$.validator.setDefaults({ highlight: function(element) { $(element).closest('.form-group').addClass('has-error'); }, unhighlight: function(element) { $(element).closest('.form-group').removeClass('has-error'); }, errorElement: 'span', errorClass: 'help-block', errorPlacement: function(error, element) { if(element.parent('.input-group').length) { error.insertAfter(element.parent()); } else { error.insertAfter(element); } } });