XP - "Appropriate" way to line up wedding party?

KellyBrian2013

FI and I were having a discussion the other day and it got me thinking... what is the most accepted "appropriate" way to line up the WP?

I have always felt it was by order of meaning... or, perhaps that's not the right way to put it (as the entire WP has meaning - or they wouldn't be WP members!)... but FI said it was height order, aside from MOH & BM. I said, to me, that would be odd to have one of my close friends at the "end" of the line because she's short or tall, while his shorter sister or taller SIL were closer to me at the wedding when they aren't closer to me in actuality.

Perhaps I'm just overthinking things?

It's not something we have to worry about for a long time to come, but it's on my mind. haha.

DramaGeek

Ours were on the steps of the stage anyway, so height wouldn't have mattered.  We did it by how close we were to them (sort of - both of H's sisters were BMs and I put them opposite order of how I was to them since the one I'm closest to is youngest).

september's bride

I think if you line a WP up by order of "closeness" to you, someone's feelings get hurt because they're the BM or GM at the end of the line. That kind of sucks. However, if you line them up by height, at least that's a tangible reason for why the order is the way it is.

Or you can just let them assemble and walk down the aisle as they please, because it's really a small issue in comparison to the rest of your wedding. Don't overthink this, trust me.

AdeleDazeem

Lining them up by meaning and admitting to that is just cruel.  What about your dear friend on the end?  She would know there's a very thin line between her and just being a regular ole guest. 

I personally like height, but I don't think it really matters.  Don't overthink this.

mkrupar

You could also line them up alphabetically if height doesn't work for your. Pick a number out of a hat? I don't know. In the grand scheme of everything, this.does.not.matter. But please don't line them up by who is closest to you, and if you do, don't tell them that.

b0710

We are lining our people up based on who they are walking with.  We only have 3 per side, but one of the couples are married, so they get to walk together.  After MOH and BM first, married couple next, then the 2 non-marrieds last.  It's not really an order issue for us, more of wanting the married couple to get to walk together.  I think as long as you have a reason for it, people just go with it.  If you truly choose to order people based on who you are "closer too," don't tell them that, it would be really offensive!

Calypso1977

i have heard that your proximity to the bride in the line up is based on closeness.  when i was in a cousin's wedding, the first person down was a friend, then her SIL to be, then me (her cousin), the MOH, then the Bride. 

no clue if that's officially how its supposed to be.

my SIL to be is insisting we walk with people of the same height, and go from shortest to tallest.  i honestly dont see why that matters either, btu its what she wants, so whatever.

Denise91980

I did mine by height, with the  jrs then the fg/rb and MOH right before me. I wouldn't feel comfortable with the closeness idea because I wouldn't want to have to overthink it and have the person going last think to themselves, "Really, she likes me the least!"

specialk84

FI and I each have three attendants, including MOH and BM.  He is honoring both his mother and aunt as mother figures, so he wants them both escorted.  His BM is his cousin/BFF, and the GM are his brother and my brother.

My MOH is my cousin, one BM is married to the best man (and is my friend), and the other is FI's preteen niece.

From the back of the church, we will look like this:

niece, BM, MOH, me, FI, BM, FBIL, my brother

My side is arranged by height and closeness to me (but I would never tell them that).  FI's side is by closeness.  

KellyBrian2013

I would never say to my WP "you're in order of how close I feel to you"... plus, it won't work because most likely my FBIL and his wife will be lined up together - and I know he'll be close to FI in the lineup...

I'd always heard that the closer to the bride, the closer the relationship... thus I'd always assumed it would be me, MOH, my close friends, and then FSIL's. But really, it's not a big deal to me.

FI just acted like I was nuts for not assuming they'd be in height order, and it had honestly never occured to me! haha

Thanks everyone

artbyallie

We're putting them roughly in order of how long we've known them, with minor exceptions to get people lined up opposite the person they're walking with (two married couples in the WP, so obviously they'll be together)

mica178

I had my maid of honor, then my matron of honor, then the SILs in order of their husband's birth order (the BILs were all GMs), then H's sister.  H had his two best men (in order of length of friendship), then his brothers by age, then his favorite cousin.  The heights were all wonky, but at a Catholic wedding, the WP is sitting for a good chunk anyway.  The bigger thing was making sure the married couples were paired up.

Hippinhipster

I'm somewhat lining them up by height I'm rather short and my MOH is a little taller then me next BM is the tallest then the next BM a little shorter and they get shorter and shorter so it's more of a ^ shape. It ended up being who is "closest" to me somewhat anyway