George Boyle
The wedding processional is the official start to the wedding ceremony, when members of the wedding party and the couple walk down the aisle. The processional order varies depending on the type of religious wedding service, and the couple's preferences. For instance, in a Catholic wedding, the wedding party enters the venue with men on the right and women on the left, while in a Hindu wedding, the bride walks down the aisle underneath a canopy, escorted by her loved ones. In a Jewish wedding, the bride and her party stand on the right, while the groom and his party stand on the left. The officiant may also make announcements during the processional, such as reminding guests to put their phones away.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Processional order | Depends on the type of wedding (Christian, Jewish, Hindu, same-sex, etc.), the length of the aisle, the number of people participating, and the couple's preferences |
| Announcements | Made by the officiant during the ceremony to convey important information to guests, such as reminding them to put their phones away for an "unplugged" ceremony |
| Recessional order | Typically, the married couple exits first, followed by the officiant, and then the bridal party |
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What You'll Learn
Processionals are the official start to a wedding ceremony
In a traditional Christian wedding ceremony, the officiant and groom enter from the side of the venue. In a more modern approach, the officiant, groom, and other VIPs walk down the aisle together. The groom's parents may also escort him down the aisle, after which they sit on the right side of the front row. The wedding party then enters the venue, with men on the right and women on the left. The bridesmaids and groomsmen walk in pairs, starting with those who will stand farthest from the bride and groom.
In a Hindu wedding ceremony, the bride is escorted by her maternal aunt and uncle or her brothers, and she joins the groom at the mandap before the ceremony begins. The baraat is the groom's wedding procession, where he arrives on a ceremonial white horse, in a vintage car, chariot, or even on an elephant, escorted by friends and family. This ritual can include live music and dancing and may go on for hours.
In a Jewish wedding, the bride and her party stand on the right, while the groom and his party stand on the left. The rabbi or cantor may lead the processional or arrive from the side to mark the beginning of the ceremony. Before the ceremony, the couple signs a marriage contract called the ketubah in private. This is followed by the bedeken, or the veiling, where the groom veils his bride.
The processional is the highlight of the wedding service, as it is the first time guests will see the couple and their VIPs. It is also when important announcements are made, such as reminding guests to put their phones away during an unplugged ceremony.
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The order of the processional depends on the type of wedding
The wedding processional is the official start to the wedding ceremony, and it's the first time guests will see the couple and their VIPs. It is a chance to introduce guests to the special people who have played an important role in the couple's relationship. The order of the processional is different for every couple and depends on their religious customs, the length of the aisle, the number of people participating, and the songs chosen.
In a Christian wedding, the more traditional route is to have the officiant and groom enter from the side of the venue. A more modern approach is for the officiant, groom, and VIPs to walk down the aisle. The bride's mother is usually the first to walk down the aisle, followed by the groom, best man, wedding party, flower girl, and ring bearer. The bride comes last.
In a Jewish wedding, the rabbi and/or cantor have the option of leading the processional or arriving from the side. The bride and her party stand on the right, while the groom and his party stand on the left. The bride and groom sign a marriage contract called the ketubah in private before the ceremony. In the bedeken, or veiling, the groom veils his bride's face.
In a Hindu wedding, the bride is escorted by loved ones such as her maternal aunt and uncle or her brothers. She joins the groom at the mandap, and the ceremony begins. The groom arrives on a ceremonial white horse, escorted by his friends and family. This ritual often includes live music and dancing and can go on for hours.
For modern, nondenominational, and LGBTQIA+ weddings, the "traditional" wedding processional order can be adjusted to fit the couple's needs and preferences.
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The officiant usually leads the processional
In a Christian wedding, the more traditional route is for the officiant to enter from the side of the venue, while a more modern approach is for the officiant to walk down the aisle with the rest of the VIPs. In a Jewish wedding, the rabbi and/or cantor have the option of leading the processional or arriving from the side. Hindu weddings involve the bride's mother and father, who even sit with the couple under the mandap for the service.
The officiant is usually followed by the groom, who generally enters from a side entrance to stand at the altar, though many modern grooms choose to walk down the aisle solo. The best man often accompanies the groom, also entering from the side. The bridesmaids and groomsmen typically walk in pairs, starting with those who will stand farthest from the couple. The maid or matron of honour walks alone after the other bridal party members or with the best man.
The wedding party members may walk down the aisle individually or in pairs, taking their places on either side of the altar, starting with those who will stand farthest from the couple. If the couple is processing together, their parents would walk down the aisle after the officiant, with one partner's parents first, followed by the other's. If there are young attendants, they walk directly before the couple, and they can choose to stand with the rest of the attendants or sit with the other guests. As the guests stand, the couple enters together, and the ceremony begins.
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The bride's mother often signals the start of the processional
The bride's mother holds a significant role in the wedding ceremony, and her entrance down the aisle signals that the processional is about to begin. This moment symbolises her support for her daughter on this important day. Traditionally, she is escorted by a close male family member, such as her husband, son, or brother. However, modern weddings embrace flexibility, and the bride's mother may choose to walk alone, representing her strength and independence.
In a traditional wedding processional, the mother of the bride walks down the aisle after the groom's parents. She then takes her seat to the left of the aisle in the first row. The groom will then traditionally take her place at the head of the altar, either entering from the side of the venue or walking down the aisle solo. However, many couples choose to have the groom escorted by his parents, who then sit to the right of the aisle in the front row.
The bride's mother may also be accompanied by a groomsman, emphasising the importance of friendship and support. Alternatively, she may walk with the father of the bride or even alongside her daughter, expressing their unique connection. In Hindu weddings, the mother of the bride may play a part in the mandap ceremony, where the marriage ritual takes place, symbolising her blessing and support for the couple.
The processional order can be adjusted to fit the couple's preferences and personal relationships. For instance, the bride may decide to be escorted by her mother, father, or both, or she may choose to have no escort at all. Ultimately, the decision on who escorts the mother of the bride, or whether she walks alone, reflects personal relationships, family dynamics, and the couple's individuality.
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Announcements are made by the officiant during the processional
Announcements are an important part of a wedding ceremony, conveying crucial information to the guests. They are typically made by the officiant, who usually begins the processional and is honoured with the opening spot. The officiant may enter the ceremony from the side of the venue, or walk down the aisle solo, before the groom. Alternatively, the officiant may lead the groom and groomsmen to their place at the altar.
The officiant will often say a few words of welcome and thank guests for bearing witness to the union. They may also offer an introduction, and remind guests of any important information, such as whether the ceremony is unplugged, and that they should put their phones away.
The officiant will also pronounce the couple as married and introduce them as such to the guests for the first time. They may also make announcements during the recessional, which is the end of the ceremony when the couple and wedding party exit. This is a good way to signal to guests that they can get up and head to the cocktail hour or reception.
The officiant can also make announcements before the ceremony begins, and during the processional, such as a land acknowledgment. This is done to show respect and awareness of Indigenous presence and land rights, and to recognise the history of colonialism.
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Frequently asked questions
A wedding processional is when members of the wedding party and the couple walk down the aisle during the ceremony.
Wedding announcements are not mandatory but are a good way to convey important information to your guests. They can be made before the processional or after the couple has walked down the aisle.
A land acknowledgment is a type of wedding announcement that acknowledges the Indigenous presence and land rights of the area where the wedding is taking place. Another example is reminding guests to put their phones away if you are having an unplugged ceremony.
The wedding party, including the bride, groom, best man, groomsmen, bridesmaids, flower girl, and ring bearer, walk down the aisle during the processional. The officiant usually leads the processional, but they may also enter from the side.
Yes, you can customize your wedding processional to fit your needs and reflect your personality. The processional order can be adjusted to suit different cultural and religious traditions, as well as personal preferences.
