Junior Rasmussen
The procession marks the official start of the wedding ceremony. It is when members of the couple's immediate family and wedding party head down the aisle and either find a seat or take their places on either side of the altar. The wedding recessional, on the other hand, is entirely customisable and marks the couple's first steps as a married duo. It is when the newlyweds lead the procession back up the aisle, followed by their families and wedding party.
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What You'll Learn
The officiant
After the ceremony concludes, the officiant pronounces the couple married and introduces them as such to the guests for the first time. The couple then leads the recessional down the aisle, with the officiant following at the end of the procession.
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The groom
- Entrance and Accompaniment: The groom traditionally walks down the aisle solo, creating a memorable moment. However, modern grooms may opt to be escorted by both parents, with the father on their left and mother on their right. Alternatively, the groom's parents may choose to escort him down the aisle and then take their seats on the right side of the front row. In a Jewish wedding, the groom's party stands on the left, while the bride's party stands on the right.
- Order of Entrance: The groom's entrance is usually preceded by the mother of the bride, who takes her seat on the left side of the front row. The groom then takes his place at the head of the altar, either entering from the side or walking down the aisle. The best man typically follows the groom or enters alongside him from the side. Groomsmen may enter in pairs, starting with those farthest from the groom, or individually after the groom or his parents.
- Cultural Variations: In traditional Jewish weddings, the groomsmen walk in pairs, and the best man enters solo after them. In Hindu weddings, the baraat is a special procession where the groom arrives on a ceremonial white horse, escorted by friends and family, with live music and dancing.
- Pre-Ceremony Rituals: Before the procession, the groom may participate in private rituals, such as signing the marriage contract (ketubah) at the groom's reception or the day before. Another ritual is the bedeken, or veiling, where the groom veils his bride's face, stemming from the biblical story of Jacob.
- Post-Ceremony Recessional: The recessional marks the end of the ceremony, with the newlyweds leading the procession up the aisle, followed by their families and wedding party. The groom and bride often take a brief moment alone, symbolizing the consummation of their marriage. The recessional song should be joyful and celebratory, creating a memorable exit.
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The wedding party
The groom and groomsmen typically enter next, either from the side or down the aisle, with the best man last. The groomsmen may walk in pairs or individually. The groom may be escorted by his parents or enter alone.
The bridesmaids follow, again either in pairs or solo, with the maid of honour last. The ring bearer and flower girl then precede the bride, who is traditionally escorted by her father. The bride's father gives her away, lifts her veil and kisses her, and takes his seat.
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The bride
The procession, also known as the processional, is the official start to a wedding ceremony. It is when members of the wedding party head down the aisle to take their places at the altar, either sitting or standing, before the ceremony begins. The order of the procession is usually decided in advance. The officiant, who may be a friend, family member, or ordained minister, typically begins the procession by walking down the aisle and standing at the altar. However, some couples prefer the officiant to enter from the side of the venue. The groom and groomsmen may also enter from the side, or they can walk down the aisle, either solo or in pairs. The best man is usually last.
After the ceremony concludes, the officiant pronounces the couple married and introduces them as such to the guests. The newlyweds then lead the recessional, or recession, back up the aisle, followed by their families and the rest of the wedding party. The recessional toss, where guests throw rice, seeds, wheat, nuts, or flower petals, has a long history in many cultures, symbolizing good wishes for the couple. The wedding recessional song should be joyful and celebratory, in contrast to the more sentimental processional song.
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The recessional
The wedding recessional is a memorable part of the ceremony, marking the couple's first steps as a married duo. It is entirely customisable, and the couple can choose to include traditions such as the recessional toss, where guests toss flower petals, rice, seeds, wheat, or nuts to wish the couple prosperity and fertility in their marriage. The choice of music is also important, with joyful and celebratory songs being most common.
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Frequently asked questions
The procession after the wedding is called the recessional.
The newlyweds lead the column, followed by the bride's parents, the groom's parents, the bride's grandparents, and the groom's grandparents. Then, the flower girls or ring bearers lead the rest of the wedding party out of the space.
Yes, you can choose a recessional song. It should be joyful, vibrant, and celebratory.
The tossing of rice, seeds, wheat, or nuts has its origins in many ancient cultures. It was done to appease spirits and wish the couple prosperity and fertility in their marriage.
The bride and groom often take 10-15 minutes to themselves, which is the symbolic consummation of the marriage.
