfortable, non-scratchy fit
- Secure hook closure that stays put through the ceremony and reception
- Sized correctly, kids 2 to 8 or adult 8 plus
- Optional matching set with dad for coordinated photos
A Little Something Extra
Every order includes a complimentary gift card, and if you're outfitting the ring bearer specifically, ask about our "Ring Security" note card, a fun, keepsake-worthy touch that gets pinned to the ring pillow or tucked into his pocket for photos.
Ready to Outfit Your Ring Bearer?
Whether you want a single standout color or a full matching look with dad, our handmade bow ties are made to order and ready for the aisle. Shop the Little Gentleman collection to find the perfect fit for your ring bearer.