Bridesmaids' Walk: Before Or After The Bride?

The order of a wedding procession is often a cause of confusion for brides and grooms. The traditional order for a Christian wedding is for the groom and best man to take their places at the altar, followed by the groomsmen, who may escort the bridesmaids down the aisle. The maid or matron of honour is the last of the bride's attendants to walk down the aisle, followed by the ring bearer and flower girl. The bride traditionally walks last, on the left arm of her escort. However, the procession order is ultimately up to the couple, and it is becoming increasingly common for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to go first.

Bridesmaids walking in first is the American way

The American way of conducting a wedding ceremony is for the bridesmaids to walk in before the bride. This is different from the English way, where the bride walks in first.

In a traditional Christian ceremony, the wedding party should enter the venue in a specific order, with the men on the right and women on the left when walking down the aisle together. The groom and groomsmen stand on the right side of the altar, while the bride and her bridesmaids stand on the left, with the officiant in the centre.

The mother of the bride's entrance traditionally signals the start of the processional. Once she is seated, the groom will take his place at the head of the altar, either entering from the side of the venue or walking down the aisle solo. The best man then enters, either from the side to take his place next to the groom, or as the last groomsman.

The groomsmen then open the processional, walking down the aisle one by one. The bridesmaids follow, also walking down the aisle individually before the maid or matron of honour. Some couples may choose to have the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk in together in pairs.

The bridesmaids walking in first allows for better photo opportunities, as photographers can get a clear shot of each bridal party member or pair walking down the aisle. It is also more practical, as it is easier for the bridesmaids to get to their seats without having to pass the bride and groom.

The British way is for the bride to walk in first

There are many ways to structure a wedding procession, and the British way is just one of them. While the bride walking in first is the traditional English way, it is not the only option. Ultimately, it is up to the couple to decide what they prefer.

In a traditional Christian wedding, the procession begins after all the guests are seated and the processional music has started. The groom and best man usually enter through a side door and take their places to the right of the altar, facing the guests. The groomsmen can either join them or escort the bridesmaids down the aisle. If the groomsmen escort the bridesmaids, they can walk with them from the back of the ceremony site or start with the groom and meet them halfway.

The bridesmaids then enter, either alone or with the groomsmen. They are followed by the maid or matron of honour, the ring bearer, and the flower girl. Finally, the bride walks down the aisle, traditionally on the left arm of her escort.

However, this is not the only option for a wedding procession. For example, in a traditional Jewish wedding, the rabbi and/or cantor take their places at the front of the ceremony site to signal the beginning of the processional. Then the bride's grandparents, followed by the groom's grandparents, may choose to take part in the processional instead of being seated beforehand. The ushers then file down the aisle in pairs, followed by the best man and the groom, who may be escorted by both parents. The bridesmaids may walk in individually or in pairs, followed by the maid or matron of honour, the ring bearer, and the flower girl. Finally, the bride enters last, escorted by her parents or walking alone.

There are also other ways to structure a wedding procession that do not follow a religious tradition. For example, the groom and groomsmen can already be at the altar before the processional starts, or the groom can walk down the aisle. The groomsmen and bridesmaids can walk in pairs, starting with those who will stand farthest from the couple. The maid or matron of honour walks alone, followed by the flower girl(s) and/or ring bearer(s). Finally, the bride may be escorted by her father, mother, or both, or she may decide to walk alone.

Bridesmaids walking in first can get themselves seated more easily

There are many ways to arrange a wedding processional, and you do not have to follow any particular tradition. The processional marks the start of the ceremony and is a highly anticipated moment, so it's important to get the order right.

One benefit of bridesmaids walking in first is that they can get themselves seated more easily. If they walk in after the bride, they may find it hard to sit down as they have to pass the bride and groom to reach their seats. This can be particularly tricky if they need to manoeuvre around the bride's dress.

In a traditional Christian ceremony, the mother of the bride comes in after the groom and his parents have taken their places at the altar. She is then followed by the officiant (if they are not already at the altar), and then the bridesmaids and groomsmen. In the UK, it is traditional for the wedding party to walk behind the bride, but it is becoming more common for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to go first.

In a traditional Catholic wedding, the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk down the aisle in pairs, starting with those who will stand farthest from the bride and groom. In a traditional Jewish ceremony, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the bride.

The bride walking in first means her partner sees her clearly without bridesmaids blocking the view

The bride is the star of the wedding, and her walk down the aisle is one of the most memorable moments of the ceremony. It is a special moment for the couple as all eyes are on her as she makes her way towards her partner.

Having the bride walk in first means that her partner sees her clearly without bridesmaids or anyone else blocking the view. This way, the couple can also share an intimate moment before the ceremony begins. It is a good option, especially if the aisle is narrow, as it can be difficult for bridesmaids to get to their seats after the bride has made her entrance.

The bride's walk down the aisle is highly anticipated, and having her walk in first can build excitement for the guests, who will be eagerly awaiting her grand entrance. It also gives the bride the opportunity to walk in at a specific part of the processional song, adding to the drama and emotion of the moment.

Additionally, having the bridesmaids walk in first can help signal to guests that the bride is about to make her entrance, building anticipation and ensuring all eyes are on her as she enters.

Ultimately, the decision of whether the bridesmaids or the bride walks in first is a personal preference, and there is no right or wrong answer. The couple can choose to follow tradition or create their own unique processional order that reflects their style and dynamics.

The bride is the grand finale

The bride is the star of the show, and the wedding processional is all about building up to her grand entrance. While there are many ways to structure a wedding processional, ending with the bride is a classic choice that adds drama and excitement to the ceremony.

The Build-Up

Before the bride makes her entrance, there are several options for who can walk down the aisle first. In a traditional Christian ceremony, the groom's grandparents, followed by the bride's grandparents, and then the groom's parents walk down the aisle. In a traditional Jewish ceremony, the rabbi and/or cantor go first, followed by the bride's and groom's grandparents. In a Catholic wedding, the priest, groom, and best man kick things off.

The Supporting Cast

After the first group has taken their seats, it's time for the rest of the wedding party to make their entrance. This can include the mother of the bride, the officiant, the bridesmaids and groomsmen (either separately or in pairs), the maid or matron of honour, and the flower girl(s) and ring bearer(s).

The Main Event

Finally, it's time for the moment everyone has been waiting for—the bride's grand entrance! In a traditional wedding, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her father, who gives her away and then takes his seat next to the bride's mother. This moment is always one of the highlights of the wedding ceremony, and all eyes are on the bride as she makes her way towards her future spouse.

A Personalised Processional

While the traditional order can be a beautiful way to structure your wedding processional, it's important to remember that there are no hard and fast rules. You can adapt the order or create your own unique processional that reflects your personal style and family dynamics. Whether you choose to walk down the aisle with your father, mother, both parents, or even your future spouse, the key is to make it meaningful and true to yourself.

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