Tradition provides a few rules to organizing the wedding processional. This is the entrance of the bridal party, and the grand entrance of the bride. The bridal procession does not begin until all guests are seated and the ceremony music begins. While there is a specific order and method to the ritual, it is okay to be creative and do things a little differently. Since organizing a large group within the ceremony space can get a little complicated, we are sharing the traditional wedding processional to help you plan.
Beginning the Wedding Processional
There are couple indicators that the wedding processional is about to begin. The officiant is usually the first person to enter. This important person is not in the wedding party; therefore, they usually make an entrance from the side. When the mother of the bride makes her entrance and takes her seat, that is a sign that the processionals are about to begin. She makes her entrance down the aisle and takes a reserved seat on left side of the first row.
The Groom’s Entrance
The groom makes a grand entrance and walks down the aisle towards the wedding arch. It is common for the groom’s parent’s to escort the groom. Sometimes, he makes his entrance with the Best Man. The groom and best man usually stand on the right side of the aisle, facing the guests. The groom is rarely involved in the procession of the bride due to some old superstitions about not seeing the bride before the ceremony. If you want to break tradition and do it differently, the groom can escort the bride.
The Best Man in the Wedding Processional
The best man is an important person that not only assists the groom and holds the rings during the ceremony, but is also a legal witness to the marriage. The Best man can enter the venue with the wedding party or walk with the groom. The best man stands to the groom’s left and slightly behind him during the ceremony.
Groomsmen Make an Entrance
The Groomsmen can make their entrance one by one or all together. They walk down the aisle and take their position by the groom’s side.
Bridesmaids in the Wedding Processional
The bridesmaids make their entrance one by one during the wedding processional and form a line next to the place where the bride will stand during the ceremony. Sometimes, the groomsmen escort the bridesmaids down the aisle.
Maid of Honor
The maid of honor is the right-hand lady to the bride during the ceremony. During the wedding processional, the maid of honor walks down the aisle behind the bridesmaids to stand at the wedding arch on the bride’s side.
Children in the Wedding Processional
Not everyone plans to have children in the wedding processional, but they can be a nice addition to the wedding party. The flower girls and ring bearers are the last to enter before the bride makes her entrance. The flower girl tosses flowers from a basket along the aisle as she walks to the front. The ring bearer holds the rings and then hands them off to the best man.
Arranging The Wedding Processional
The wedding processional usually forms at the rear of the ceremony site. It is a good idea to organize the wedding party according to height, with the shorter individuals in front. Properly space the wedding party four to six paces between each individual or pair in the line. Traditionally, the groom’s party makes an entrance after the groom takes his place at the wedding arch. The best man walks the aisle first and takes his place beside the groom. The groomsmen walk down the aisle one after the other in a single line to join the best man. The bridesmaids follow behind the groomsmen and take their place on the bride’s side. The maid of honor walks down the aisle behind the bridesmaids. Sometimes, the best man escorts the maid of honor and the groomsmen escort the bridesmaids down the aisle. If children are included in the ceremony, page boys and flower girls make their entrance before the bride.
The Bride in the Wedding Processional
Traditionally, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her father and given away at the wedding arch. When this is done, the bride walks on the right side of her father. You might have a different plan that makes more sense for your wedding processional. Sometimes, both parents escort the bride down the aisle. When the father of the bride is not available, the role can be filled by a family member or close friend. The solo procession of the bride is becoming popular for many reasons.
Practice Makes Perfect
The wedding processional requires a little planning and practice. You should always practice a mock ceremony with your wedding party and the wedding coordinator just before the big day. The wedding party should understand their order, position and pace. The finer details for the wedding processional should be planned in advance, but must be reviewed and practiced during the rehearsal.
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