Every wedding has a moment when the celebrant asks for the rings and a hundred guests glance at the same person. Ring bearer cufflinks are a thank-you for surviving that moment, and a keepsake from a job that's small in size but enormous in trust. Whoever carried them, a pair printed with something personal to him turns a few nervous minutes into a memory he can keep.
A little boy with a very big job
Traditionally the ring bearer is a young boy, often a nephew, godson or the couple's own son. For a child, being chosen is a huge deal. He's practised the walk, been told not to swing the cushion and quite possibly asked a dozen times whether he can hold the rings "just once" before the day.
Personalised ring bearer cufflinks acknowledge that he was trusted with something important. Even if he's too young to wear them properly yet, they're a grown-up gift that says: you did a grown-up thing.
A keepsake to grow into
Many parents put a young ring bearer's cufflinks away somewhere safe and bring them out years later, perhaps for his first formal dance, his 18th or his own wedding. With that in mind, choose a design that will still mean something when he's older:
- His name and the wedding date, in simple, bold lettering.
- A photo of him walking down the aisle with the ring cushion, cropped close.
- The ring cushion or ring box itself, photographed on a plain background.
- A drawing he made of the wedding, which will be priceless in twenty years.
If his shirt on the day has double cuffs, he can wear them straight away. If not, the gift box keeps them safe until he's ready.
When the ring bearer is a grown-up
Not every ring bearer is under ten. Plenty of couples hand the job to a best friend, a brother, a grandad or the best man. For an adult, the cufflinks can be a bit more playful: a photo of him anxiously checking his pocket, the phrase "Didn't lose them", or a nickname from your group of friends. He can wear them on the day, so they're best given on the morning or the evening before.
When the ring bearer has four legs
Dogs are increasingly trusted with the rings, usually with a human handler close behind. The dog can't wear cufflinks, of course, but the handler can. A pair printed with a photo of the dog in its wedding collar or bow tie makes a lovely thank-you for the person who spent the ceremony making sure nobody wandered off to sniff the flowers. Owners of the dog often order a pair for themselves too.
Choosing a photo of a child
Photos of children at weddings are often taken mid-movement, so pick one where his face is sharp rather than blurred. Crop in closely; a small figure at the far end of an aisle will be too tiny to recognise. Bright, even light works best, so an outdoor portrait usually beats a dim indoor shot. If you're waiting for the professional photographs, ask your photographer for a full-resolution file, since we print from your original upload. For a pre-wedding gift, a snap from the rehearsal or a fitting, with him proudly holding the empty ring box, works just as well and gives him something to show off on the day.
Ordering his pair
Upload your image and look at the live preview, which shows the design on both cufflinks. Drag and zoom until his face, name or date sits neatly in the square, then order through our secure checkout. A single pair of ring bearer cufflinks is £40 with shipping included. If you're ordering for the rest of the wedding party as well, five or more pairs are £15 each plus £5 shipping per order, and each pair can carry a different design. Every pair is made in our Cornwall workshop, where we've been making personalised gifts for 17 years, and arrives in a gift box.