The Wedding Party Processional: Who Walks When?

The wedding processional refers to the group of people walking down the aisle in a specific order to mark the beginning of a wedding ceremony. The processional often includes the officiant, the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the bride and groom and their parents. The order of the wedding party in the processional is usually determined by their role in the wedding, with the best man and maid of honour typically walking last, followed by the ring bearer and flower girl, and finally, the bride and her chosen escort. While there is a traditional order, couples can customise the processional to make it their own.

Who walks down the aisle first?

The wedding processional refers to the moment when the couple, the wedding party, family members, and nearly-weds walk down the aisle in a specific order, initiating the ceremony. The processional order can vary depending on religious customs, cultural traditions, the length of the aisle, the song chosen, and the number of participants. Here is a general guide to who walks down the aisle first and the subsequent order:

Officiant

The wedding officiant is usually the first person to walk down the aisle, signalling the start of the ceremony. In some cases, the officiant may enter from the side of the venue instead of walking down the aisle.

Groom

After the officiant, the groom is typically the next person to walk down the aisle. Sometimes, the groom is accompanied by the best man or groomsmen. In other cases, the groom may enter from the side and wait at the altar before the processional begins.

Groomsmen

The groomsmen may walk down the aisle individually, in pairs, or with bridesmaids. If walking with bridesmaids, they typically pair up based on height, with the tallest groomsman walking with the tallest bridesmaid. Alternatively, they can be paired based on real-life relationships, personalities, or length of friendship.

Bride's Parents

The bride's parents often walk down the aisle together, with the father of the bride traditionally escorting the mother of the bride. In some cases, another family member or a groomsman may escort the mother of the bride. They are usually seated on the left side of the front row.

Groom's Parents

Following the bride's parents, the groom's parents walk down the aisle together and take their seats on the right side of the front row.

Wedding Party

The wedding party, including bridesmaids and groomsmen, may walk down the aisle individually or in pairs. The best man and maid of honour typically walk last among the wedding party, standing closest to the couple during the ceremony.

Flower Girl and/or Ring Bearer

The flower girl and/or ring bearer are usually the last members of the wedding party to walk down the aisle before the bride. They may stand with the wedding party or take a seat with their family members, depending on their age and preference.

Bride

Finally, the bride makes her grand entrance, traditionally escorted by her father. However, the bride may also choose to be escorted by both parents, just her mother, or another loved one. This marks the climax of the processional, and the wedding ceremony officially begins once the bride reaches the altar.

Who walks with the bride?

The traditional wedding processional order usually has the bride walking down the aisle with her father, who gives her away to the groom at the altar. This custom stems from the days of arranged marriages, when a father's looming presence prevented the groom from backing out. Today, it is seen as a way to show support for the bride's next chapter in life.

However, this tradition is not suitable for everyone. Many brides are now choosing to walk down the aisle with multiple people, including both parents, or opt to walk down the aisle solo.

If you are a bride-to-be, you might be considering who you would like to walk down the aisle with. Here are some options to consider:

• Your mother and father: In many cultures, it is traditional to have both parents accompany the bride.
• Your parents and grandparents: You could have a train of people escort you down the aisle, including your grandparents.
• Your stepfather and father: You might start the walk with your stepfather and then meet your father in the middle, or vice versa.
• A grandparent, step-parent, uncle, brother, or another family member: If your father wasn't a prominent figure in your life, you could invite another male figure to walk with you.
• Your partner: If your venue has two aisles, you and your partner can walk down at the same time and meet in the middle.
• Your maid of honour: Your maid of honour is someone who has played a significant role in your life, so why not have her accompany you down the aisle?
• Your children: Including your children in your wedding day can be complicated, but it can also be a powerful family moment.
• Your dog: If your venue allows it, you could be escorted to the altar by your furry friend!
• No one: You can choose to walk down the aisle solo, recognising that you are the one who got yourself to the altar.

Ultimately, the choice of who walks with the bride is a personal one and should be made by the bride herself. It is important to feel comfortable and loved during this memorable moment.

Who walks with the groom?

The groom's entrance is just as important as the bride's, so it's worth putting some thought into who walks with him. The answer depends on the type of wedding ceremony, including any religious or cultural traditions. Here are some options for who walks with the groom:

Christian Weddings

In a Christian wedding, the groom is usually led to the altar by the officiant and best man, and sometimes the groomsmen too. This can be done from the side of the venue, or by walking down the aisle. If the groomsmen are walking with bridesmaids, the groom may enter from the side and watch the processional.

Jewish Weddings

In a Jewish ceremony, the groom is always escorted by both his mother and father. The officiant goes first, followed immediately by the groom and his parents.

Hindu Weddings

The groom's entrance in a Hindu wedding is a grand affair known as the "baraat". He arrives on a highly decorated horse, accompanied by his family and guests, with musicians playing as he dances on horseback.

Muslim Weddings

A Muslim wedding ceremony focuses on the signing of the marriage contract, so a processional doesn't always occur. However, in some cultures, the groom may arrive on a decorated horse in a baraat, similar to a Hindu wedding.

Non-Denominational or Secular Weddings

For non-religious ceremonies, there are several options. The groom may escort his mother down the aisle to her seat, followed by his father. Alternatively, the groom's parents can walk together, followed by the groom alone, or the groom can walk with both parents. The groom could also enter alone or walk down the aisle with his partner.

Pairing Groomsmen and Bridesmaids

If the groomsmen are walking with bridesmaids, there are a few ways to pair them up: by real-life coupling or friendship, by personality, by height, or by length of friendship.

What is the order of the wedding party?

The wedding processional refers to the group of people walking down the aisle in a specific order to mark the beginning of a wedding ceremony. The processional often includes the officiant, the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the bride and groom and their parents. The order of the wedding party can vary depending on religious and cultural traditions, as well as personal preferences. Here is a general guide to the order of the wedding party:

Officiant

The officiant, who can be a friend, family member, or ordained individual, usually starts the processional by walking down the aisle and standing at the altar. However, in some cases, the officiant may already be waiting at the altar before the processional begins.

Grandparents

In some traditions, such as Jewish weddings, the grandparents of the couple walk down the aisle and take their seats in the front row. The bride's grandparents usually go first, followed by the groom's.

Groom's Parents

The groom's parents typically enter the ceremony space and walk down the aisle together, taking their seats on the right side of the venue.

Mother of the Bride

The mother of the bride often enters the ceremony space next. She may be accompanied by another family member or walk alone. Once she reaches the end of the aisle, she takes her seat on the left side of the aisle in the first row.

Groom

The groom then enters the ceremony space, usually from the side of the venue, and takes their place at the altar. However, some couples choose to have the groom escorted down the aisle by both or one of their parents, who then sit on the right side of the aisle in the front row.

Best Man

The best man may walk in from the side with the groom or walk down the aisle alone after the groomsmen. They stand next to the groom at the altar and may hold the wedding rings.

Groomsmen

The groomsmen typically enter the ceremony space by walking down the aisle one by one or in pairs. They walk in order of their placement at the altar, with the groomsman standing farthest from the groom entering first.

Bridesmaids

The bridesmaids usually walk down the aisle one by one before the maid of honor, or they may enter in pairs with the groomsmen.

Maid/Matron of Honor

Before the ceremony, the maid of honor assists the bride with her dress, veil, and train. During the processional, she walks alone and stands by the bride's side at the altar, holding her bouquet and sometimes the groom's ring.

Flower Girl(s) and Ring Bearer(s)

The flower girl(s) and ring bearer(s) are typically the last members of the wedding party to walk down the aisle before the bride. The ring bearer carries the wedding rings (or decoys) on a small pillow, while the flower girl may carry a basket of petals to scatter. After the procession, they can sit with their parents or stand with the wedding party.

Bride's Parents and Bride

Traditionally, the bride's father escorts the bride down the aisle, standing on her right side. After giving his blessing, he lifts the veil, kisses the bride, and takes his seat beside the bride's mother. However, the bride may be escorted by her mother, both parents, or another special person, such as a grandparent, sibling, or friend.

It is important to note that the wedding processional order can be customized to fit the couple's preferences and unique family dynamics. The couple can choose to include or exclude certain roles and adjust the order to match their vision for their special day.

What are some alternative options?

Alternative Options

There are many ways to customise your wedding procession and make it unique. Here are some alternative options to consider:

• Have the officiant walk down the aisle first: The officiant is usually among the first few people to walk down the aisle, but you could switch things up by having them walk down first. This can help to signal that the ceremony is about to begin.
• Add grandparents into the procession: In some cultures, like Jewish weddings, the bride's grandparents walk down the aisle first, followed by the groom's grandparents. This can be a nice way to include more family members in the procession.
• Have the groom's mother walk him down the aisle: It is becoming more common for both parents to walk their child down the aisle. Alternatively, the groom's mother could walk down the aisle on her own or with another family member.
• Mix up the wedding party: Instead of having the bridesmaids walk down the aisle together followed by the groomsmen, you could alternate between a bridesmaid and a groomsman. This can add a fun twist to the procession and create a more balanced look in photos.
• Include step-parents: If you have a blended family, you could include your step-parents in the procession. For example, the bride's stepmother could walk in behind her mother at the start of the ceremony.
• Send in the groom with his parents right before the ring bearer and flower girl: This is a variation on the traditional order, where the groom and his parents precede the flower girl and ring bearer.
• Have the bride and groom walk in as a couple: The bride doesn't have to be escorted down the aisle by her father or another family member. Instead, she and her partner can walk in together as a couple.
• Have both parents walk the bride down the aisle: Traditionally, the bride's father walks her down the aisle. However, you could have both your mother and father escort you, or just your mother if you prefer.
• The bride walks in by herself: The bride doesn't have to be escorted down the aisle at all. She could walk in alone and meet her partner at the altar.
• Walk in with another family member: If you don't want to be escorted by a parent, you could choose another family member to walk down the aisle with you, such as a grandparent, uncle, or sibling.
• Walk in with your children: If you have children, you could have them accompany you down the aisle.
• Have your pet accompany you: Your four-legged friend can also be part of your special day by walking down the aisle with you.
• Skip the procession: You don't have to walk down the aisle at all! You could skip the procession and just walk to the front from wherever you are.
• Incorporate both step-father and father: If you want to include both your step-father and father in the procession, you could have your step-father walk you halfway down the aisle, and then your father can take you the rest of the way to the altar.
• Uneven wedding party: You don't have to have an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. If the groom has more groomsmen, you can have one groomsman escort two bridesmaids.
• Pair by real-life coupling or friendship: If any of your bridesmaids and groomsmen are dating, engaged, or married to each other, it's customary to pair them up. The same goes for attendants who are friends—let them walk together.
• Pair by personality: Pair an extroverted bridesmaid with an outgoing groomsman, for example. The idea is to match like-minded people so they can enjoy each other's company during the proceedings.
• Pair by height: Pair the tallest bridesmaid with the tallest groomsman, and so on. The shortest couple walks down the aisle first, and the tallest couple goes last. This creates a balanced aesthetic for your photos.
• Pair by age: Have the youngest couple walk down the aisle first, followed by the oldest, and so on. If all your bridesmaids and groomsmen are the same age, you could pair by birth month instead!
• Pair by length of friendship or role: Pair the bridesmaid you've known the longest with the groomsman the groom has known the longest. The older the relationship, the closer they should be to you in the procession. You can also pair the maid of honour with the best man, or any bridesmaids and groomsmen who will be performing readings together.

Remember, there are no rules when it comes to the wedding procession. You can work with your officiant to create a unique ceremony entrance order that suits your needs and reflects your personality.

Frequently asked questions