Bridesmaids And The Bridal March: Who Walks In?

The wedding processional refers to the group of people walking down the aisle in a specific order to mark the beginning of a wedding ceremony. The processional often includes the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the bride and groom and their parents. The order of the processional and recessional will depend on the type of wedding ceremony, with religious, civil, and military weddings each having different traditions. For example, in a Christian wedding, the groom and best man enter first, followed by the bridesmaids and ushers, and then the maid or matron of honour. In a Jewish wedding, the rabbi and cantor stand at the altar first, followed by the bride's grandparents, and then the groom's grandparents. In a civil ceremony, there is no set order, and couples can borrow procedures from a religious ceremony or create their own.

The bridal party can enter in pairs, with the groomsmen meeting the bridesmaids halfway down the aisle

The bridal party can enter in a number of ways and this often depends on the type of ceremony, traditions, and formality. For a traditional Christian wedding, the groom and best man enter from a side door and stand at the altar, followed by the groomsmen and bridesmaids walking in pairs. This is also the preferred way for photographers to capture the bridal party, as they can get a clear photo of each pair walking down the aisle together.

However, if you're looking for something a little different, the bridal party can enter in pairs with the groomsmen meeting the bridesmaids halfway down the aisle. This option is more commonly seen in churches, where the groomsmen enter and stand in reverse order at the front. The groom is at the end of the line, and as the bridesmaids walk down the aisle, the next groomsman in line meets the first bridesmaid around 75% of the way down. They then link arms and walk to the front, sometimes bowing before taking their seats. This pattern continues until the groom is the only person left standing at the front. This option works well when there are pews or seats for the bridal party to sit in.

If you're looking for something more fun and outside the box, you could consider a dancing entrance or something else that feels natural for you and your group of friends.

The groomsmen can enter first, followed by the bridesmaids

There are several ways to organise the entrance of the bridal party, and one option is to have the groomsmen enter first, followed by the bridesmaids. This is a common way to organise the bridal party's entrance, and it can be done in a few different ways.

One way is to have all the groomsmen enter first and stand at the front, either by walking around the sides of the ceremony or walking down the aisle one by one. Then, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle one by one. This order can be a good choice if you want to get clear photos of the bridesmaids, but it may be more difficult to get good photos of the groomsmen.

Another option is to have the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk in together in pairs. They can be paired in several ways, such as by height, personality, or friendship group. This option can be advantageous for photographers, as it allows them to capture clear photos of each bridal party member walking down together.

A third way to organise the entrance is to have the groomsmen walk down the aisle one by one, followed by the bridesmaids. This ensures that the photographers get clear shots of both the groomsmen and bridesmaids as they enter the ceremony space.

The traditional Christian, Jewish, and Hindu wedding processional orders differ slightly. In a traditional Christian wedding, the groomsmen open the processional by walking down the aisle one by one, followed by the bridesmaids. In a Jewish wedding, the groomsmen also walk down the aisle first, but they do so in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the groom. The bridesmaids then follow in pairs as well. For a Hindu wedding, the groom's family and friends enter first, followed by the bride and her bridal party.

The groomsmen and bridesmaids can enter separately, one by one

The number of groomsmen and bridesmaids can also be taken into account when deciding how they will enter. For example, if there are uneven numbers, one person can walk alone, or two maids or groomsmen can walk together. It is also nice to have an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen so they can pair up nicely.

The groomsmen and bridesmaids can also be seated differently. For example, the groomsmen may walk the bridesmaids to the front row and then sit themselves at the back, or they may sit in the front row near the bride and groom.

Ultimately, the most important thing is that the bridal party feels natural and comfortable with the entrance they choose. They should not be afraid to think outside the box and have fun with it.

The bridesmaids can walk in front of or behind the bride

Bridesmaids Walking in Front

If the bridesmaids walk down the aisle before the bride, it can create a grand entrance for the bride and ensure that all eyes are on her as she makes her way towards the altar. This is a common practice in modern civil ceremonies, as it allows the bridesmaids to take their seats at the front, giving the bride an uninterrupted walk towards her fiancé. It also provides an opportunity for each bridesmaid to be noticed and appreciated by the guests.

Bridesmaids Walking Behind

In traditional church weddings, particularly in the UK, the bridesmaids typically walk behind the bride. This arrangement allows the bridesmaids to assist the bride, especially with her dress, veil, or train, as she makes her way down the aisle. It also symbolises the bridesmaids' role in supporting and following the bride on her special day.

Pairing with Groomsmen

Another option is to have the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk down the aisle in pairs, creating a balanced procession. This can add a sense of unity and harmony to the ceremony, blending the two sides of the wedding party.

Cultural and Religious Variations

The order of the wedding processional can also vary depending on cultural and religious traditions. For example, in Jewish weddings, the bride's family and guests sit on the right, while the groom's family and guests sit on the left. Therefore, the processional order would reflect this arrangement, with the bride's grandparents walking down the aisle first, followed by the groom's grandparents.

Customisation and Personalisation

Ultimately, the wedding processional can be customised to suit the couple's preferences and the unique dynamics of the wedding party. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and couples can choose to incorporate different family members or wedding party members in the processional, either ahead of or alongside the bride.

So, whether the bridesmaids walk in front of or behind the bride, the key is to ensure that the processional reflects the couple's style and vision for their special day.

The bride can walk down the aisle with both her parents

The bride's walk down the aisle is one of the highlights of a wedding ceremony. While it is customary in the US for the bride to be escorted by her father only, many brides choose to walk with both their parents. This is the norm in Jewish weddings, and also occurs in Kenyan weddings.

If you want to walk down the aisle with both your parents, you can do so in a number of ways. You could:

• Loop your arms through theirs and hold your bouquet in the middle.
• Hold your bouquet in front of you with both hands and have your parents "escort" you, with their arms looped through yours at the elbow.
• Hold your bouquet in one hand and link arms with your parents.
• Walk with your parents on either side of you, holding onto one of your arms, while you hold your bouquet.
• Walk with one parent on either side of you, without holding onto them, and hold your bouquet in front of you with both hands.

Walking down the aisle with both parents can be a meaningful way to acknowledge the role both your mother and father have played in your life. It can also be a way to avoid the patriarchal implication that the bride is her father's "property" to be "given away" to the groom.

If you're worried about aesthetics, rest assured that many brides who have walked down the aisle with both parents report that it looked great.

Frequently asked questions