Little Boys in Victorian Weddings

No fashionable Victorian bridal party was complete without small boys as pages. The pages were usually chosen from among the young brothers or nephews of the bride.  They were one of the most picturesque features of the bridal group when quaintly dressed in little prince costumes or Lord Fauntleroy suits of white or pale tinted satin with collar and cuffs of  lace and  a sash of soft silk in a contrasting  shade. Pages were sometimes dressed in full naval uniform or in Highland costume; these costumes also served afterward for fancy-ball suits.

The young boys dressed as pages often took part in wedding processions with the delicate duty of carrying and arranging the train. This required several arduous rehearsals in order that any awkwardness would be avoided.  If the bride's train was immensely long, the page carried it, either by lifting it slightly or by carrying a great loop of ribbon through which the end of the train was passed. Other times, the pages merely walked behind the bride as she passed up the aisle, and stood near to adjust her train as she turned to leave the altar, a duty that was otherwise delegated upon the first bridesmaid.

Many other little duties were assigned to the pages. If ribbon was used across the aisles, the costumed little boys were stationed there to lift it as the ushers passed. One of the pages would also hold the bride's bouquet while the ceremony was being performed; another would carry a plush case for the prayer-book, if the bride wished to use one. Finally, pages would gather up the ribbon, if it was drawn the whole length of the aisle.  In today’s weddings, many brides select a charming little boy to be her ring bearer, dressing him in a miniature tuxedo.

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