Franklin Dean
A wedding processional is the order in which people walk down the aisle at the start of a wedding ceremony. It is one of the most memorable moments of a wedding day. The order is usually dictated by religion or culture, but couples can also choose to customise it according to their preferences. The processional often includes a permutation of the officiant, parents, the groom, the wedding party, the flower girls, the ring bearers, and the bride (who usually makes her big-day debut last).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Order of procession | This can vary depending on religion or culture. For example, Jewish weddings include both sets of grandparents walking down the aisle, while in Hindu weddings, the parents play a more significant role. |
| Officiant | Usually a religious leader, such as a minister, rabbi, or cantor, who begins the procession and stands at the altar. |
| Parents/Grandparents | The couple's parents and/or grandparents may walk down the aisle first, either together or escorted by their children/grandchildren. |
| Groom | In some traditions, the groom enters from the side of the venue, while in others, he walks down the aisle with the wedding party. |
| Wedding Party | This includes bridesmaids, groomsmen, maid of honour/matron of honour, best man, flower girls, and ring bearers. They may walk down the aisle individually or in pairs. |
| Bride | Traditionally, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her father or another family member. However, this can be adjusted to fit the couple's preferences. |
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What You'll Learn
The officiant
In most wedding processionals, the officiant is the first person to walk towards the altar, signalling the start of the ceremony. They may walk down the aisle alone or be accompanied by the groom or other VIPs. In some cases, the officiant may already be standing at the altar, waiting for the rest of the wedding party to join them.
The role of the officiant is to guide the couple through their vows and perform rituals such as the circling ceremony, where the bride circles the groom seven times, or the couple circles each other. The officiant will also typically give a speech or reading during the ceremony, which can be personalised to the couple.
When it comes to the wedding processional, the officiant can work with the couple to create an order that feels meaningful to them. This may include incorporating family members, such as grandparents and parents, into the processional or having the officiant enter with the wedding party. Ultimately, the couple can choose to customise their processional order to fit their needs and reflect their personal style and values.
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The groom
The wedding processional order is the traditional order of honoured individuals walking down the aisle. While the order of the procession is ultimately up to you, there are some traditional etiquette rules that you can follow. The processional order can also depend on your ceremony style, culture, religion, and personal preferences.
In a traditional Catholic wedding, the priest stands in the middle, with the groom and groomsmen on the right and the bride and bridesmaids on the left. The priest begins the procession and takes his place at the centre of the altar. The groom follows closely behind the priest and stands to his right. In this case, the groom is the second person in the processional. Alternatively, the bride and groom can enter together with the priest, or with their parents.
In a non-denominational ceremony, the groom and his groomsmen will already be waiting at the altar before the processional begins. In this case, the groom does not need to process.
In a Hindu ceremony, the procession begins with the entrance of the groom and his family on a white horse, followed by the bride and her family in a small carriage.
In a Jewish ceremony, the groom's grandparents walk down the aisle after the bride's grandparents and take a seat in the front row on the left side. The groomsmen then walk down the aisle in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the groom. The best man walks alone and takes his place to the right of where the groom will stand. The groom then walks down the aisle accompanied by his parents, with his father on his left and his mother on his right. In a Jewish ceremony, the groom's family and friends sit on the left.
In a modern wedding, the groom may walk up a side aisle, or down the main aisle solo, after the officiant. The best man walks with or slightly behind him. The groom's parents may also escort him down the aisle, in which case they would sit in the front row on the right side.
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The wedding party
In a Jewish wedding, the wedding party will include the couple's grandparents walking down the aisle. The groom's groomsmen will walk down the aisle individually or in pairs, taking their places on the left side of the chuppah (wedding canopy). The best man is the last to walk down the aisle and will stand closest to the groom.
In a Hindu wedding, the parents are more involved in the processional. The bride's mother and father even sit with the couple under the mandap (wedding altar) for the service.
In a Christian wedding, the bride traditionally stands on the left side of the altar, and her family and wedding guests sit on that side as well. The groom will traditionally take his place at the head of the altar, coming in from the side of the venue or walking down the aisle solo. However, many couples choose to have the groom's parents escort him down the aisle, and they sit on the right side of the aisle in the front row.
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The bride's escort
The wedding processional is a chance to introduce the wedding guests to the special people who have played an important role in the couple's relationship. It is also a chance to showcase the couple's personal style and values.
In Jewish weddings, the couple is escorted down the aisle by both parents, who stand under the chuppah (wedding canopy). In Hindu weddings, the bride's parents are involved in the processional and sit with the couple under the mandap for the service. In Christian weddings, the bride's family and wedding guests sit on the left side of the altar, which is also where the bride stands.
The wedding processional order can be adjusted to fit the couple's needs and reflect their personalities. It is a chance to make the wedding tradition their own.
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The bride
The wedding processional is the highlight of the service, marking the beginning of the ceremony. The bride is traditionally the last person to walk down the aisle, escorted by her father or another chosen family member. This is symbolic of the family "giving away" the bride to her soon-to-be spouse and in-laws.
Ultimately, the wedding processional can be customised to fit your needs and reflect your personality. There are no rules, and you can adjust the order to suit your family situation and preferences.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding processional is the order in which people walk down the aisle at the start of a wedding ceremony. The specific order varies depending on religion or cultural tradition, but the officiant usually begins the ceremony by walking down the aisle and standing at the altar. The couple is traditionally last, with the bride making her debut at the end.
The wedding party, ring bearer, and flower girl are often included in the processional. The wedding party walks down the aisle in the order of where they'll stand at the altar, beginning with the outermost spot. The parents of the couple may also walk down the aisle, either escorted by the couple's siblings or step-parents or with each other.
Yes, you can change the order of the wedding processional to fit your needs and reflect who you are. The wedding processional is a chance to introduce wedding guests to the special people who played an important role in your relationship.
