What Is The Order Of Procession For A Wedding Ceremony? (2024)

What Is The Order Of Procession For A Wedding Ceremony?

What Is The Order Of Procession For A Wedding Ceremony? (1)

You are planning the wedding of your dreams. A mix between tradition and what makes you happy. But we are often asked what is the order of procession for a wedding ceremony? You probably know the bride walks down the aisle last, but everything before that can get confusing. We are here to help you with general, traditional guidelines for who walk first, who walk next, and who can walk together. Follow this tutorial for the wedding processional order and everyone will be happy.

  1. Traditionally, the mother of the bride walks down the aisle first and then takes a seat in the first row. In Jewish weddings, it is customary for the mother of the bride and the father of the bride to walk the bride down the aisle together later.
  2. The bride’s grandparents can also be a part of the wedding processional, and then take a seat in the first row.
  3. The groom’s grandparents will typically follow the bride’s grandparents, taking a seat on the groom’s side of the wedding.
  4. Bridesmaids and groomsmen can walk down separately, or you may pair them together. Often brides choose to pair up bridesmaids and groomsmen. Once down the aisle, the groomsmen will line up at the altar next to the groom, and the bridesmaids will stand next to where the bride will stand for the wedding ceremony.
  5. The best man follows the bridesmaids and groomsmen and can walk down alone or with the maid of honor. He may also be the ring bearer for some weddings, and will stand next to the groom at the altar.
  6. Should you choose to have the maid of honor walk down separately, they should follow the best man. They will stand next to you at the altar, and will hold your wedding bouquet.
  7. The groom walks down the aisle next, and can walk down alone or escorted by his mother and father to the wedding ceremony.
  8. The officiant may enter now, or they may choose their place in the ceremony based on their tradition. They may select the option of approaching the altar from the side of the room with the groom or may choose to be the first of the processional before the grandparents of the bride. You can speak with your officiant about their preferences when you meet prior to the wedding.
  9. Every wedding’s much loved ring bearer and then flower girl proceeds next. The flower girl is typically the last one to walk down the aisle before the bride.
  10. Finally, the bride walks down the aisle last to her wedding with her father or other escort that will give her away. The father of the bride will lift the bride’s veil and kiss her before the bride approaches the groom at the altar.
What Is The Order Of Procession For A Wedding Ceremony? (2024)

FAQs

What Is The Order Of Procession For A Wedding Ceremony? ›

This would be considered a traditional order of walking down the aisle: start with the officiant and groom, followed by family members - grandparents, parents of the groom, and mother of the bride. Next is the wedding party, ring bearer, and flower girl. Lastly, the bride enters, escorted by the father of the bride.

What is the proper processional order for a wedding? ›

The most classic processional order would have the bridesmaids and the groomsmen coming down the aisle in pairs. However, nowadays, the groomsmen will walk down the aisle individually either after the groom or after the parents (the best man is always last).

What is the correct order of a wedding ceremony? ›

In a traditional wedding ceremony, the processional begins with the bride's mother before the groom, best man, wedding party, flower girl, and ring bearer follow. The bride, who is escorted by her father, is the last to make her way down the aisle.

What is the normal order for a wedding? ›

The priest and the ministers walk to the altar first. Only then do the rest of the members of the processional enter, in the following order: groom, best man, groomsmen, maids of honor, bridesmaids, ring bearer, flower girl, and the bride and her father.

What is the procession of ceremony? ›

The processional is the official entrance of you, as the couple getting married, and any VIPs like bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, etc. It's often done with music and marks the official start of the wedding ceremony. FAMILIES AND WEDDING PARTIES COME IN ALL VARIATIONS AND GENDERS.

What is the processional order? ›

The wedding processional refers to the group of people walking down the aisle in a specific order to mark the beginning of a 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.

Does the maid of honor walk first or last? ›

You start with the bridesmaid who will stand the farthest from the bride and groom — And the maid (or matron) of honor will walk down the aisle last. The Flower Girl(s) and the Ring Bearer can walk down the aisle together — OR — the flower girl(s) can walk in after the ring bearer walks down the aisle.

What is the order of wedding entourage? ›

The order of the wedding entourage during the processional usually follows this sequence: Officiant. Groom and best man (either walking together or the groom escorted by his parents) Groomsmen (either individually or paired with bridesmaids)

Who walks the groom's mother down the aisle? ›

The groom might opt to escort his mother down the aisle and to her seat in the front row, followed closely behind by the groom's father. This gives the groom an opportunity to give his parents a hug before taking his place at the altar.

What is a traditional wedding ceremony script? ›

Traditional Wedding Ceremony Script

We are gathered here today to join [Name] and [Name] in holy matrimony. VOW EXCHANGE. [Name], I promise to cherish you always, to honor and sustain you, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, and to be true to you in all things until death alone shall part us.

Who walks up first in a wedding? ›

Once the officiant, groom, and groomsmen are in place, the seating of parents begins. There is often a song specifically for this procession. Tradition says that those closest to the bride should be closest to her in the line-up. This means that the groom's family walks up first.

What does the officiant say at a wedding? ›

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love of [Name & Name] as they come together in marriage.” “We've come together to witness a beautiful union today as [Name & Name] pledge their hearts and lives to one another in matrimony.

Who says vows first? ›

In a traditional wedding, the groom is usually the one to say his vows first. But today, either part of the couple has the option of saying their vows first. This preference on vows varies depending on what you select as a couple, your beliefs, what your officiant recommends, or the order of events you choose.

What is an example of a procession? ›

A procession is a line of people or vehicles moving along in an orderly and often ceremonial way. A very common example is a funeral procession, which is the line of cars or people traveling together to a burial. A parade is another kind of procession.

Does the officiant say anything before the processional? ›

It's just the officiant and Partner 1 up there, and then the officiant welcomes everyone and makes the opening remarks. We conclude our remarks with “…and with that, let's begin,” and the music starts and the processional gets underway. That's when everyone else makes their entrance.

Does the officiant tell everyone to stand? ›

Announce for everyone to be seated: Your officiant may say “Everyone please stand for the bride” and many guest will do it even if not asked.

Do the best man and maid of honor walk together? ›

The best man follows the bridesmaids and groomsmen and can walk down alone or with the maid of honor. He may also be the ring bearer for some weddings, and will stand next to the groom at the altar. Should you choose to have the maid of honor walk down separately, they should follow the best man.

Who walks mother of the bride down the aisle? ›

The mother of the bride is traditionally escorted by her son if she has one. Otherwise, any close male relative, the best man, or a groomsman walks with the mother of the bride during the procession.

How do you walk down the aisle gracefully? ›

Think of your neck as free of tension, and your head elegantly and lightly poised. Be aware of length in your spine and allow your knees to move freely forward from your hips. Remember not to grip anything you are holding, but to have as light a touch as is needed, so that your arms are not bunched into your shoulders.

Who walks down aisle during processional song? ›

Music plays as the Bride and Groom walk hand in hand down the aisle, Maid of Honor and Best Man follow when the Bride and Groom have cleared the seating area. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen do the same as above Flower Girl and Ring Bearer follow. Next Mother and Father of the Bride.

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