Procession...HELP Please!!

[Deleted User]

Hi. Not quite an etiquette issue per sé but the other boards get no traffic & I really need help!

I have done some research & just wanted to see if this makes sense or if anyone has any ideas on how to make it better.

We have decided that the BMs & GMs will not be walking during the procession together. We are also having our GM serve as ushers rather than having different people.
I am also assuming the JP will already be up there?
Here is what I came up with for the procession with the help of a few websites.

1. MOG. (FI's parents are divorced so should his Dad walk w/his mom? Or should she be alone or escorted by a GM?)
2. MOB (alone? Or escorted by a GM?)
3. Groom
4. Best Man
5. Groomsmen (single file)
6. BMs
7. MOH
8. Flower Girl
9. Our 3 yr old son holding 'Here Comes the Bride' sign
10. Bride (w/Father & my 10 yr old son)

I am just not sure if that's the best order as far as when my FI, Best Man & GMs walk. Also if the GMs escort the MOG & MOB they'd have to walk back down the aisle for the GM entrance, so wouldn't that disrupt the procession?

Thanks for any help!!

[Deleted User]

Forgot: If FI's father doesn't walk with his Mother, would he just be seated as a regular guest??

achiduck

For the MOB/MOG I would ask them what they prefer. If they're escorted by a GM it's not uncommon for them to have to walk back up the aisle.

Does your church have side aisles? If so, GM could escort the MOB and then either take his place at the alter and have another GM escort the MOG or go up a side aisle so it's not directly in the middle of the church.

gurrlballa10

My H actually escorted my mom down the aisle and then went to the front where our officiant already was.  His BM escorted his grandmother down the aisle and then circled back to walk with my MOH.

1. His grandmother/BM
2. My grandparents
3. His parents
4.  My mom and him
5.BM/GM
6. MOH/BM
7. Nephew holding Here Comes the Bride sign
8.  My father and I

Meegles4

I feel like your procession is kind of long and you should think about combining a couple people/groups. If you have a short aisle, it might not be a huge deal, but if it's a long aisle it could take awhile.

Here's what we did (we had a short aisle, FWIW):
- Priest
- MOG/Groom (Groom seated MOG, then walked back around the side aisle)
- My mom and dad. (Dad seated her and walked back around the side aisle)
- Groom and BM together
- Bridesmaids & Groomsmen paired up
- Flower Girl & Jr. GM walked in together (3 total kids)
- MOH
- Me and my dad

If your parents are still married, I think it makes sense to have your father seat your mom. Or, for both MOB and MOG, if you and your FI have brothers, or even sisters, they could escort them in. I personally think it's kind of weird to have a random, non-related, GM
escort in the mothers. I agree with PPs that the ex-hubby shouldn't escort the MOG in, unless they ask to have it done that way.

You could also have the BM & Groomsmen all walk in together, perhaps from the side. You could even include your FI in this part. That way you're not extending it forever as each one files in. Then the BM's can file down the aisle individually followed by the FG & RB and then you/your dad. Also, could your FG and son walk in together?

I liked having H and his BM walk in together, before the rest of the attendants came in. Then they were at the end of the aisle to sort of receive them or whatever. I also liked having my WP accompanied, except for the BM & MOH. I felt like it make them a little more "special".

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone! I am definitely going to tweak my original order now that I have read everyone's comments. I like the idea of FI coming in after the GM. I must have had a brain fart! I want him to have his moment to shine. Unless of course he'd prefer to not have the attention. I'll have to see what he wants to do. FI's mom and dad do get along so I don't think she'd have an issue w/FIs dad walking her but I will definitely ask her. She is in a relationship but neither remarried. I have been debating with which order would be best as far as our FG and our sign holding son. We are worried our son may have an issue walking down so we figured it would be better to have the FG who is our 8 yr old daughter go right before him in case he needs help getting down the aisle. He's very shy. She has told us she'd go back and walk w/him if need be. Not a big deal, as you have to expect anything when dealing with toddlers. Our oldest son was going to walk w/his little brother, but I couldn't say no when he asked to walk me down the aisle because I thought it was the sweetest thing!

[Deleted User]

Oh, we have 4 BMs, 4 GMs, 1MOH 1 Best Man. It's not a huge party so I think having my Ladies walk alone should be ok. :

Meegles4

<div align="left">In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_processionhelp-please?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:86e9ba4d-73eb-4150-ace0-ce474fc75c9dPost:19a785ea-be23-4fd0-ad7a-05b881227316">Re:Procession...HELP
Please!!</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks everyone! I am definitely going to tweak my original order now that I have read everyone's comments.   I like the idea of FI coming in after the GM. I must have had a brain fart! I want him to have his moment to shine. Unless of course he'd prefer to not have the attention. I'll have to see what he wants to do.  <strong>FI's mom and dad do get along so I don't think she'd have an issue w/FIs dad walking her but I will definitely ask her. She is in a relationship but neither remarried.</strong>  I have been debating with which order would be best as far as our FG and our sign holding son. We are worried our son may have an issue walking down so we figured it would be better to have the FG who is our 8 yr old daughter go right before him in case he needs help getting down the aisle. He's very shy. She has told us she'd go back and walk w/him if need be. Not a big deal, as you have to expect anything when dealing with toddlers. Our oldest son was going to walk w/his little brother, but I couldn't say no when he asked to walk me down the aisle
because I thought it was the sweetest thing!
Posted by
cvmami78[/QUOTE]

The bolded part concerns me a little. It might be slightly offensive to your FMIL's SO if her ex-husband escorts her. Why can't the guy she's dating escort her -- or your FI? In our case, H escorted MIL, and her fiance escorted her on her other arm. Her ex-husband wasn't involved. I get why you maybe wouldn't have the SO escort her if they've only been dating a couple months, but if it's a long-term relationship, I'd take the SO into account here.

Also, if you're concerned about your son, I'd definitely just have him walk with the FG. Then she can help him. There's no reason they need to walk separately.</div>

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

My brother, who was a bridesman, escorted my dad's girlfriend, then just stayed up front.

My husband and the officiant walked in before any of the processionals.

After that, we did basically what you did - the mothers, the GMs, the BMs, then me.Then we walked out the opposite way.

If your FI's parents want to walk together, that's fine.