Procession Order

jendawn80

Hi!
Just wondering, what is the most traditional order for the procession?? My FI and I had a premarital counseling session this morning with our Rabbi.  At the end I asked him to clarify the procession order since I've seen a few version.  The order he told me was very different than what I had written down from various books.
I had- rabbi and cantor, grandparents, groomsmen, best man, groom with parents, bridesmaids, MOH, then me with my parents.

He said it should be  grandparents seated first before procession, then rabbi and cantor, groom with parents, best man, groomsmen, MOH, bridesmaids, bride with parents. 
I didn't say anything because he had to leave for another appointment ,but that doesn't match any order i've seen before.  

Thanks!! 

Rachiemoo

we did exactly what you had down, except our rabbi didn't walk down the aisle, he was just up at the chuppah from the start.

Shoshie

I agree with you -- the rabbi is off....

We did:
Clergy first.
Grandmothers (with escorts) - under the chuppah
Groomsmen
Best Man
DH's parents
DH - then they walked down together
bridesmaids
MOH
my parents
me -- then we walked down together

jendawn80

Thanks, that's what seems to be most common so I'll have to talk to him about that as it gets closer. 

slbriz34

There is a "standard" order.  We've come to think of one because everyone has done it the way, but the reality is that you can do it a few ways (maybe only the Orthodox and Sephardic might have more of a template).   

I wanted to do it the way you wanted and when I met with my rabbi he, too, gave me the format that your rabbi gave you (except that the bridesmaid come before MOH, the flower girl, if any, then bride with parents).  Since our party is so small, I decided to just let it go and not argue - but I was sitting there a bit dumbfounded when he told me how the order should go.

If it really bothers you, sit down and talk with him and get your way - or at least a compromise. GL.

goldgold

My conservative rabbi told me that the groom should be out asap. Other than that he's leaving it up to me. I think we'll have the rabbi stand at the front. Groom w/ parents, bridal party (in pairs), me with parents.

masteraleph

The order you've gleaned from books is absolutely the standard for Orthodox and traditional weddings, with the possible exceptions that a) you don't necessarily need the rabbi and cantor to walk down, and b) it's fairly common to have the grandparents from each side walk down with that side (i.e., his grandparents, groomsmen, best man, him with parents; your grandparents, bridesmaids, MOH, you with parents).

I have no clue why you would need the groom out at the beginning, and don't think I've ever been to a wedding where they did that.

ronnie.lipinsky

Neither one of us would have grandparents there.  The Rabbi would walk before everything actually started.  Then....
1. My brother and his wife (not in the "bridal party")
2. My sister & her husband (not in the "bridal party")
3. My FI with his parents.
4. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen in pairs.
5. Ringbearer/Nephew
6. Me and my parents. 

I have been thinking about whether the best man should come out before my FI and then have my MOH walk in by herself, but then I think he would just look awkward walking down the aisle by himself.  At least she would be holding a bouquet of flowers.  Thoughts on that?