Processional Order with Divorced Parents..

jm465

Both my FI and my parents are divorced and remarried and we're having a hard time figuring out the processional order (mostly before the processional with parents being seated). We aren't having the bridesmaids (my two sisters and FI sister) escorted down the aisle and are thinking of having FI (escorted by his mom), bestman (his brother) and groomsman (my step-brother) waiting at the alter. So that's all fine but my dad will be walking me down the aisle and FI wants to walk down with his mom. So this leaves FI's dad/step-mom, his stepdad and my stepmom, mom/stepdad. Obviously my mom/stepdad would walk in together, similarly for FI's dad/stepmom... but how does this work for FI's stepdad and my stepmom??

What is the order of having parents seated? Also, are grandparents typically seated after guests as well? 

Our next question was how do we seat everyone? All of our parents are civil with one another, but do we still sit one set of parents in the first row and the next in the second or just put them all in the first row? 

We weren't anticipating this being so difficult but we haven't been able to come up with a way that won't disclude step-parents or hurt anybodys feelings

Any ideas?

southernbelle0915

jm465 said:

Both my FI and my parents are divorced and remarried and we're having a hard time figuring out the processional order (mostly before the processional with parents being seated). We aren't having the bridesmaids (my two sisters and FI sister) escorted down the aisle and are thinking of having FI (escorted by his mom), bestman (his brother) and groomsman (my step-brother) waiting at the alter. So that's all fine but my dad will be walking me down the aisle and FI wants to walk down with his mom. So this leaves FI's dad/step-mom, his stepdad and my stepmom, mom/stepdad. Obviously my mom/stepdad would walk in together, similarly for FI's dad/stepmom... but how does this work for FI's stepdad and my stepmom??

What is the order of having parents seated? Also, are grandparents typically seated after guests as well? 

Our next question was how do we seat everyone? All of our parents are civil with one another, but do we still sit one set of parents in the first row and the next in the second or just put them all in the first row? 

We weren't anticipating this being so difficult but we haven't been able to come up with a way that won't disclude step-parents or hurt anybodys feelings

Any ideas?

It sounds like you're letting this stress you out a bit. Don't! There aren't many hard and fast rules for this, so you have a lot of opportunity to do this how you want. Generally it goes grandparents, parents, WP, bride. But you can skip the processional all together. It could literally just be you that walks down the aisle while everyone else is already seated/standing at the alter. If you want people to process (and I'll include everyone for the sake of example even though you don't need to include them):

- FI with his mom

- FI grandparents

- your grandparents

- parents of the groom

         - FI dad and stepmom

         - FI step dad by himself (or w/ whoever - an aunt for example)

- parents of the bride

         - your mom and stepdad

         - your stepmom by herself (or w/ whoever - an uncle/usher/friend for example)

- bridesmaids (GMs already up front)

- you and your dad

If any of the grandparents are widowed or divorced, FI stepdad and your stepmom could walk with them. It can literally be done however you want.

As far as seating people, it sounds like everyone gets along enough to be polite and able to sit next to each other for 20 minutes, so I'd probably do this:

Bride's side

1st row: your mom/stepdad, your dad/stepmom, your grandparents

2nd row: your siblings/their SOs, any nieces/nephews, other VIPs

Groom's side

1st row: FI mom/stepdad, FI dad/stepmom, FI grandparents

2nd row: his siblings/their SOs, any nieces/nephews, other VIPs

ETA: left out BMs in procession! Poor girls..

jm465

Thanks so much southernbelle!! Extremely helpful  It's nice to have an order there too

Thanks again!

[Deleted User]

CMGragain

This is an old thread, and the last poster has been resurrecting them to ask her own question.  Boo!  Hiss!