Ring Bearers: Aisle Walk Timing

when do ring bearers walk down the aisle

The wedding processional refers to the moment when the couple, wedding party, and nearlyweds walk down the aisle in a specific order, initiating the ceremony. The processional often includes a permutation of the officiant, the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the couple and their parents. The order of the processional depends on the type of wedding ceremony, with different religious and cultural groups having different traditional processional orders.

In a traditional Christian wedding, the ring bearer and/or flower girl are the last to walk down the aisle before the bride. In a Catholic wedding, the ring bearer and/or flower girl round out the wedding procession right before the bride enters. In a Jewish wedding, the ring bearer walks down the aisle followed by the flower girl, and they may stand or sit depending on their ages and preferences. In a Hindu wedding, the processional ends with the couple seated at the mandap, or altar, so the ring bearer and flower girl would precede this.

In a nondenominational wedding, the processional order is more flexible, and the couple may make substitutions and changes as desired. The little ones typically enter right before the bride, and either stand with the rest of the wedding party or sit with their parents or other close loved ones.

Characteristics	Values
Who walks down the aisle	Ring bearer
When do they walk down the aisle	Before the bride, either alone or with the flower girl
Who do they walk down the aisle with	Alone, with the flower girl, or with other children

What You'll Learn

The ring bearer walks before the flower girl
The ring bearer walks with the flower girl
The ring bearer carries the rings
The ring bearer walks with the best man
The ring bearer walks before the bride

The ring bearer walks before the flower girl

The wedding processional refers to the moment when the wedding party walks down the aisle in a specific order, marking the beginning of a wedding ceremony. The processional often includes the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the bride and groom.

The ring bearer and flower girl traditionally precede the bride down the aisle, but there are no set rules and the couple can decide the order they prefer. If the flower girl is going down the aisle before the bridesmaids and she’s scattering petals, it is worth noting that most or all of the petals will likely be swept off the aisle and into the seats by the time the bride walks down. If the bride is set on having a flower-petal carpet effect for her walk, then the flower girl should go immediately before the bride and not before the bridesmaids.

If the couple chooses to have the ring bearer and flower girl walk down the aisle before the rest of the bridal party, it is a good idea to prepare the children for their moment in the spotlight. They can be reminded that it is okay to feel nervous, but that it will also be fun. It is also important to consider how the children will feel and how they might respond when walking down the aisle.

If the ring bearer is very young, he may not be trusted with the actual wedding rings. In this case, he can carry a decoy or an ornate pillow or box without the rings. Alternatively, the ring bearer can be a sign bearer, holding a small chalkboard with a cute message like "Here Comes the Bride".

The ring bearer and flower girl can walk down the aisle together or separately, depending on what works best for the couple and the children's temperaments. If there are multiple children, there are several formation options, such as the ring bearer with a flower girl and two other flower girls behind, or the ring bearer first followed by the flower girl(s).

In summary, the ring bearer can walk before the flower girl if the couple chooses to have the children walk down the aisle before the rest of the bridal party. This can be a good option if the flower girl is scattering petals and the couple wants to ensure a flower-petal carpet effect for the bride's entrance. However, the couple should also consider the potential challenges of having young children walk down the aisle and prepare accordingly.

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The ring bearer walks with the flower girl

The flower girl and ring bearer traditionally walk down the aisle together, preceding the bride. The flower girl may carry a basket of petals to scatter as she walks, creating a flower-petal-carpet effect for the bride's walk. The ring bearer traditionally carries the wedding rings (or decoys, if he's too young) tied to a small pillow.

There are a few options for when the flower girl and ring bearer walk down the aisle in relation to the rest of the wedding party:

Option 1: The kids enter before Partner 2's party

The officiant enters, any parents are seated honourarily, and the officiant gives the opening remarks. Then, the music cues the processional, and the flower girl and ring bearer lead the way, walking down the aisle ahead of everyone else. This is the non-traditional option but is a good choice if the children are very young or unpredictable, giving the couple a bit of distance before their grand entrance.

Option 2: The kids enter immediately before Partner 2

Each member of Partner 2's party goes down the aisle one-by-one and takes their place at the front. Then, the flower girl and ring bearer make their entrance. If there are multiple children, there are various formations that can be used, such as the ring bearer with a flower girl and then two other flower girls behind, or the ring bearer first, followed by the flower girl.

Option 3: The ring bearer enters before, the flower girl enters after

This option is rarely done but may work best in certain situations. The ring bearer can bring the ring to the Best Man at the front, and then the flower girl can come in after Partner 2's party, heralding their impending entrance.

The flower girl and ring bearer can also walk down the aisle with their parents, especially if they are very young. This is a good option to prevent meltdowns and give the children a familiar face.

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The ring bearer carries the rings

The ring bearer is a much-loved part of the wedding ceremony. But what is their role and when do they walk down the aisle?

The Ring Bearer's Role

The ring bearer traditionally carries the wedding rings down the aisle, usually tied to a small pillow. If the ring bearer is very young, decoy rings may be used instead.

The timing of the ring bearer's entrance can vary. Here are some options for when to include the ring bearer in the wedding processional:

Before Partner 2's Party: The ring bearer can lead the way and be the first one out, walking down the aisle ahead of everyone else. This option is useful if there are concerns about very young children not making it down the aisle.
Immediately Before Partner 2: In this option, the ring bearer enters the aisle after all the members of Partner 2's party have taken their places at the front. This is a more traditional choice.
Splitting the Ring Bearer and Flower Girl: The ring bearer can enter the aisle after Partner 1's party has made it to the front and bring the ring to the Best Man. The flower girl then enters after Partner 2's party, heralding Partner 2's entrance.

The Processional Order

The processional order can vary depending on cultural and religious traditions, as well as personal preferences. Here is an example of a traditional Christian wedding processional order:

Officiant (optional)
Groom
Groomsmen
Grandparents of the couple
Groom's parents
Mother of the bride
Bridesmaids and groomsmen (in pairs or individually)
Maid/Matron of Honor
Ring Bearer and/or Flower Girl
Bride and Father of the Bride

Ultimately, the processional order can be customised to suit the couple's preferences and family dynamics.

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The ring bearer walks with the best man

The wedding processional order can vary depending on the type of ceremony and the couple's preferences. However, in a traditional wedding ceremony, the ring bearer typically walks down the aisle after the bridesmaids and precedes the bride.

If the ring bearer is walking with the best man, they would usually enter the ceremony space after the bridesmaids or groomsmen and before the flower girl and the bride. The best man can walk in as the last groomsman or alongside the maid of honour after the other groomsmen have entered.

In some cases, the best man holds the wedding rings during the ceremony, especially if the ring bearer is very young. In this case, the ring bearer may hand the rings to the best man before taking their seat. Alternatively, the ring bearer may carry the rings on a pillow and give them to the officiant or best man once they reach the altar.

The ring bearer's role is a special way to include young children in the wedding ceremony. They are usually between the ages of three and eight and are often the children of those close to the couple, such as the maid of honour or best man.

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The ring bearer walks before the bride

The wedding processional refers to the moment when the couple, the wedding party, and the nearly-weds walk down the aisle in a specific order, marking the beginning of the wedding ceremony. The processional often includes a permutation of the officiant, the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, and the bride and groom and their parents.

The ring bearer and flower girl traditionally precede the bride down the aisle. The ring bearer carries the wedding rings (or decoys, if they are too little to be trusted with the real thing) tied to a small pillow. The flower girl may carry a basket of petals, scattering them as they walk, or a posy of flowers. Once the procession is over and the rings are handed off to the best man, the children are done and can be seated with their parents.

The ring bearer and flower girl are the last to walk down the aisle before the bride. Depending on their ages, they can either stand with the rest of the wedding party or take a seat with their family members.

If you are trying to be traditional, the bride will be the last one to "walk down the aisle."

Options for the Ring Bearer's Processional

There are three options for where to put the kids in the processional order:

The kids enter before Partner 2's party: The officiant enters, any parents are seated honourarily, and the officiant gives those opening remarks. Then, the ring bearers and flower girls lead the way and are the first ones out. They walk down the aisle ahead of everyone else, then the members of Partner 2's party will each take their turn.
The kids enter immediately before Partner 2: Each member of Partner 2's party goes down the aisle one-by-one and takes their place at the front. Then, the ring bearer or flower girls make their entrance.
The ring bearer enters before, the flower girl enters after: The ring bearer goes down the aisle after Partner 1's party has made it to the front. That way, the ring bearer can bring the ring to the Best Man. Then, the flower girl comes in after Partner 2's party makes their entrance.