Rhiannon Hendricks
The wedding recessional is the ceremonial exit of the newlyweds, their wedding party, and their families after the couple has been pronounced married. It is a symbolic and celebratory way to conclude the ceremony and kick off the festivities. The recessional typically follows the first kiss, marking the transition from the formal ceremony to the reception. It is a chance for the couple to showcase their personality and set the tone for the reception. The newlyweds exit first, hand in hand, followed by the wedding party, officiant, family members, and guests. The wedding recessional is typically the reverse order of the processional and is accompanied by upbeat, celebratory music.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | The wedding recessional is the ceremonial exit after the couple is pronounced married. It marks the conclusion of the wedding ceremony and the start of the festivities. |
| Participants | The newlyweds, the wedding party, the officiant, family members, and guests. |
| Order | The newlyweds exit first, followed by the wedding party, the officiant, family members, and guests. The wedding recessional typically follows the reverse order of the processional. |
| Music | Upbeat, celebratory music is played to match the joyous and exciting mood of the moment. |
| Traditions | Guests may toss petals or blow bubbles during the recessional. |
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What You'll Learn
The wedding recessional order
The wedding recessional is a formal ceremony exit that involves the couple, their wedding party, and their families. It is a chance for the newlyweds to set their own course and make their first steps as a married couple. The wedding recessional order can be customised according to the couple's preferences, but here is a general guide:
- The Newlyweds: The wedding recessional usually begins with the newlyweds leading the way down the aisle.
- The Flower Girl and Ring Bearer: If they remained at the altar during the ceremony, the flower girl and ring bearer can follow the newlyweds. They can walk out with the family or before the wedding party, or even skip the recessional if they are too tired.
- The Family: The couple's biological or chosen family can go right after the newlyweds. The family that went first down the aisle during the processional can go second on the way out.
- The Wedding Party: The wedding party, including bridesmaids and groomsmen, can exit in pairs or solo, depending on the number of attendants. For balance and symmetry, they should follow the pairing type they entered the ceremony space in.
- The Officiant: Having the officiant leave at the end of the recessional is a good way to signal to the guests that the ceremony has concluded and they can proceed to the cocktail hour or reception.
The wedding recessional song should be joyful, vibrant, and celebratory, creating a seamless transition into the next portion of the day. It is also common to have guests toss petals or dried flowers during the recessional.
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Music to play during the wedding recessional
The wedding recessional is a formal ceremony exit that involves the couple, their wedding party, and their families. The music played during this time is called the recessional wedding song, and it is the first thing the couple hears as newlyweds. The song should be joyful, vibrant, and celebratory, and it should reflect the excitement of the couple.
There are no steadfast rules when it comes to choosing a wedding recessional song. You can opt for a classical instrumental piece, a sacred wedding song, an acoustic cover, traditional cultural music, or a current hit. If you love the idea of having live music, you can ask your wedding ceremony musicians about doing an acoustic cover of a popular song. A string quartet, pianist, harpist, or guitarist will bring a unique sound to your wedding ceremony exit song.
- "You're the One That I Want" from Grease by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta
- "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" by Handel
- "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire
- "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson
- "Wedding March" from A Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn
- "Spring" by Vivaldi
- "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
- "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green
- "Halo" from Bridgerton by Caleb Chan and Brian Chan
If you are looking for a dramatic wedding ceremony exit, you may want to choose a recognizable, movie-ending closer, like "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire.
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The wedding recessional exit
The wedding recessional is a formal ceremony exit that involves the couple, their wedding party, and their families. It is a symbolic and celebratory way to conclude the wedding ceremony and kick off the festivities. It is the moment when the newlyweds take their first steps together as a married couple, marking the start of their new life together.
The wedding recessional typically follows the first kiss and is a fun and exciting transition from the ceremony to the reception. It is a chance for the couple to showcase their personality and set the tone for the reception. The recessional usually follows a set order to ensure a smooth exit, and once the couple is out of sight, guests are often directed to a cocktail hour or reception.
The simplest way to organize your recessional is to have the couple leave on their own and, once they have exited the ceremony space, have the families and then the wedding party depart in the opposite lineup of the processional. The wedding party can exit in pairs, which is faster and easier, but it is ultimately up to the couple's preference. The flower girl and ring bearer can walk out with the family or before the wedding party, or if they are too tired, they can skip the recessional.
The wedding recessional is also a chance to get creative and add a special touch. Guests may toss flower petals, blow bubbles, or cheer to make the exit even more memorable. The recessional is often accompanied by upbeat, celebratory music to match the mood of the moment. Couples may choose a song that reflects their unique love, personalities, and the overall feel of the day. The music should be fairly long to give everyone a chance to leave the ceremony room as the guests will often follow the bridal party.
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The wedding recessional walk
The recessional is when the newlyweds, now a married couple, walk back down the aisle together, hand in hand, beaming with happiness. This symbolic moment signifies the start of their new life together and is usually followed by the couple's first kiss. It is a chance for the couple to make a grand exit, often with a unique and joyful song playing in the background.
The couple leads the way, followed by the wedding party, who traditionally exit in pairs. The flower girl and ring bearer, if young, may walk with a parent. The maid of honour and best man are usually the first pair to exit, followed by the bridesmaids and groomsmen. The parents of the couple usually walk together, escorted by an usher. The officiant, family members, and other special guests exit last, and guests may follow, tossing petals, blowing bubbles, or cheering to make the moment even more special.
The music for the recessional walk is typically upbeat and celebratory, chosen to reflect the couple's unique love, personalities, and the overall mood of the day. It is often a couple's favourite song or one that sums up their relationship. The song should be fairly long to allow everyone to exit the ceremony room and create a memorable moment.
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The wedding recessional kiss
The wedding recessional is a formal ceremony exit that involves the couple, their wedding party, and their families. It is a chance for the newlyweds to set their own course, but it usually follows the reverse order of the processional, starting with the newlyweds. The wedding recessional kiss is a magical moment that occurs after the officiant pronounces the couple as husband and wife. It is a private moment shared between the couple before they walk back down the aisle, marking the conclusion of the ceremony.
The choice of recessional music is essential, and it is common to choose an upbeat and happy song. Couples may select a popular song, a traditional wedding march, or a classical piece. Some couples opt for a song with personal meaning, such as a favourite from a TV show or a song with lyrics that reflect their unique love story. The music should be a natural segue into the next part of the day, with the couple's exit and the guests' remaining elements to consider.
The rest of the wedding party, including bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, and ring bearers, may exit in pairs or individually, depending on the couple's preference and the number of attendants. The wedding recessional is a chance for the couple to showcase their style and values, whether through music, a petal toss, or a unique lineup. It is a memorable moment for the couple and their guests, marking the beginning of their journey together.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding recessional is the ceremonial exit after the couple is pronounced married. It’s the moment when they walk back down the aisle together, officially beginning their new life as spouses. The recessional typically follows the first kiss, making it a fun and exciting transition from the ceremony to the reception.
The wedding recessional refers to the group of people walking back down the aisle and marks the conclusion of your ceremony. The newlyweds exit first, followed by the wedding party, officiant, family members, and guests.
The wedding recessional usually follows a set order to ensure a smooth exit. Once the couple is out of sight, guests are often directed to a cocktail hour or reception. The order is: newlyweds, flower girl and ring bearer, maid of honour and best man, bridesmaids and groomsmen, parents of the couple, officiant and other special guests.
Music sets the mood for the recessional, so couples often choose upbeat, celebratory songs to mark the occasion. Couples may choose 'their song' or a song that reflects their relationship.
