Bridesmaids Order Of Ceremony: Who Walks Down The Aisle First?

Bridesmaids are an important part of a wedding ceremony, standing beside the couple at the altar. Deciding the order in which they line up can be tricky, as it can affect personal feelings within the wedding party. While there are no hard and fast rules, there are several options for arranging the bridal party. One option is to line them up by height, which is aesthetically pleasing and objective. Another option is to arrange them according to their relationship with the couple, with siblings and siblings-in-law first, followed by cousins, best friends, etc. However, this option can be tricky and may hurt feelings if someone feels their place in the lineup doesn't match their perceived closeness to the couple. A third option is to order them by how long they've known the couple, with the shortest friendships on the end. This works well if the bridal party is from different stages of the couple's life. A fourth option is to arrange them by the colour or print of their outfits, creating a staggered or ombré effect. Finally, alphabetical order is another objective way to line up the bridal party, ensuring no one's feelings are hurt. Ultimately, the decision on how to order the bridesmaids is up to the couple and should be based on what works best for their specific group of friends and family.

Height

There is no set order for bridesmaids to stand in, and the order is ultimately up to the couple. However, arranging bridesmaids by height is a popular option, as it is seen as an objective way to organise the bridal party and can look aesthetically pleasing in photos.

The maid of honour or matron of honour usually stands next to the bride, regardless of height, with the bridesmaids then lining up in a descending or ascending height order. Some couples choose to have the shortest bridesmaid closest to the altar, with the rest of the bridal party lined up from shortest to tallest, while others choose to do the opposite, with the tallest bridesmaid standing closest to the altar.

If the bridal party is particularly uneven in height, there are a few options to make the height differences less obvious. One option is to have the bridal party stand on stairs, with the shortest people standing on higher steps. Alternatively, you could have some people sitting or use different arrangements for photos, such as having people stand at different levels or not in a straight line.

Relationship to the couple

Ordering bridesmaids by their relationship to the couple is a tricky option. It can be interpreted as ranking your loved ones based on how close you are to them, which may lead to hurt feelings. However, it is a popular option, especially since the maid of honour or best man usually stands closest to the couple anyway. This option is generally safer for smaller wedding parties, as it's easier for a friend or cousin to understand that siblings are closer to the couple than it is for a friend to realise they are the 12th most important person in the couple's life.

One way to do this is to start with siblings and siblings-in-law, and then rank cousins, best friends, and so on, in a way that feels comfortable. However, it is important to be sensitive and tactful when making these decisions, as you don't want anyone to feel hurt or slighted.

Another option is to order bridesmaids by how long the couple has known them, which can be a good plan if each attendant is from a different stage of the couple's life. For example, elementary school, high school, college, work, etc. This method may not be as effective if all the bridesmaids were met in the same year.

A third option is to pair the bridesmaids with groomsmen who are their spouses or partners. This can be a good way to ensure that people are not hurt by the ranking, as it is a more objective system.

Overall, while ordering bridesmaids by their relationship to the couple can be challenging, there are ways to do it sensitively and effectively, ensuring that everyone feels valued and included on the special day.

How long they've known the couple

There are many ways to decide the order of bridesmaids, and the choice is ultimately up to the couple. One option is to arrange the bridesmaids by how long they have known the couple. This can be a good way to avoid hurt feelings, as it is more objective than other methods, such as ranking by closeness to the couple. It can work especially well if the bridesmaids are from different stages of the couple's life, such as elementary school, high school, or college. However, it may not be as effective if all the bridesmaids were met within the same year.

Arranging bridesmaids by the length of their relationship with the couple can also be combined with other methods. For example, the couple could first pair bridesmaids with groomsmen based on their relationship with the couple, and then order the pairs by height. This can be a good option if there are large differences in height between the bridesmaids, as it can create a more aesthetically pleasing lineup. It can also be convenient if the maid of honour happens to be the tallest or shortest person in the group.

Another option is to order the bridesmaids by height, regardless of how long they have known the couple. This can be a good way to avoid any potential drama, as it is completely objective. The couple can simply line up the bridesmaids from shortest to tallest, or tallest to shortest, with the maid of honour standing next to the bride regardless of her height.

Ultimately, the choice of how to order the bridesmaids is up to the couple, and there are many options to choose from. While some methods, such as ranking by closeness or length of relationship, may be more likely to cause hurt feelings, others, such as ordering by height or alphabetically, are more objective and can help to avoid any drama.

Attire colour

When it comes to choosing the colour of your bridesmaids' dresses, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, think about the season your wedding is taking place in. For spring, shades of green, pink, blue or neutral are popular choices, while summer calls for vibrant, oceanic-inspired hues like coral and light blue. Autumn weddings often feature warm shades of gold, copper and brown, and in winter, rich jewel tones like emerald and sapphire are a classic choice.

The location of your wedding is another important factor. If you're getting married on a beach, for example, you might want to choose a shade that will stand out against the white sand, like fuchsia or orange. On the other hand, if your wedding is in a forest, neutral colours might be a better option to avoid clashing with the greenery.

You should also consider the skin tones of your bridesmaids. Not everyone suits pastel or jewel tones, so it's important to find a hue that suits everyone. One way to do this is to incorporate different tints of the same colour, like powder blue, navy and cobalt. If you want to stick to one shade, richer, deeper tones like dark teal and maroon are more universally flattering.

Don't forget to think about the colour of the bridal gown – you don't want your bridesmaids to clash with you! It's also a good idea to choose a colour that ties in with the theme of your wedding, such as the flowers, invites and decorations.

Finally, consider the latest trends. At the moment, sage green is a particularly popular choice for bridesmaids, as is dusty blue and dusty rose.

Alphabetical order

There is no set order for bridesmaids, and the order is ultimately up to the couple getting married. However, if you are looking for an objective way to order the bridesmaids at your wedding, alphabetical order by first or last name is a good option. This method will not make it seem like you are favouring one bridesmaid over another, and it also won't give the impression that you are overly concerned with the aesthetic appeal of your bridal party.

Ordering bridesmaids alphabetically can also be a good option if you are worried about hurting anyone's feelings. It is a diplomatic choice that avoids ranking your loved ones based on their relationship with you, and it is entirely unrelated to their physical characteristics, like height.

If you are concerned about the aesthetic appeal of your bridal party, you can also pair this option with another ordering method, such as height. For example, you could arrange your bridesmaids alphabetically, from shortest to tallest or vice versa.

Remember, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the order of your bridesmaids. You can mix and match different ordering methods or even get creative and come up with your own unique system. Ultimately, do what feels right for you and your bridal party.

Frequently asked questions