Who Gets the Ring for the Groom? Groom Suit Guide

If you’re planning a wedding, there’s always this awkward moment when someone asks: "Who brings the groom’s ring to the ceremony?" It sounds simple, but some couples freeze. The old-school answer? The best man. But these days, it’s not always that straightforward. Sometimes it’s the tiny ring bearer with wobbly hands, sometimes it’s the groom’s brother, and sometimes the couple breaks the rules completely.

Why does this even matter? Well, losing the groom’s ring at the altar is a nightmare scenario. So, figuring out the best person to trust with that tiny, expensive circle of metal is more important than it seems. Most grooms think of the ring as just another thing on the wedding checklist, but seriously—don’t wing it. If you assign the job to the right person and set up a simple hand-off, you’ll avoid the classic ‘patting pockets in panic’ scene during the vows.

• Tradition vs Reality: Who Actually Gets the Ring?
• Role of the Best Man and Ring Bearer
• Keeping the Ring Safe and Sound
• Common Slip-Ups and How to Avoid Them

Tradition vs Reality: Who Actually Gets the Ring?

If you ask wedding guides from the past, the answer is clear: the best man gets the groom’s ring. This tradition probably dates back centuries, when the best man was expected to protect the rings (and, funny enough, sometimes even defend the bride—medieval weddings were intense). The idea is, the best man stands next to the groom and hands over the groom ring at exactly the right moment.

But here’s what really happens at modern weddings. More people are mixing things up. Some couples want their ring bearer to hold both rings, especially if they have a young nephew or niece they want involved. Others don’t trust a five-year-old with such tiny bling and stick with an adult. It’s even common for the officiant to get the job, especially at small or non-traditional weddings.

Let’s break down what couples actually do nowadays:

• Best man: Still the most popular choice. He keeps it in a pocket, often in a ring box, and hands it over as needed.
• Ring bearer: Good for cute photo ops, but lots of people fake it—kids carry a fake or dummy ring and the real one stays with an adult.
• Officiant: Practical for tiny ceremonies or courthouse weddings, since there aren’t as many people involved.
• Maid of honor (for bride’s ring): Sometimes couples swap roles for equality or just to keep things simple.

A recent 2024 survey of 500 couples by WeddingWire found:

So yes, tradition leans heavily on the best man, but don’t stress—plenty of couples pick whoever makes the most sense for their day. The only rule is: make sure someone you trust is in charge of the ring and knows exactly what to do when the vows roll around.

Role of the Best Man and Ring Bearer

The real MVP for the groom’s ring is usually the best man. It’s kind of his unofficial badge of honor and an old tradition that goes back for centuries. The groom trusts his best friend, brother, or close buddy to hold onto the ring, not just because it sounds cool, but because it actually keeps things running smoothly. The best man usually slips it safely into a jacket pocket, double-checks it a hundred times, and hands it over during the ceremony, right when the officiant asks.

But then, there’s the ring bearer—the tiny tuxedo star who everyone thinks is in charge because of the big pillow. In truth, at most American weddings, those little pillows are empty or just have fake rings tied on. Nobody wants to risk a thousand-dollar ring ending up under a church bench or in the grass. Sure, in some weddings, an older kid ring bearer might get the real ring, but the grown-ups usually keep it close.

Here’s a peek at how the job breakdown looks in typical weddings:

If you want things to run without a hitch, make sure everyone knows their roles and talk it through at rehearsal. It’s common now for couples to use a backup system—sometimes the best man keeps the real ring, and the ring bearer just provides the adorable factor. If you’re dead set on letting a youngster handle the ring, at least tie it securely and triple-check before showtime.

Keeping the Ring Safe and Sound

Let’s be real—losing the groom’s ring before the ceremony is every couple’s worst nightmare. It’s not just about money or tradition; it’s about avoiding awkward, stressful moments in front of everyone. The easiest way to dodge this? Pick a plan and stick to it. Here’s how people keep the groom ring exactly where it should be until ‘I do’ time.

• Choose your ring-keeper wisely. Most grooms hand it to their best man because he’s right by your side, but don’t feel locked into this. You want someone trustworthy and calm, not someone likely to lose things or get too nervous. (Bonus: if you have a best woman or someone else close, that works too.)
• Skip the box, use a pocket. Ring boxes are bulky and obvious in wedding photos. A lot of best men use a small zippered pocket or a coin pocket inside their suit. Some suits even come with a hidden pocket just for this reason.
• Lock it in a safe spot pre-ceremony. Don’t carry the ring around all morning. Leave it with someone responsible until you’re all dressed and ready. Pro tip: stick a note on your phone about where you put it. Sounds silly, but with pre-wedding nerves, you’ll thank yourself later.
• Practice the hand-off. Seriously—don’t just assume everyone knows what to do. Try it once before everyone walks down the aisle. Decide if the ring stays in a pocket until vows, or gets placed on a pillow for the ring bearer (if you’re doing the whole cute-kid-photo thing).

If your ceremony is outdoors or at a big venue, double-check for any gaps in wooden decks or anything the ring could fall through. And if you’re extra nervous, give the ring to an adult to hold until right before the exchange, even if a kid is carrying the pillow for photos.

Bottom line: a little planning now saves panic later. When in doubt, write it down—who has the ring, what pocket it’s in, and when it needs to show up. There’s no harm in being extra cautious when it comes to this small but mighty piece of jewelry.

Common Slip-Ups and How to Avoid Them

You’d be surprised at how many weddings have a mini crisis when it comes to the groom ring. People laugh about lost rings in movies, but it happens way more in real life than folks admit. Here’s what really goes wrong and how to stay out of trouble:

• Rings go missing in pockets. A best man or ring bearer might forget what jacket they used. One groom’s ring got stuck in a suit rental pocket—no joke, the staff found it the next day.
• Ring box fumbles. Fancy ring boxes look cute, but they’re bulkier than you think. Kids with tiny hands drop them, or the box falls open during the handoff and, well, cue the scramble on the ground.
• Mixing up the rings. Two simple rings, but it’s surprisingly easy to swap them. Stress, nerves, and nope—suddenly your bride is wearing your wider band.
• Forgetting the rings entirely. Someone always gets stuck in traffic or is busy helping the photographer, and the rings never make it to the venue. Not fun.

The fix? Keep it as simple as possible:

1. Assign one adult—ideally the best man—to hold both rings. Kids can walk down the aisle for the cuteness, but hand them fake rings or just the boxes.
2. If you’re using a ring box, make sure it closes tight and fits in a regular suit pocket. Do a quick practice run with the best man so he knows exactly how to get the box out smoothly.
3. Before the ceremony, triple-check the rings are in the right hands. Do a last-minute check in the dressing room—no skipping this step.
4. If the wedding is outside, skip handing off rings near grass or decking with gaps. You don’t want to be fishing for a lost ring as guests watch in horror.

If you want some hard numbers, here’s what a 2023 survey of 700 wedding planners showed about common ring mishaps:

Stuff does go sideways, but sticking to a plan means you’ll avoid most of these headaches. No one remembers a drama-free ring handoff—but they do remember when the ring ends up rolling under the altar.