Who Walks Down The Aisle First? Flower Girls Vs. Bridesmaids

The order of a wedding processional is often a source of confusion, especially when it comes to the flower girl's role. The flower girl is usually the last to walk down the aisle before the bride, but some couples choose to switch up the order to suit their preferences or accommodate specific situations, such as a shy flower girl or a bridesmaid who is the flower girl's mother. Ultimately, it is the couple's decision, and there is room for customization to make the processional unique and reflective of their style.

Wedding processional traditions

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 officiant, the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the bride and groom and their parents.

Traditional Christian Wedding Processional Order

The mother of the bride is the first to walk down the aisle, signalling that the processional is about to begin. The groom then takes their place at the head of the altar, either coming in from the side of the venue or walking down the aisle solo. The best man and groomsmen follow, and then the bridesmaids. The maid or matron of honour walks next, before helping the bride with her dress, veil and train. The flower girl and ring bearer precede the bride, who walks down the aisle last with her father or another escort.

Traditional Jewish Wedding Processional Order

The Rabbi and/or Cantor stand at the altar to signal the beginning of the processional. The bride's grandparents walk down the aisle first, followed by the groom's grandparents. The groomsmen walk in pairs, and then the best man. The groom proceeds to walk down the aisle with his parents, and then the bridesmaids walk in pairs. The maid or matron of honour walks alone, followed by the ring bearer and flower girl. Finally, the parents of the bride escort her down the aisle.

Traditional Hindu Wedding Processional Order

The groom enters with his friends and family in a celebration called a Baraat, arriving on a white horse as everyone dances around him. The bride's family waits for the groom and his family to arrive, and they exchange gifts. The bride then walks down the aisle with the rest of her family, wedding party and friends.

Traditional Nondenominational Wedding Processional Order

The officiant is already standing at the altar to mark the beginning of the processional. The groom and groomsmen can either be at the altar before the processional starts or walk down the aisle. The best man follows. The bridesmaids and groomsmen walk in pairs, and then the maid or matron of honour walks alone. The flower girl and/or ring bearer walk down the aisle next, and then the bride walks down the aisle with her parents or alone.

Breaking Traditions

While the above outlines traditional wedding processional orders, there is plenty of room for customisation. For example, you could have the officiant walk down the aisle first, or have the groom's mother walk him down the aisle. You could also add grandparents into the processional order, or have the groom's parents escort him down the aisle.

The order of the wedding party is also flexible. You could mix up the bridal party and have them walk in alternating bridesmaid and groomsman pairs, or have the flower girl and ring bearer walk before the bridal party.

Ultimately, the wedding processional is up to you, and there is no one correct way to do it.

The flower girl's duties

The role of a flower girl is to be adorable, and her presence in a wedding ceremony is optional. However, she has a few important duties to fulfil if she is included in the wedding party. Here is a list of the flower girl's duties:

Walk Down the Aisle

The flower girl traditionally walks down the aisle in front of the maid of honour or the bride, right before the bride's entrance. This role can be intimidating for a young girl, so it is advisable to have her practice walking in her dress, dropping petals, and carrying a basket.

Scatter Petals

The flower girl's role is to scatter petals, herbs, or confetti as she walks down the aisle. This tradition symbolises good fertility for the bride and has evolved over the years. Some venues do not allow petals to be dropped, so modern flower girls may carry a basket of flowers or a small bouquet instead.

Stand with the Wedding Party or Sit with Parents

Once the flower girl reaches the altar, she can either stand with the rest of the wedding party or return to sit with her parents during the ceremony. If the flower girl is comfortable, she can be announced with the rest of the wedding party entrances during the reception.

Rehearse

A little rehearsing can help the flower girl feel more confident and less nervous about her role. It is important to practice how quickly or slowly she needs to walk down the aisle, especially if she is scattering petals or carrying a basket.

Get Ready with the Bride

Depending on her age, the flower girl often gets ready with the bride. If her hair is to be professionally styled, the couple should offer to cover the cost, especially if they are doing so for the rest of the wedding party. If the flower girl gets ready on her own, she should arrive at the venue early enough to take group portraits before the ceremony.

Wear Appropriate Attire

The flower girl's parents are traditionally responsible for purchasing her outfit and accessories. However, if the couple is able and willing, it is a nice gesture to offer to cover the costs. The flower girl traditionally wears a white dress with features similar to the bride's attire, such as lace, beading, or floral appliqués. Alternatively, she can match the bridesmaids by adding a coloured sash or wearing a similar dress style. Comfortable shoes are essential, and stockings, hair accessories, and jewellery are optional.

Attend Pre-Wedding Events

The flower girl and her parents will also be involved in many pre-wedding events, such as the bridal shower and rehearsal dinner. They will need to arrive early on the day of the wedding, and it is important for the couple to foster a good relationship with the flower girl's parents, as they will be investing time and money into their child's participation.

The bride's entrance

The Processional Order:

Firstly, the mother of the bride walks down the aisle, signalling that the processional is about to begin. She can walk alone or be accompanied by another family member and will sit on the left side of the aisle in the first row.

The Groom's Entrance:

Next, the groom enters the ceremony space, either escorted by his parents or alone from the side of the venue, taking his place at the altar.

The Best Man and Groomsmen:

The best man follows the groom, either walking in from the side or alone down the aisle, and takes his place next to the groom. The groomsmen then enter one by one or in pairs, depending on the couple's preference, with those standing farthest from the groom entering first.

The Bridesmaids:

The bridesmaids walk down the aisle one by one or in pairs with the groomsmen, with those standing farthest from the bride entering first.

The Maid of Honour:

The maid of honour helps the bride with any final adjustments to her dress, veil, or train before they walk down the aisle together. She holds the bride's bouquet and may also hold the groom's ring.

The Flower Girl and Ring Bearer:

Traditionally, the flower girl and ring bearer are the final members of the processional before the bride. The ring bearer carries the wedding rings (or decoys) on a small pillow, and the flower girl scatters petals or carries a basket of flowers. They can then be seated with their parents or stand with the bridal party.

The Bride's Grand Entrance:

Finally, the bride makes her grand entrance, escorted by her father or another chosen escort. The father of the bride lifts the veil, kisses her, and gives her away before taking his seat.

Variations and Personalisation:

While the above is the traditional processional order, it can be customised to suit the couple's preferences and wedding theme. For example, the officiant, grandparents, or the entire bridal party may enter earlier in the processional. The bride may also choose to be escorted by her mother, both parents, or walk down the aisle alone.

So, while tradition dictates that the flower girl walks down the aisle before the bridesmaids, ultimately, it is the bride's decision and can be tailored to her vision for the wedding.

The wedding party's procession

Traditional Order

The traditional order for the wedding party's procession is as follows:

• Mother of the bride
• Officiant
• Groom
• Best man
• Groomsmen
• Bridesmaids
• Maid of honour
• Flower girl and ring bearer
• Father of the bride and bride

Customising the Procession

If you want to switch things up, you can customise the procession to make it unique. Here are some ideas:

• Have the officiant walk down the aisle first or wait at the altar
• Include grandparents in the procession
• Have the groom's mother walk him down the aisle
• Mix up the wedding party, alternating bridesmaids and groomsmen
• Include step-parents in the procession
• Send in the groom before the ring bearer and flower girl
• Have the bride and groom walk in together
• Have the bride escorted by both parents or just their mother
• The bride walks in alone
• The bride walks in with someone else, such as a grandparent, uncle, or brother
• The bride walks in with their children
• The bride is accompanied by a four-legged friend
• The bride meets their spouse in the middle of the aisle and they walk to the altar together
• For blended families, have the stepmother walk in behind the mother of the bride

Flower Girl

The flower girl traditionally comes right before the bride in the procession. However, this is not set in stone, and you can put the flower girl in whatever order you want. Some couples choose to have the flower girl go first, followed by the bridal party and then the bride. Others opt for a different order, such as having the flower girl walk with the ring bearer or after the bridesmaids. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what works best for your wedding.

The flower girl's procession timing

The timing of the flower girl's procession is a key part of the wedding ceremony. While there is no one fixed way to structure the procession, there are a few traditional elements to be aware of when planning the timing.

The flower girl traditionally walks down the aisle after the bridesmaids and before the bride. This is so that no one else steps on the petals she scatters. However, some couples choose to have the flower girl walk down the aisle first, before the bridal party. Ultimately, it is up to the couple to decide the order of the procession and there is no wrong way to do it.

If the flower girl is walking before the bridesmaids, it is a good idea to have her walk towards the end of the song that accompanies the bridesmaids' procession, so that the music can change for the bride's entrance. This can help to signal to guests that the bride is about to enter.

If the flower girl is shy, it might be a good idea to have her walk down the aisle first so that she can be seated with her family before the ceremony begins. Alternatively, if the flower girl is walking with the ring bearer, it might be a good idea to have them walk together, so that they don't get nervous being alone.

Frequently asked questions