George Boyle
The wedding processional order is different for every couple and depends on their preferences, culture, and religious customs. In a traditional Christian or Civil ceremony, the groom enters from the side or walks down the aisle to his right, with the best man by his side. The bride is escorted by her father, mother, or both parents, and is the last to walk down the aisle. However, modern couples are increasingly choosing to do away with traditions and plan a wedding that makes them most comfortable. For instance, LGBTQIA+ couples can decide if one of them prefers to enter first or if they want to walk in together, either flanked by their parents or solo.
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What You'll Learn
Processional orders vary depending on culture and religion
The wedding processional order varies depending on the couple's culture and religion. While the processional order can be customised, certain religious and cultural groups have traditional orders that are usually followed.
In a Catholic ceremony, the priest and ministers walk to the altar as part of the processional. The wedding party then starts their journey down the aisle, with the groom entering first, followed by the best man, groomsmen, maid of honour, bridesmaids, ring bearer, flower girl, and finally, the bride, escorted by her father. Men walk on the right, and women on the left.
In a Jewish ceremony, the groomsmen walk down the aisle in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the groom. The best man walks solo and takes his place as the groom's right-hand man. The groom then walks down the aisle, accompanied by his parents, with his father on the left and his mother on the right. The bridesmaids then proceed in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the bride. The bride's right-hand woman walks in alone, followed by the ring bearer and flower girl. Both parents of the bride escort her down the aisle, with her father on her left arm and her mother on her right. The bride and her party stand on the right, while the groom and his party stand on the left.
In a Hindu ceremony, the wedding processional can be at least an hour long. The bride's mother and father are involved in the processional and even sit with the couple under the mandap for the service.
For LGBTQIA+ couples, they can take on any religious or cultural processional traditions and make them their own, or create a processional order based on their preferences and personal relationships. For instance, they may decide to walk in together or walk in each one flanked by both of their parents.
Ultimately, a religious wedding will involve more tradition and structure, so couples who want to switch things up may prefer a nondenominational celebration.
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The officiant may walk down the aisle or enter from the side
The wedding officiant is usually given the honour of kicking off the processional, and they may either walk down the aisle or enter from the side of the venue. If the officiant is walking down the aisle, they go first. Their presence signals to the guests that the wedding is about to start.
The officiant may enter from the side if the couple wants Partner 1's wedding party to come down the aisle as part of the processional, along with Partner 2's wedding party. This option is also chosen if Partner 1 wishes to enter with someone else, either before the processional or as part of it, and if Partner 1's party is entering as part of the processional. The officiant can enter from the side and take their place at the altar, with the groom and groomsmen arriving at the altar before the processional starts.
The officiant may also walk down the aisle with Partner 1, either side by side or with Partner 1 trailing behind. The officiant and Partner 1 then turn and face the guests at the front, and the officiant makes their opening remarks and welcomes everyone.
The processional order and timing will depend on the couple's religious customs, the length of the aisle, the processional songs chosen, and the number of people participating in the ceremony.
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The groom and groomsmen can enter from the side
The wedding ceremony processional order and timing can vary depending on the couple's religious customs, the length of the aisle, the wedding processional songs chosen, and the number of participants. For instance, a processional wedding for a Hindu couple can take at least an hour, while the average wedding processional for other couples usually takes no more than five minutes.
For a Catholic wedding, the wedding party should enter the ceremony venue with men on the right and women on the left when walking down the aisle together. The priest, groom, and best man enter the ceremony from the side of the venue and take their places at the altar, with the priest in the center. The groomsmen and bridesmaids then walk down the aisle in pairs, starting with those who will stand farthest from the couple.
The groom can also opt to enter from the side and wait at the altar, in which case the best man should be by his side. The bridesmaids and groomsmen typically walk in pairs, with the maid or matron of honor walking alone after the other bridal party members. The bride is usually escorted by her father, mother, or both.
In a Jewish ceremony, the wedding party walks down the aisle with men on the left and women on the right. The groomsmen walk in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the groom. The best man walks solo and takes his place as the groom's right-hand man. The groom is escorted by his parents and will stand on the left side under the chuppah.
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The bride is usually escorted by her father
The wedding ceremony processional order is different for every couple and depends on their religious customs, the length of the aisle, the processional songs chosen, and the number of people participating in the ceremony or walking down the aisle.
In a traditional wedding processional, the bride is escorted by her father. This custom dates back to the time of arranged marriages when a girl child was considered the property of her father. When a match was agreed upon, the groom and/or his family agreed to take on the "ownership" of his new bride and would negotiate with the bride's father the payment of a dowry. The father would then escort his daughter to her new husband, receive the dowry, and complete the contract.
Today, the act of the father walking the bride down the aisle is seen as a way to show support for the next chapter in her life and to honor the father-daughter bond. It is considered a sweet and sentimental moment for all to see. However, not all brides choose to follow this tradition. Some brides opt to walk down the aisle unescorted, with a child, their future spouse, a sibling, their mother, or with both parents.
For LGBTQIA+ couples, there are also several options for the processional order. They can choose to enter the ceremony together, have one partner enter first while the other enters last, or each partner can be flanked by both of their parents. Ultimately, the processional order can be customized to fit the couple's preferences and personal relationships.
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The couple can walk down the aisle together
There are many ways to personalise this moment to make it unique and special. For example, the couple could walk down the aisle hand in hand, or they could meet at the halfway point and walk the rest of the way together. They could also be accompanied by their parents or bridal party, or they could walk down the aisle solo before meeting at the altar.
If the couple wants to involve their parents in the processional, there are a few options. In Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are typically escorted by both of their parents. The couple could also be escorted by their parents and then greet and hug them before taking their places at the altar. Alternatively, the parents could walk down the aisle together before the couple, or the couple could walk down the aisle with their parents on either side.
For couples who want a more creative entrance, there are many options to consider. The couple could walk down the aisle from opposite sides and meet in the middle, symbolising their coming together. They could also be creative with their choice of music, or include other important people in their lives, such as children or close friends, in the processional. Ultimately, the couple should feel free to personalise this moment in a way that reflects their relationship and values.
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Frequently asked questions
No, wedding processionals do not need to include a woman. Couples can decide on a processional order that works for them, and there are no rules that say a woman must be present.
A traditional wedding processional order starts with the officiant and groom, followed by family members like grandparents, the parents of the groom, and the mother of the bride. The bride is usually last to walk down the aisle.
Yes, you can adapt a traditional wedding processional order to fit your needs. You can decide who walks down the aisle and when, and you can enter the ceremony with your partner or on your own.
Yes, you can adapt a traditional wedding processional order to include two brides. You can decide who walks down the aisle and when, and you can enter the ceremony with your partner or on your own.
Yes, you can change the traditional wedding processional order to suit your preferences and personal relationships. You can also create your own processional order if you want to.
