Preparing a Young Ring Bearer for Success
An accomplished educator and school administrator, Greg Gerkens enjoys spending time with his preschool-age son. Greg Gerkens recently prepared his son to be the ring bearer at his sister's wedding.
To the young ring bearer, the big day can be both exciting and intimidating. The event may be the child's first wedding, or at least the first that he remembers, and he may not have any idea of what is expected. Because this child is likely very young, proper preparation is key to his comfort.
The process of preparation begins when the wedding couple asks, not tells, the child to be in their wedding. This shows respect for the child and helps him to feel more in control of the situation. It also allows the adults to explain what it means to be a ring bearer, and to ask the child if he has any questions.
The adults can then set to making the preparation process as fun as possible. This applies to every step, from the fitting of the small rental tuxedo to the rehearsal of the ceremony. Experts recommend that the ring bearer's parents take him to the venue before the day of the event and allow him to practice walking down the aisle, while making sure that this walk feels like a game rather than a drill.
It is likewise important for ring bearers to have plenty of support and coaching the day of the event. When the moment comes, parents can place themselves at the end of the aisle, possibly with a stuffed animal or other treat as a reward for completing the often nerve-wracking walk. A plan B is important, in case the young ring bearer finds himself overwhelmed by performance anxiety, but promises of a thank-you gift often help to subdue these feelings.
To the young ring bearer, the big day can be both exciting and intimidating. The event may be the child's first wedding, or at least the first that he remembers, and he may not have any idea of what is expected. Because this child is likely very young, proper preparation is key to his comfort.
The process of preparation begins when the wedding couple asks, not tells, the child to be in their wedding. This shows respect for the child and helps him to feel more in control of the situation. It also allows the adults to explain what it means to be a ring bearer, and to ask the child if he has any questions.
The adults can then set to making the preparation process as fun as possible. This applies to every step, from the fitting of the small rental tuxedo to the rehearsal of the ceremony. Experts recommend that the ring bearer's parents take him to the venue before the day of the event and allow him to practice walking down the aisle, while making sure that this walk feels like a game rather than a drill.
It is likewise important for ring bearers to have plenty of support and coaching the day of the event. When the moment comes, parents can place themselves at the end of the aisle, possibly with a stuffed animal or other treat as a reward for completing the often nerve-wracking walk. A plan B is important, in case the young ring bearer finds himself overwhelmed by performance anxiety, but promises of a thank-you gift often help to subdue these feelings.
