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What’s the Traditional Wedding Processional Order?.The processional is one of the most memorable moments of any wedding day. However, it’s the wedding processional order that can get a little confusing. When does everyone make their entrance? Who walks down the aisle with whom?
The answers to these questions really depend on your religion or cultural tradition—different groups have different traditional wedding processional orders. Your best bet is to work with your officiant to figure out the best ceremony entrance order for your big day. Of course, at the end of the day, it’s your wedding and you can ultimately create your own processional order if you choose. We spoke to wedding experts to learn more about the most common wedding processional orders.
What Is a Wedding Processional?
The wedding processional refers to the specific people who walk down the aisle at a wedding ceremony.
Typical Order
The more traditional route is to have the officiant and groom enter from the side of the venue. A more modern approach is for both the officiant and groom to walk down the aisle with the rest of the VIPs. Here’s a rundown of the Christian wedding processional order.
1. Officiant
If the officiant is walking down the aisle, rather than enter from the side, they’re up first.
2. Groom
The groom would then walk down the aisle. Sometimes he is followed directly by the groomsmen, and but more traditionally, the groomsmen would walk before or alongside the bridesmaids.
3. Grandparents
Typically the grandparents of the couple are next to walk down the aisle and find their seats in the front row.
4. Parents
Next up: the groom’s parents, followed by the mother of the bride. The bride’s mother is traditionally escorted by another family member, like a son or brother.
5. Wedding Party
When it comes to the wedding party processional, there are a few options. 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). Then, each bridesmaid would walk down the aisle solo, with the maid of honor at the end.
The first groomsman or bridesmaid to walk down the aisle will stand the farthest away from the couple, so the best man and maid of honor will stand directly next to the couple. Often this is organized by height—the tallest wedding party members would walk down the aisle first and stand the farthest away from the couple, etc.
6. Ring Bearer and/or Flower Girl
If young attendants will be participating in the ceremony, they 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.
7. Bride and Father of the Bride
“The bride and her escort (traditionally her father), is the last person to enter the ceremony space.