Order of the Processional
The wedding officially begins with the seating of the family members. Depending upon their mobility, some grandparents and older relatives may opt to sit earlier, and avoid walking down the aisle with everyone watching them.
Traditionally, the woman is escorted by an usher, with the man following behind them in the center of the aisle.
Order of parents and grandparents:
- Bride’s paternal grandparents
- Bride’s maternal grandparents
- Groom’s paternal grandparents
- Groom’s maternal grandparents
- Groom’s parents (or father & step-mother followed by mother & step-father)
- Bride’s mother/parents (or father & step-mother followed by mother & step-father)
Once the family is seated, the officiant & groom enter (sometimes they enter prior to the seating of families – your choice!). The best man and groomsmen may enter with them, or escort the bridesmaids down the aisle.
Order of bridal party:
- Junior Bridesmaids
- Bridesmaids, starting with the one who will be standing farthest away from the bride
- Matron of Honor
- Maid of Honor
- Ring Bearer
- Flower Girl
- Bride
If you have other members of your wedding party, use this as a guide: the closer you are to the bride’s entrance, the greater the honor!
Processional Tips
1. Have a rehearsal. This gives your bridal party a chance to know where to stand, when to move, and it also allows them to find the venue prior to your wedding day!
2. Start your rehearsal with everyone in place at the front. From there, it is easier to walk out in order, and keep everyone in place to practice the processional.
3. If your wedding is outdoors, be sure the aisle is free of anything that could be a tripping hazard. If the ground is muddy, consider moving inside ~ high heels sink! You might also want to avoid using an aisle runner. They can mask holes and dips in the ground, and are difficult to walk on if the ground is uneven.
4. If you do not have a coordinator (either provided by the church/venue or hired on your own), designate someone to get the bridal party lined up and sent down the aisle. This person should also cue your musicians when everyone is ready, so that the music you selected can be played at the right time.
5. Place your musicians somewhere they can see the processional (the front & back of the aisle) when the bridal party is in place. If I can’t see what is happening, I can’t make the music fit perfectly!
6. Remind your bridal party to smile!
7. Have a designated time when each member of the bridal party starts their walk down the aisle (when the person in front of them gets to the third row, etc.).
8. The bride does not follow tip #7. The musicians will be watching for the last member of the wedding party to get into place, and then will change the processional music for the bride. Listen for this change before you enter. Your musicians have a good view of the ceremony, and will know when everyone is lined up and ready for your entrance. Wait for it!
9. Kids are unpredictable. If you are having young children in your wedding party, be prepared to be upstaged! This can be a good thing (super cute) or a bad thing (temper tantrum). If the kids are overwhelmed by the attention, they may not walk down the aisle the way they practiced the day before. Have a parent close by to help them along or take them out of the processional if they just aren’t able to do it.
10. Breathe – and walk slowly! This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. Take your time as you walk down the aisle, and make eye contact with your groom. The parents should stand to signal to the guests when they should rise for the bride’s entrance.
Are you interested in having your walk down the aisle accompanied by live harp music? Visit my website, The Classic Harpist, or call 1-574-344-9401 for more information!