The Order to the Aisle, Planning Advice from OurWeddingDay.com

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The Order to the Aisle

How Your Wedding Party Should Proceed Down the Aisle

Before your sister, mother and flower girls begin racing down the aisle like they're doing the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, there are a few things to consider.

Who's in the party?
The rehearsal dinner, though a joyous occasion to welcome and thank close friends and family, is primarily a time to set the order of the wedding processional for the next day and practice the timeline of events for the ceremony.

Sorry, but your nuptials are not just you and your groom making your way to each other to join hands in bliss (though that will come), there are others who are participating and need a place to go: the parents of the bride, the flower girls, the bridesmaids, groomsmen and possibly a ring bearer.

Order's up.
Religion can be integral to the walking order, and its ceremonial specifications. (Although there can be similarities between religions, many have specific traditions that you may be expected to adhere to.) Here are some common processional orders:

Jewish Weddings:

Rabbi and/or cantor
Bride's grandparents (seated in front row)
Groom's grandparents (seated in front row)
Groom, escorted by parents
Groomsmen (walking alone, beginning with farthest from the Hupa)
Best man (alone)
Bridesmaids (walking alone, beginning with farthest from the Hupa)
Maid/Matron of Honor (alone)
Ring bearer and/or flower girl
Bride escorted by parents

Catholic Weddings:

Priest, best man and groom enter through a door at the front of the church, and wait at the altar.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen walk in pairs
(beginning with farthest from the altar)
Best man and maid of honor walk either together or separate (your choice)
Ring bearer and/or flower girl
Bride escorted by her father

Protestant Weddings:

Parents of the bride and groom are seated in the front row prior to the start of the processional music
Ceremony officiant, best man and groom enter through a door at the front of the church, and wait at the altar
Bridesmaids and groomsmen walk in pairs
(beginning with farthest from the altar)
Best man and Maid of Honor walk either together or separate (your choice)
Ring bearer and/or flower girl
Bride escorted by her father

Tradition is out.
The order in which you and your wedding party walk down the aisle does differ in various religions, but even if you are planning a secular ceremony, it's vital to be organized. In order to avoid confusion and stress on the big day, you should have a good idea of which bridesmaid is to be paired with which groomsman. If you and your groom are not concerned with religious and an/or conventional customs, then the aisle and its inhabitants are your game. You may do what you please by either using one of the above formats, or make one up that's your own for a ceremony like none other.

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