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No, we're not thinking insurance (though that's undoubtedly a wise idea!). This time we're thinking logistics. If you're having a ring-bearer, how do you get the rings to the front without incident? The last thing you want is to reach down to the pillow held by that very sweet little boy, and find it ... empty!

There are several options.

1. Use fake rings. Keep the real rings in charge of a responsible adult. The rings on the pillow can come from a gumball machine! When he gets to the front, depending on this age, you'll either have him stand with you or go sit with his parents. He's just there to look cute, anyway!

2. Secure the rings to the pillow. Thread the rings onto a ribbon, and pin it to the pillow. You might even choose a pin with sentimental value!

3. Try alternative means of transportation!

Sometimes including small children in the wedding party is a bit risky. Your wee nephew is as cute as can be, but if there's an accident he can be part of, it'll happen! We all know kids like that. If you still want him part of the ceremony, but are worried that the rings might not make it safely down the aisle, you have a couple of options.

In this case, the clear winner is to give the boy fakes. This happens a lot, you know. That sweet little ring-bearer, who's walking up the aisle with such care has not been entrusted with several hundred dollars worth of teeny-tiny lose-able jewelry. Those are gumball machine rings on that pillow. But shhh! Don't tell him that!

If your little guy isn't as bad as all that, and you think it's reasonable to send him down the aisle with the real deal, you might still opt for these ring pouches instead of a pillow. Aren't they cute?? It's easy to tell whose ring is in which pouch, and, with a drawstring at the top, you're less likely to see your rings rolling down the aisle ...

If you think a pair of these would be perfect for your wedding, you can find more information on the ring pouches at Bridal People.

Not all couples opt to have children take part in their wedding, but if you've decided to include one or two, they'll need to fit in with the party. The flower girl basket and the ring bearer pillow are obvious and simple places to start.

With a navy-gold-cream color scheme, you have several options. You can punch up the drama by making navy your main color, with the other two as accents; you can go for serene elegance with gold, and the other two colors as accents.

We've provided a small sample of the many options of pillows and baskets available to you. Check out the gallery, and let your creative imagination take it from there! (And if you're in love with that basket on the right? You can find it at Bridal People.com.)

Some people think having pets in a wedding is a doggone crazy idea. However, for many of us, it's hard to imagine our big day without our furriest friend on hand. Who else has been so patient throughout this wedding planning process -- lending an ear when you need to vent, cuddling up close when you need to cry, and joining you for a walk when you just have to get out of the house?

Your pet might also have significance for your significant other -- perhaps you didn't know he was The One until Fluffy decided to sit on his lap, or perhaps you picked out your pooch together. It just wouldn't seem quite right to get married without your pet.

Petside.com has five ways for you to include your pet in your wedding -- thank you to AisleDash commenter Laura for pointing it out. Check out the gallery to see what they suggest!

Is anything sweeter than a little boy in an all-white suit? If you're planning an all-white wedding, you'll be looking for something white for the junior members of the wedding party, too. The flower girl will be easy: there's a ton of all-white stuff for her, but you might have a little more trouble with the boy.

You can get him a wee white tux, of course, but if white's the color you're after, trying asking for an "Eton suit". A three-piece suit with jacket, shirt and pants, it's a very classy and traditional way to dress up very little boys. Traditionally, they come with shorts, but you can find them with long pants, too -- and they're white!

For more information on the Eton suit in the picture, check out the link.

The other day as I was perusing gifts for a friend's upcoming bridal shower, I discovered these personalized crayon belts from "Doodlebuz" at AmericanBridal.com, and I was a bit sad I didn't have ring bearers or flower girls to shop for myself. But maybe you do! Each belt is quite adorable and seems, to me, to be the perfect and most original gift to give the tykes in your wedding party. Not only are these belts fun-patterned and easily monogrammed they come paired with ten crayons and a notebook. Feel free to pick up a different color pack or a corresponding easel for your favorite kids to draw on, and this gift is sure to keep on giving (to the kids and their parents!) for months to come.

Both belts -- the multi-colored belt or the red, white and blue one -- are currently on sale for $19.95 and the choice of thread colors are endless! Pick one up from your ring bearer and flower girl today!

To purchase, please visit AmericanBridal.com.

Incorporating children into your wedding ceremony can be tricky, but it's important to many brides to host a kid-friendly wedding where the children feel just as special and wanted as the adult guests. One way to show how much you appreciate the little additions to your ceremony is by giving them some fun and trendy gifts they will love and that will make them feel fantastic about their role in your big day. ClassyBride.com -- a fun, original wedding gift site -- has an entire section devoted to the little guys and gals in your life. Pick up a cute-as-can-be flower girl hoodie set for the mini-diva in your bridal party or a baseball t-shirt for your ring bearer. Check out the gallery for even more gift ideas and tune back in tomorrow for even more flower girl and ring bearer gift ideas!

All gifts linked to and displayed in this post can be purchased from ClassyBride.com.

We just love this idea: Announce the bride with a beautiful hand-made banner!

If you'd like to have a ring-bearer, but he's just a little too young to make the trek down the aisle himself, or if you know two little boys or girls who'd both like to participate, a wedding banner is a delightful way to give everyone a chance. (Of course, the banner can easily be carried by a single child, as is displayed by this TOTALLY adorable child.)

An elegantly simple banner to match your color scheme and/or your monogram, marched down the aisle behind the bridesmaids and ahead of the bride, will be sure to make your guests smile.

For a complete change from the ring-bearer pillow, here we have a gorgeous silver rose to hold your ring. The rose is 22.8 cm tall (about 9 inches), and is lined with red velveteen. The ring-bearer can carry one, and, putting a twist on tradition, if you're having a double-ring ceremony (and who doesn't, these days?), the flower girl can carry one, too.

Just picture two little people, each with their silver rose, one with the bride's ring, one with the groom's. A sweetly delicate variation on the standard basket and pillow! The only question in our minds is: Would they be more or less likely to drop a rose than a pillow or a basket?

Sometimes the smallest members of the party can be a bit of an afterthought. After all, we all know they're pretty much only there for the "cute factor", and with children that age, there's always the possibility that they will absolutely refuse to wear the dress, carry the pillow, or walk down the aisle at all. You have to be flexible in your expectations, and prep. them well in advance.

However, they are cute as the dickens, and there are some utterly adorable fixings for them -- that don't break the bank. If the stars align for your wedding and your smallest fry perform to perfection, they'll look sweeter than sweet with any of these darling accessories. And, since this week's theme is pink-and-brown weddings, all the cuteness in this gallery is pink and -- you got it! -- brown.

Shaving sets are popular gifts for groomsmen, but you can't very easily give your ring bearer one of those, unless you want to start a fight with his parents. But we've found the perfect little boys' gift to go along with the shaving kits you'll give your groomsmen.

It's called the Rub a Dub Dub Shaving In The Tub kit, and it's perfect for young boys. It's currently available at Amazon for only $7.95. It's an age-appropriate gift that will make him feel like one of the grownups. We love it.

If you have to include your crazy uncle on the guest list, why not include every member of your family -- including your favorite four-legged one? It's a trend that is slowly gaining momentum: having your dog trot down the aisle before you. It sounds a bit bizarre, sure, but if your venue will allow for pets, what is really stopping you? Even bridal Web sites and boutiques have begun offering products that cater to the animal lover.

If you can't imagine life without your canine friend, it may also be hard to imagine the most important day of your life without him/her. Make sure to clear it with your venue, practice a lot and tell the photographer to get plenty of pictures.

Yes, a ring bearer bowl.

It wouldn't suit every wedding, and you may decide that your particular ring bearer is better off carrying a nice, soft pillow than a handful of potential pottery shards. In that case, stick with the tried-and-true pillow. (Or maybe a treasure chest!)

If you're ready for something a little different, these tiny bowls, complete with ribbon with which to attach the rings, might be just the thing for you. You can have words of your choice stamped into the basin, a special saying or your names and the date. After the wedding, you can use it for keys or subway tokens, a potpourri or candies, or just hang it on the wall.

via: Etsy weddings

Over the weekend, the New York Times Style section included an interesting article on what has become the biggest wedding dilemma of all for some couples: the rules for including children. According to the Times, "Surprisingly, there is less professional guidance on the topic than a bride and bridegroom might hope for. Of the hundreds of wedding planning books on the Barnes & Noble Web site, there isn't one exclusively devoted to it.'

While we cannot imagine that one needs an entire BOOK on children at the wedding, we can see how the question of whether or not to include the wee ones could indeed be the most vexing decision a bride and groom might have to make. After all, no matter what you decide, you are guaranteed to anger someone.



With that in mind (you're welcome!), here are three hard-and-fast rules about kids at weddings:

Ever since Johnny Depp first graced our movie screens as the strangely sexy Captain Jack Sparrow, pirates and pirate-themed weddings have been gaining popularity. If you're having a pirate theme, or you just want to have a little fun with your beach wedding, consider swapping out the traditional ring bearer pillow for a treasure chest ring box instead.

It fits well with a pirate theme, but is nice looking even if that's not what you're going for. You can find small treasure chests made as ring boxes, or you can purchase a hollow box and fill it with sand or coins and place your rings on top.

After the ceremony, fill the chest with chocolate coins or the real thing and it makes a great gift for your ring bearer.