No fashionable Victorian bridal party was complete without a small boy as a pageboy or ringbearer. The ringbearer was one of the most picturesque features of the bridal group when quaintly dressed in a little prince pageboy outfit or in a Lord Fauntleroy suit of white or pale tinted satin with a collar and cuffs of  lace and  a sash of soft silk in a contrasting  shade. The ringbearer or pageboy was usually chosen from among the young brothers or nephews of the bride. A pageboy was sometimes dressed in full naval uniform or in a Highland costume; these pageboy outfits also served afterward as a fancy dress suit.

The young boys dressed in pageboy outfits often took part in the wedding procession 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 ringbearer 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 ringbearer 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 ringbearer. If ribbon was used across the aisles, the costumed little boys were stationed there to lift it as the ushers passed. One of the pageboys would also hold the bride's bouquet while the ceremony was being performed; another pageboy would carry a plush case for the prayer-book, if the bride wished to use one. Finally, ringbearers 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 ringbearer, dressing him in a miniature tuxedo.