Depending on your religion, culture, or family dynamic, there’s a certain order to who goes down the aisle and when. Everyone has different circumstances, from large and small wedding parties to non-traditional family structures. And whether the parents of the couple are married or widowed, remarried, etc. the orders can be adjusted, but basing it on the scenarios below, here is a quick processional guide for your ceremony.
Keep in mind that there are an unlimited amount of ways that you can decide on the processional order far beyond this article. Below, you’ll find helpful starting points from which you can decide what you want to do, and who should walk when.
Traditional Christian Ceremony
For a “Traditional” Christian Ceremony, men would be on the right and women would be on the left when walking down the aisle. The processional guide would be:
Officiant
Grandparents of the Groom
Grandparents of the Bride
Parents of the Groom
Mother of the Bride (Escorted by an usher, family member, or close friend)
Groomsmen (One-by-one or two-by-two)
Best Man
Groom (or Grooms can also enter from the side or back)
Bridesmaids (One-by-one or two-by-two)
Maid of Honor
Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
Bride and Father of the Bride
At the altar, the groom and his groomsmen stand on the right side while the bride and her bridesmaids stand on the left, with the officiant in the center.
Traditional Jewish Ceremony
For a “Traditional” Jewish Ceremony, men would be on the left and women would be on the right when walking down the aisle. The order would be:
Cantor and/or Rabbi
Grandparents of the Groom
Grandparents of the Bride
Groomsmen (One-by-one or two-by-two)
Best Man
Groom and Both Parents
Bridesmaids (One-by-one or two-by-two)
Maid of Honor
Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
Bride and Both Parents
Under the Chuppah, the groom and his parents stand on the left side while the bride and her parents stand on the right, with the rabbi and/or cantor in the center. Bridesmaids and groomsmen stand just outside of the Chuppah on either side, if at all.
LGBT+ or Non-Traditional Ceremony
For a non-traditional and/or LGBT ceremony with a large wedding party, consider this processional guide:
Officiant waits at the end of the aisle.
Wedding Party (Mixed together, two-by-two)
Partner #1’s Best Person & Partner #2’s Best Person
Flower Person and Ring Bearer
Partner #1, escorted by Parent(s)
Partner #2, escorted by Parent(s)
If the wedding party is smaller, the Officiant can be the first person that walks down the aisle, rather than already waiting at the end of the aisle. Grandparents can be included in lieu of other bridal party members, and so the order would look like this:
Officiant
Grandparents of Partner #1
Grandparents of Partner #2
Parents of Partner #1
Parents of Partner #2
Flower People and Ring Bearer
Partner #1 and Partner #2, together
There is so much to do in planning a wedding. Remember that the older people in your life (parents, grandparents, etc.) might place great value on the ceremony processional order, so it’s nice to put thought into it, as it really becomes not only the introduction to your ceremony but the backdrop for all photos during the ceremony as well.
