The Mystery Of Wedding Processing Unveiled

The wedding processional is a highly anticipated moment and a touching part of a couple's special day. The processional marks the beginning of the ceremony, with the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, the couple, and their parents often included. The order of the processional is influenced by the couple's religion or cultural traditions, with different groups having different customary orders.

For example, in a traditional Christian ceremony, the mother of the bride, mother of the groom, grandparents of the bride, grandparents of the groom, groom, officiant, wedding party, maid of honor, best man, ring bearer, flower girl, and finally, the bride and her father walk down the aisle. In contrast, a Hindu wedding ceremony may involve the groom riding on a white horse, escorted by family and friends, while the bride is escorted by male family members to join the groom under a mandap or raised canopy.

Ultimately, the processional order can be customized to suit the couple's preferences, and they can choose to incorporate religious or cultural traditions to make their ceremony unique.

Who walks down the aisle and when

The wedding processional refers to the moment when the couple and their wedding party walk down the aisle in a specific order, initiating the ceremony. The processional often includes a combination of the officiant, the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the couple and their parents. The specific order varies depending on the type of wedding and cultural or religious traditions. Here is a breakdown of who walks down the aisle and when for different types of weddings:

Traditional/Non-Religious Wedding

The processional typically begins with the mother of the bride, followed by the groom (or the second partner in a queer/non-binary couple), who can walk down the aisle with their parents or alone. Next come the groom's wedding party and honour attendants (best man), followed by the maid of honor, bridesmaids, flower girl, and ring bearer. The bride (or the first partner) is usually the last to enter, escorted by a parent or alone.

Christian Wedding

The processional often starts with the officiant, followed by the parents of the groom, the mother of the bride, the groom, the best man and maid of honor (walking together), groomsmen and bridesmaids (escorting each other), ring bearer, and flower girl. The bride, escorted by her father, is the last to walk down the aisle.

Jewish Wedding

The processional typically begins with the rabbi and/or cantor, followed by the bride's grandparents and the groom's grandparents. Next, the groomsmen walk in pairs, followed by the best man, the groom escorted by his parents, the bridesmaids in pairs, the maid of honor, and the ring bearer and flower girl (optional). The bride is the last to walk down the aisle, escorted by her parents.

Hindu Wedding

The Hindu wedding processional is part of a larger, multi-day celebration. The groom's processional, or baraat, is first, with the groom arriving on a ceremonial white horse escorted by his family and friends. The bride's procession, or kanya aagman, follows, with the bride escorted by male family members to the mandap, a raised canopy.

Catholic Wedding

The Catholic wedding ceremony is always held inside a church. The processional often includes the priest and ministers, followed by the groom, best man, groomsmen, maid of honor, bridesmaids, ring bearer, flower girl, and the bride escorted by her father.

Nondenominational Wedding

The nondenominational wedding processional is flexible and can vary depending on the couple's preferences. The groom and groomsmen may choose to enter from the side or walk down the aisle, followed by the best man, bridesmaids and groomsmen (typically in pairs), maid of honor, ring bearer and flower girl, and the bride with one or both parents.

The officiant's role

The officiant is one of the most important people at a wedding—without them, the marriage isn't official! The officiant's role is to conduct the ceremony, guiding the proceedings with words and gestures to indicate what is to be said and who does what. They are also responsible for ensuring the marriage is legally binding.

The Officiant's Legal Role

The officiant acts as a third party administering a contract between two people. They ensure that both parties are entering into the marital contract of their own free will and sound mind. The officiant also has the bureaucratic role of completing the marriage license with the couple and any required witnesses, and returning it to the relevant office.

Before the Wedding

Before the wedding, the officiant should meet with the couple to discuss how the ceremony will flow. It's important to know the couple's vision for their wedding, including the tone, any traditions that need to be incorporated, and the type of readings they prefer. The officiant is in charge of creating a program that reflects the couple's wishes and ensures a smooth flow to the ceremony.

The officiant also leads the wedding party at the ceremony rehearsal, which usually takes place the day before the wedding. They brief the wedding party on when to walk down the aisle and where everyone's respective places should be.

During the Wedding

During the wedding, the officiant welcomes the guests and makes some opening remarks. They may speak about marriage in general and share the couple's love story. The officiant then introduces any readings or wedding poems, which can be pulled from holy texts in religious ceremonies or chosen by the couple for non-religious ceremonies.

Next is the vow exchange and declaration of intent, followed by the ring exchange. The officiant gives each partner the other's wedding ring, and the couple may choose to say a few words about what the ring symbolises to them.

After the vows and rings have been exchanged, the officiant pronounces the couple as newlyweds, and the couple shares their first kiss as a married couple.

After the Wedding

Finally, the officiant has one last task to make everything official: turning in the completed marriage license to the relevant office.

The processional order

• Officiant: The officiant is typically the first to approach the altar when the ceremony is about to begin. They welcome the guests and make opening remarks, which may include a brief introduction, a thank you to the guests, and some thoughts on marriage and the couple's love story.
• Groom's Processional: The groom walks down the aisle, usually accompanied by their parents or alone.
• Groom's Wedding Party: The groom's wedding party, including the groomsmen and honor attendants (best man), make their way down the aisle.
• Bride's Wedding Party: The bride's wedding party, including the bridesmaids, maid of honor, flower girl, and ring bearer, proceed towards the altar.
• Bride's Processional: The bride, often escorted by her father or alone, makes her grand entrance and joins the groom at the altar.
• Parents of the Couple: The parents of the couple then walk down the aisle together and take their seats.
• Grandparents: The grandparents of both the bride and groom may also be included in the processional, walking down the aisle before the parents.
• Other Family Members: Depending on the cultural or religious traditions, other family members such as siblings or cousins may also be part of the processional.
• Music and Readings: Music, poems, readings, or prayers are often incorporated into the ceremony, creating a personalized and meaningful atmosphere.
• Exchange of Vows and Rings: The couple exchanges vows and rings, symbolizing their commitment and the beginning of their new life together.
• Pronouncement and First Kiss: The officiant pronounces the couple as newlyweds, and they share their first kiss as a married couple.
• Recessional: The couple leads the recessional, exiting the ceremony in the reverse order of the processional.

Remember, this is just a general guide, and you can customize the processional order to fit your specific needs and preferences. The most important thing is to make your wedding ceremony reflect your unique relationship and incorporate any cultural or religious traditions that are meaningful to you.

The recessional order

The recessional is the order in which the newlywed couple and wedding party exit the ceremony. It is a significant moment that symbolises the beginning of the couple's lifelong journey together. The ceremony exit usually includes celebrations and well-wishes from the guests.

For a Christian ceremony, the newlyweds are traditionally followed by the flower girl and ring bearer, the maid of honour and best man, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the immediate family, led by the parents of the couple.

At a Jewish ceremony, the couple exits first, followed by their grandparents, the flower girl and ring bearer, the maid of honour and best man, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

The wedding recessional is entirely customisable and can be tailored to the couple's preferences.

The role of music

Music is an integral part of a wedding and plays a crucial role in setting the mood for the wedding party. It can be performed live by instrumentalists or vocalists or may use pre-recorded songs, depending on the format of the event, traditions associated with the culture, and the couple's wishes. Music can be played during the ceremony and at festivities before or after the event. It is often used to announce the arrival of the wedding participants, such as the bride's processional, and takes the form of a wedding march in many Western cultures.

Prelude and Processional Music

The prelude is when guests arrive at the gathering place while ambient music is played. Calm and light music is usually performed to set the mood for the ceremony without being too distracting. Popular prelude music includes "Air on the G String" and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Johann Sebastian Bach. The processional music then announces the arrival of the wedding participants, such as the bride's entrance, and is often in the form of a wedding march. A popular choice is the "Bridal Chorus" from Wagner's "Lohengrin," often called "Here Comes The Bride."

Cultural Variations

Music choices vary across different cultures. For example, in Jewish weddings, the entrance of the groom is accompanied by the tune "Baruch Haba," while "Siman Tov" ("Good Tidings") is a celebratory song. In traditional Burmese weddings, a classical song like "Aura of Immeasurable Auspiciousness" is played as processional music. Egyptian weddings feature a specific rhythm called the zaffa, where a belly dancer leads the bride to the wedding hall, accompanied by musicians playing drums and trumpets.

Personalization and Guest Involvement

Music can be personalized to reflect the couple's tastes and create a memorable experience. Couples can choose to include their favourite tracks or create their own playlists. Involving guests in music selection is also recommended to ensure a diverse and enjoyable selection that appeals to all generations.

Impact and Entertainment

Music creates a lasting impact, especially during key moments such as the aisle music and first dance. It brings people together, fills awkward silences, and keeps guests engaged throughout the celebration. Music is a powerful tool for evoking emotions and creating new memories, making it an essential part of any wedding.

Practical Considerations

When selecting music for a wedding, it is important to consider the diversity of the audience and choose songs that are appropriate for all age groups. The playlist should also have a good mix of songs, including dance numbers and slower tunes, to create a balanced atmosphere. Couples should also clearly communicate their music specifications and any restrictions to the DJ or band they hire for the event.

Frequently asked questions