Who Walks Down The Aisle First? Bridesmaids Or Groomsmen?

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 order of the processional varies depending on the type of wedding. In Christian weddings, the groom's grandparents, the bride's grandparents, and the groom's parents walk down the aisle first, followed by the mother of the bride. In Jewish weddings, the rabbi and/or cantor go first, followed by the bride's grandparents, the groom's grandparents, the best man, and the groom, who is accompanied by his parents. In Hindu weddings, the groom enters with his family and friends in a celebration called a Baraat, and the bride walks down the aisle with her family, wedding party, and friends. In nondenominational weddings, the officiant is usually already at the altar, and the groom and groomsmen may enter from the side or walk down the aisle. The order in which the wedding party walks down the aisle is ultimately up to the couple, and there is no set tradition.

In a traditional Christian wedding, the bride's family sits on the left, and the groom's on the right

In a traditional Christian wedding, the bride's family and friends sit on the left, and the groom's on the right. This custom is said to originate from the Middle Ages, when a groom would hold his bride with his left hand, keeping his right sword arm free in case the bride's family came to her rescue. The best man, the village's best fighter, would stand nearby, ready to defend the couple.

The seating arrangement is also believed to have stemmed from the practice of men and women sitting on opposite sides of the aisle during Christian worship services.

In modern times, this tradition is not always followed, especially when the wedding is held by a civil celebrant, and the couple is facing each other or the guests. Some couples choose to have a "pick a seat, not a side" arrangement, which is particularly useful when one partner has significantly fewer guests than the other.

The processional order in a traditional Christian wedding is as follows:

• The groom's grandparents, the bride's grandparents, and then the groom's parents.
• The mother of the bride, sometimes arm-in-arm with the father of the groom.
• The officiant, if they are not already at the altar.
• The wedding party, including bridesmaids and groomsmen, flower girls and page boys. They may walk behind or in front of the bride, in pairs or separately.

The bride is traditionally escorted by her father, who stands to her right. After "giving her away", the father lifts the veil, kisses the bride, and takes his seat beside the bride's mother.

While the seating arrangement and processional order can be adjusted to the couple's preferences, these are the typical traditions followed in a Christian wedding ceremony.

In a Jewish wedding, the rabbi and/or cantor stand under the traditional chuppah to signal the beginning of the processional

The processional order for a Jewish wedding ceremony varies depending on how religious the couple is and their local practices. However, in a traditional Jewish wedding, the rabbi and/or cantor stand under the chuppah to signal the beginning of the processional. The chuppah is a canopy under which the Jewish couple stands during their wedding ceremony, symbolising the new home that the couple will build together. It is usually made of cloth or a sheet, sometimes a tallit, stretched or supported over four poles, or manually held up by attendants.

The rabbi and/or cantor are followed by the bride's grandparents, who are seated in the first row on the right side, and then the groom's grandparents, who are seated in the first row on the left side. The groomsmen then walk down the aisle in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the groom. The best man walks solo after the groomsmen and takes his place as the groom's right-hand man. The groom then walks down the aisle, escorted by his parents, with his father on his left and his mother on his right.

The bridesmaids then proceed in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the bride. The bride's right-hand woman, or maid/matron of honour, walks alone. The ring bearer and/or flower girl precede the bride down the aisle and are then seated with their parents. Finally, the bride walks down the aisle with her parents, with her father on her left and her mother on her right.

In a Hindu wedding, the groom arrives on a white horse, and the bride's family waits for him

In a Hindu wedding, the groom's procession or 'Baraat' is a festive and grand ceremony that marks the beginning of the wedding. The groom arrives on a white horse, accompanied by his family and friends, who dance and sing around him. This procession is led to the wedding venue by the groom's friends and relatives, known as the 'barati'.

The bride's family waits to receive the groom and his family, and they exchange gifts or flower garlands. The bride's family then escorts the groom and his immediate family to the Mandap, the traditional Hindu wedding arch. The bride's family, including uncles and aunts, participate in this welcoming ceremony.

The bride then walks down the aisle with the rest of her family, wedding party, and friends. The bridal party walks ahead of the bride to keep her hidden until the big reveal. Once the bride reaches the Mandap, she and the groom exchange flower garlands, symbolising their acceptance of one another.

The couple, the bride's parents, and the priest then sit under the Mandap to begin the wedding ceremony. The Mandap is a beautifully decorated canopy, with each of its four pillars representing one of the couple's parents.

In a nondenominational wedding, the officiant can be a friend or family member, and the processional is highly customisable

In a nondenominational wedding, the processional is highly customisable. The officiant can be a friend or family member, and the couple can decide who walks down the aisle and when.

The processional refers to the group of people walking down the aisle in a specific order to mark the beginning of a wedding ceremony. This often includes the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the bride and groom, with their parents. In a nondenominational ceremony, the order is flexible and can be tailored to the couple's preferences.

For example, the bridesmaids and groomsmen can walk in pairs, followed by the maid of honour, flower girls, and ring bearers. The bride and/or the bride's parents can then make their entrance. Alternatively, the couple can choose to walk down the aisle together or create two aisles and walk in simultaneously.

The nondenominational wedding processional is a chance for the couple to make their entrance in a way that reflects their personalities and beliefs. It is an opportunity to shine the spotlight on both the bride and groom equally and set the tone for the rest of the ceremony.

In a civil ceremony, the bride often goes down the aisle after the bridesmaids

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. The order of the processional varies depending on the type of wedding, with different religious and cultural weddings having different traditions.

Additionally, having the bridesmaids go first can make for better photos, as it allows guests to see the back of the bride's dress as she walks down the aisle. It can also be a practical choice, especially if the bride is wearing a dress with a long train. The bridesmaids can help to ensure that the train flows neatly and doesn't get in the way as the bride walks.

However, the traditional order of the bride being escorted down the aisle by her father is still common, even in civil ceremonies. Ultimately, the decision of who walks down the aisle first is a personal choice, and couples can choose to customise their processional to fit their preferences.

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