When planning a wedding ceremony, determining the order of the wedding processional (who walks down the aisle and in what order) is an important decision. There are traditional guidelines for the order of the processional, but ultimately couples can decide what works best for their wedding.
Traditional Wedding Processional Order
The traditional order of the wedding processional is:
- Officiant
- Groom’s Grandparents
- Bride’s Grandparents
- Groom’s Parents
- Bride’s Mother
- Maid/Matron of Honor
- Bridesmaids
- Ring Bearer and Flower Girl
- Bride and Her Father
- Groom
- Best Man
- Groomsmen
Here are more details on each person/group in the traditional wedding processional order:
Officiant
The officiant, the person who will conduct the wedding ceremony (usually a religious leader, judge, or other authorized officiant), processes first to signify the beginning of the ceremony. They walk down the aisle by themselves and take their place at the front of the ceremony space.
Grandparents
Next, the grandparents are escorted down the aisle. The groom’s grandparents go first, with his grandmother on his grandfather’s left arm. Then the bride’s grandparents follow, with her grandmother on her grandfather’s left arm. The grandparents sit in the front row once they reach the end of the aisle.
Parents
After the grandparents, the groom’s parents walk down the aisle arm-in-arm, with his mother on his right arm. The bride’s mother follows, walking down the aisle alone. Parents are typically seated in the front row as well, next to the grandparents. The groom’s father does not walk down the aisle, but enters from the side and takes his seat up front.
Wedding Party
The wedding party processes next. First, the maid/matron of honor walks down alone. Bridesmaids follow in pairs if possible, otherwise walking alone. The best man and groomsmen enter from the side and take their places up front rather than processing down the aisle. Young members of the wedding party like ring bearers and flower girls are next. The ring bearer may walk down alone, or accompany the flower girl by walking hand-in-hand or with her dropping flower petals.
Bride and Her Escort
The bride and her escort, traditionally her father, are the main event. The bride’s entrance marks the culmination of the processional. Her father walks her down the aisle, then “gives her away” to the groom before sitting down. The bride takes her place next to the groom to signify the joining of the couple.
Groom
The groom is the final person to walk down the aisle. He enters from the side and takes his place at the front. His entrance signals that the wedding party is in place and the ceremony is ready to begin.
Non-Traditional Processional Options
While the traditional order provides a time-honored template, many couples put their own spin on the wedding processional:
- Both parents escort the bride: Rather than the bride entering alone, both her mother and father can walk her down the aisle together.
- Both sets of parents enter together: The parents can walk down the aisle as couples – first the groom’s parents, then the bride’s parents.
- Grandparents escort grandchildren: Grandparents can walk down the aisle with their grandchildren – grandfathers escorting brides and grandmothers escorting grooms.
- Bride and groom walk down together: A popular option is for the bride and groom to process down the aisle together, hand-in-hand.
- Wedding party couples: Bridesmaids and groomsmen can walk down the aisle in pairs rather than separately.
- Groom at front first: The groom can take his place at the front ahead of time so he can watch the processional rather than entering from the side.
No matter what order is chosen, the most important thing is that it feels right for the couple and the overall vision for the ceremony.
Who Stands Where During the Ceremony?
In addition to the processional order, couples need to determine where each person will stand during the ceremony. Here are some typical setups:
Bride and Groom’s Sides
The bride and groom stand facing each other, with the bride on the left side and groom on the right from the guests’ perspective. The best man stands to the right of the groom, while the maid/matron of honor stands to the left of the bride. Bridesmaids and groomsmen line up next to the best man and maid of honor.
Semi-Circle
The bride and groom stand facing the guests, with the wedding party forming a semi-circle around them. The best man is immediately to the right of the groom, and the maid/matron of honor is immediately to the left of the bride. Bridesmaids and groomsmen fill in the semi-circle in alternating order.
| Bride’s Side | Groom’s Side |
|---|---|
| Maid/Matron of Honor | Best Man |
| Bridesmaid 1 | Groomsman 1 |
| Bridesmaid 2 | Groomsman 2 |
Sweetheart
The bride and groom face each other with the officiant in the middle, forming a “sweetheart” shape. The wedding party stands off to the side rather than directly next to the bride and groom. This intimate setup focuses attention on the couple.
Recessional Order
After the ceremony is complete, the newly married couple exits down the aisle together in the recessional. The recessional order is typically:
- Newlyweds
- Wedding Party
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Guests
However, the recessional order can be changed up as well. Some couples choose to have the wedding party exit first so the newlyweds have their moment for an unhurried, triumphant departure.
Key Things to Keep in Mind
When deciding the wedding processional and recessional order, here are some key considerations:
- Go with what feels right and meaningful for you as a couple.
- Take into account your venue layout and any physical limitations.
- Factor in the number of attendants in the wedding party.
- Consider having ushers to escort important guests (e.g. grandparents, parents) for a smooth processional.
- Time the music selections for each part of the processional and recessional.
- Have a wedding coordinator or usher provide cues for when each person should begin walking.
- Practice the processional beforehand so everyone knows their order and timing.
With some advance planning and coordination, you can create a memorable processional and recessional for your wedding that sets the right tone for your ceremony.
Processional Order Charts
For easy reference, here are processional order charts showing the traditional and common non-traditional options:
Traditional Processional Order
| # | Person |
|---|---|
| 1 | Officiant |
| 2 | Groom’s Grandparents |
| 3 | Bride’s Grandparents |
| 4 | Groom’s Parents |
| 5 | Bride’s Mother |
| 6 | Maid/Matron of Honor |
| 7 | Bridesmaids |
| 8 | Ring Bearer and Flower Girl |
| 9 | Bride and Her Father |
| 10 | Groom |
| 11 | Best Man |
| 12 | Groomsmen |
Non-Traditional Processional Options
| Option | Order |
|---|---|
| Both Parents Escort Bride | Bride, Both Parents |
| Parents Enter as Couples | Groom’s Parents, Bride’s Parents |
| Grandparents Escort Grandkids | Groom, Groom’s Grandparents |
| Bride & Groom Enter Together | Bride & Groom |
| Wedding Party Enter in Pairs | Honor Attendants, Bridesmaid & Groomsman, etc. |
Conclusion
Determining the wedding processional order is an important logistical decision. While sticking to tradition provides time-tested guidance, couples today enjoy putting their own creative spin on the processional. The most meaningful order will reflect the couple’s personalities, family dynamics, and overall wedding style. With forethought and attention to details, couples can craft a memorable processional that kicks their ceremony off just right.