How to Handle the Rings If There's No Ring Bearer

Ceremony Planning

Not every wedding has a ring bearer — many couples skip this role entirely, especially at smaller or more casual ceremonies. If you’re officiating and there’s no designated ring-holder, here’s how to handle the logistics smoothly.

Option 1: the officiant holds the rings

By far the most common solution: you, as the officiant, simply hold both rings (often in a small pocket, ring box, or ring pillow you keep near you) until the ring exchange portion of the ceremony. This is simple, reliable, and completely standard — many couples without a ring bearer default to this without even considering it unusual.

Practical tip: a small drawstring pouch or the pockets of your officiant attire work well. Whatever you use, do a final check right before the ceremony starts that both rings are actually there — a surprisingly common last-minute panic is discovering a ring was left behind or handed to the wrong person.

Option 2: the best man or maid of honor holds them

Another common approach: the best man holds the groom’s/one partner’s ring, and the maid of honor holds the other, handing them over at the appropriate moment during the ring exchange. This works well if you’d rather not manage the physical rings yourself.

Option 3: a “ring warming” ceremony (if the couple wants a ritual)

Some couples like a ring-warming tradition, where the rings are passed among all guests during the seating period (often tied to a decorative cord or pillow) so that everyone present has “blessed” them with a touch before they reach the officiant or wedding party for the actual exchange. If a couple mentions wanting this, it’s worth coordinating who collects the rings back before the ceremony reaches the ring exchange moment.

Option 4: a pet or unconventional “ring bearer”

If the couple has a dog or other pet they’d like involved, some choose to have the pet “carry” the rings partway down the aisle (usually attached securely, with a handler nearby) as a fun alternative to a human ring bearer. If this is part of the plan, coordinate directly with whoever is handling the pet so the actual rings are safely transferred to you or the wedding party before the exchange, rather than staying attached to the pet through the ceremony.

What to confirm before the ceremony

Regardless of which option the couple chooses, confirm two things ahead of time: exactly who is physically holding each ring right before the ceremony begins, and exactly when in the ceremony flow the rings need to be handed to you (if you’re not holding them yourself). A quick confirmation at the rehearsal prevents any last-minute scrambling.

During the ceremony itself

When you reach the ring exchange, a simple verbal cue like “may I have the rings” or “the rings, please” signals clearly to whoever’s holding them that it’s time, without needing a rehearsed hand signal or awkward pause while people figure out the moment has arrived.

A backup plan if a ring genuinely can’t be found

In the rare case a ring is truly missing when you reach this moment, keep moving — acknowledge it lightly (“we’ll circle back to this”) and continue the ceremony, handling the actual ring placement privately once it’s located. The pronouncement and legal marriage don’t depend on the physical ring exchange happening at a specific moment.

For a full ceremony-flow checklist covering rings and every other logistical detail, see our Checklist & Timeline Kit.