Wedding Processional: Who Walks When?

A wedding processional is the order in which the wedding party, usually including the couple, make their way down the aisle to the front of the ceremony space to mark the beginning of a wedding ceremony. The processional can be one of the most memorable moments of a couple's special day and is often highly anticipated by guests. The processional begins with the bride's mother and follows with the groom, best man, paired-up wedding party, flower girl, and ring bearer. It ends with the bride making her entrance, escorted by her father, who gives her away to the groom.

Who walks down the aisle and in what order?

The processional order varies depending on the type of wedding ceremony. Here is a breakdown of the processional order for different types of weddings:

Traditional Christian Wedding Processional Order

The mother of the bride's entrance usually signals the start of the processional. After she is seated, the groom takes his place at the altar, either walking down the aisle solo or escorted by his parents. The best man follows, either walking in from the side or as the last groomsman. The groomsmen then walk down the aisle one by one, followed by the bridesmaids walking solo or in pairs. The maid or matron of honour walks down the aisle before the ring bearer and flower girl(s). Finally, the bride's father escorts the bride down the aisle, marking the beginning of the wedding ceremony.

Traditional Jewish Wedding Processional Order

The rabbi and/or cantor are the first to walk towards the altar, followed by the bride's grandparents, who take their seats in the first row on the right side. The groom's grandparents walk down the aisle next, taking their seats on the left side. The groomsmen walk in pairs, and the best man walks solo. The groom then walks down the aisle with his parents, followed by the bridesmaids walking in pairs. The maid or matron of honour walks alone, followed by the ring bearer and flower girl(s). Finally, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her parents.

Traditional Hindu Wedding Processional Order

The Hindu wedding processional begins with the groom's entrance, where he is accompanied by his family and friends in a celebration called a "baraat". The bride's family welcomes the groom with sweets, gifts, or flower garlands. The bride then enters, walking down the aisle with her family, wedding party, and friends. The bridal party walks ahead of the bride to build anticipation for her grand entrance. The couple then exchanges garlands and takes their seats under the mandap to begin the ceremony.

Traditional Nondenominational Wedding Processional Order

The officiant, who can be a friend, family member, or ordained individual, stands at the altar to mark the beginning of the processional. The groom and his groomsmen may already be at the altar or choose to walk down the aisle. The best man follows suit. The groomsmen and bridesmaids typically walk in pairs, starting from those standing farthest from the couple. The maid or matron of honour walks alone. The flower girl(s) and/or ring bearer(s) walk down the aisle one after the other. The bride may be escorted by her father, mother, both parents, or choose to walk down the aisle alone.

Modern Wedding Processional Order

The officiant begins the ceremony by walking down the aisle and standing at the altar. The parents of the couple may walk down the aisle together or escorted by their children or step-parents. Wedding party members can walk down the aisle individually or in pairs, with the maid of honour and best man as the final wedding party members. If there are young attendants, such as a ring bearer or flower girl, they are included in the processional before the couple. The couple can choose to walk down the aisle alone, escorted by parents, or together.

Who is included in the processional?

The processional is the first order of business at a wedding ceremony. It marks the start of the ceremony and is a highly anticipated moment. The processional includes everyone who will be coming down the aisle at the beginning of the wedding. This can be just the couple, the couple and their wedding party, or a few other important people like parents, honoured guests, and the wedding officiant.

The wedding processional can be intimate, with just the couple walking down the aisle, or it can be a whole posse of friends and family. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the processional can be personalised to make it meaningful to the couple.

The processional traditionally begins with the mother of the bride. This is followed by the groom, the best man, the groomsmen, the bridesmaids, the maid or matron of honour, the flower girl and ring bearer, and finally, the bride escorted by her father.

However, this is not set in stone, and there are many variations depending on religious and cultural traditions. For example, in a Catholic wedding, the priest, groom, and best man enter the church from a side door and take their places at the altar before the rest of the VIPs walk down the aisle. In a Jewish wedding, the rabbi or cantor is generally the first to walk towards the altar, followed by the bride's grandparents and then the groom's grandparents. In a Hindu wedding, the groom, accompanied by his family and friends, arrives on a ceremonial white horse, and the bride is led by male family members.

In modern times, the processional has become more flexible to accommodate different family dynamics and preferences. The couple can choose to walk down the aisle together, be escorted by both parents, or even enter from the side or backdoor once the ceremony begins. Ultimately, it is the couple's decision on who to include in their processional and how they want it to progress.

What music is played during the processional?

Music is a key part of a wedding, helping to set the tone and mood for the entire day. The processional is the part of the ceremony when the parents, grandparents, and wedding party walk down the aisle. This usually doesn't last very long, perhaps only about the length of a single song.

There are many different styles of music that can be played during the processional. In Western cultures, the arrival of the participants is often announced by a wedding march, with the Bridal Chorus from Wagner's Lohengrin, often called "Here Comes The Bride", being the most popular choice. This is traditionally played on a pipe organ.

However, some couples may consider traditional wedding marches to be clichéd and may opt for something more modern or alternative. For example, Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel, "A Day Without Rain" by Enya, or "Here Comes the Sun" by Nina Simone.

Couples may also choose to choreograph a fun dance for the wedding party to perform during the processional to add a unique and personalised touch to the ceremony.

In other cultures, there are different formats and music choices for the processional. For example, in Egypt, there is a rhythm called the zaffa, where a belly dancer leads the bride to the wedding hall, accompanied by musicians playing drums and trumpets.

How long does a processional last?

The length of a wedding processional can vary depending on several factors, including the number of people in the wedding party, the length of the aisle, and the chosen processional song. On average, a wedding processional typically lasts between three to five minutes, with the bride's walk down the aisle taking up to one minute.

The processional includes everyone who walks down the aisle at the beginning of the wedding, such as the couple, the wedding party, parents, honoured guests, and sometimes the officiant. The specific order of the processional can vary depending on cultural and religious traditions, as well as personal preferences.

When planning a processional, it is important to consider not only the order of participants but also the music and timing. Some couples choose different songs for the wedding party and the couple or parents. It is also crucial to take into account any special accommodations that may be needed for children, pets, or elderly individuals included in the processional.

While most larger wedding ceremonies include a processional, it is not mandatory. Couples can opt for a non-traditional approach or even start the ceremony by already being at the front when guests arrive. Ultimately, the processional order can be customized to suit the couple's preferences and needs.

What is the history of the wedding processional?

The wedding processional is a 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 processional is one of the most memorable moments of any wedding day.

The history of the wedding processional does not have a single origin story. For the most part, it was a religious ceremony that created the organised order. Outside of religion, the main tradition was for the father to walk his daughter down the aisle and give her away to the groom. In early history, bridesmaids tended to the bride's preparations in the days before the wedding and wore matching outfits. This was so that in the case that someone attempted to harm the bride, they would not be able to identify her. This tradition also applied to the groom and his groomsmen.

The order of the wedding processional directly relates to the early purposes of the bridal party. The first members that walked down the aisle in the processional hold a position of honour (the mother of the bride, the officiant, and the groom) and mark the beginning of the ceremony. After those people take their places, the best man and the groomsmen traditionally walk down the aisle to protect the groom from evil spirits or attackers. Then the bridesmaids make their way down the aisle to protect the bride from evil or harm before her walk. Once they are at the end of the aisle, the bride then begins her walk, traditionally accompanied by her father, so that he may give her away to her new husband.

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