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Updated Mar 06, 2025What to Know About Having Junior Groomsmen in Your Wedding
From how old they are to what they wear.
Planning a wedding involves a lot of decisions, as well as a lot of people. When it comes to who to include in the wedding party, the couple may consider enlisting younger family members or friends to be junior attendants, such as junior groomsmen.
A junior groomsman is someone the couple would love to have in the wedding party, who fits between the typical ages of a ring bearer and an usher. This person can be a brother, cousin, nephew, friend's son or the couple's own son/stepson-to-be. Of course, this role is also open to girls and non-binary teens. Including them is a great way to involve younger people in the wedding day fun, and can help prepare them to be a groomsman or best man in the future.
Whether you're considering a junior groomsman for your special day, are the guardian of one or the young man himself, the details below cover everything you need to know about the role.
In this article:
- What is a junior groomsman?
- How old are junior groomsmen?
- What do junior groomsmen wear?
- If you have junior groomsmen, do you need junior bridesmaids?
What is a junior groomsman?
A junior groomsman is a special person the couple wants to include in their wedding but who is younger than other attendants. The position is typically filled by a nephew, brother, son, stepson or a close family friend and is a great opportunity to have more loved ones in the wedding while keeping their duties and involvement age-appropriate. Junior groomsmen are official members of the wedding party, but their role looks a bit unique compared to older groomsmen.
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Just as the other wedding attendants, jr. groomsmen are a part of the celebration. Though different from typical groomsmen duties, there are still lots of ways that they're able to assist in the wedding tasks. Some junior groomsmen responsibilities may include helping the usher pass out programs, laying out the aisle runner or setting up wedding games. They'll be in attendance at every age-appropriate event leading up to the wedding, including a wedding shower and the rehearsal dinner. (They should probably steer clear of the bachelor party unless the celebration will be PG-rated.)
How old are junior groomsmen?
The junior groomsman age usually falls between nine and 14. But, there are no set rules or age limits when it comes to including this special individual in the wedding day. Due to the junior groomsman's younger age, the couple must talk with their parents or guardians before asking them to be part of the wedding party, just to confirm that everyone is comfortable and on board with the idea.
It's important to remember that the junior groomsman will not be able to contribute financially—a fact that should also be discussed with the parent or guardian of the attendant. A way to keep it affordable for the parents is to have them rent a suit or tux for their child since they may not wear it again following the wedding day—and kids/tweens/teens grow out of clothing quickly. Once the parent agrees to their child serving as junior groomsman, the soonlyweds can put together a junior groomsman proposal gift to pop the question to the younger attendant in a meaningful way.
Tip: If the groomsman isn't comfortable being a junior groomsman, the role of wedding usher may be a better fit. While they interact with guests—escorting them to their seats and handing out programs—they aren't required to stand at the altar with the couple and their responsibilities are typically limited to the ceremony.
What do junior groomsmen wear?
As for junior groomsmen attire, they can wear outfits similar to others in the wedding party and can be brought along for suit or tuxedo shopping. We love bow ties for younger attendants, but make sure to give them options for their wedding day outfits so they feel comfortable. Other wedding day looks can include suspenders or a vest over a button-down shirt—a junior groomsman doesn't have to match older groomsmen's attire exactly. If they'll be wearing a suit or tux, we encourage having their attire tailored to ensure they'll be looking sharp and feeling confident when standing up at the altar.
Tip for the couple: Include more of your color palette into the wedding party's attire by having the junior groomsmen wear a different color tie from their older counterparts. For example, if your color palette includes lavender, blue and gray, and your groomsmen are wearing lavender ties, your junior groomsmen might opt for a blue tie. This shade can be incorporated in the ring bearer's pillow, the flower girl's basket and the junior bridesmaid's dress for cohesiveness.
If you have junior groomsmen, do you need junior bridesmaids?
Speaking of junior bridesmaids, they can be a great addition to a wedding party—especially if junior groomsmen are involved in the ceremony as well. Similar to junior groomsmen, junior bridesmaids are loved ones of the couple who support the bride as members of her wedding party. They also act as the junior groomsmen's counterparts, walking with them down the aisle and into the reception (where they'll be announced together), as well as someone to (potentially) dance with.
While we think it's a great idea to have junior bridesmaids, especially if also having junior groomsmen, the couple shouldn't force including them if it's not the right fit. For example, maybe the to-be-weds don't have an age-appropriate family member (daughter, niece, sister, etc.) or close friend to fill the role. Or if they do, maybe the age gap between the junior groomsman and junior bridesmaid would make them uncomfortable. It's also possible that a loved one may not feel confident holding the position if asked. Though it may require some finesse for more aesthetic parts of the wedding, the junior groomsman can fly solo.
Additional reporting by Shyla Watson
