Groom - down the aisle?

TiffanyT816 · November 2012

I haven't been to many weddings in my adult life. In fact, I've been to like 2. Both of which, I didn't pay too much attention to details.

Does the groom walk down the aisle? I thought they come up the side, or from the back? Is it normal for a groom to have his mother (well, actually, mother on one side, step mother on the other) walk him down the aisle? I get it, it's his wedding and he can do what he wants, I'm just curious what the norm is here.

Avion22 · November 2012

In Jewish weddings it is traditional for both the bride and groom to be escorted down the aisle with both of their parents.

In most Christian weddings, the groom (and in some cases, the groomsmen) are already at the front with the officiant. However, it's not wrong to have the groom walk down the aisle with his parents, or even with the bride, if that's what you want.

Loopyseven · November 2012

I don't think there's a hard and fast "etiquette" rule for this. Do what works for you and him.

achiduck · November 2012

H walked in with the GMs and the pastor from the side of the church (there's a little waiting room there that links up with the pastoral offices).

TiffanyT816 · November 2012

Thanks for the replies - ladies! Just curious what the "norm" was on this, clearly there isn't really one...it was more out of curiosity than anything.

It's not for my wedding - for ours, FI will be waiting for me at the alter, after walking up the side

itzMS · November 2012

I'm Catholic, and my parish priest strongly encourgaged my DH to be a part of our procession. The idea was that it fosters a sense of community and the bride & groom entering into marriage versus the bride being "given away".

DH walked in with his mom, then our bridal party, then me with my folks.

Jen4948 · November 2012

It really depends on what you want and whether you want to follow any particular tradition. Some, like the traditional Jewish wedding, do involve the groom's walking down the aisle with his parents. In others, the groom is already at the end of the aisle; in still others, the groom and bride walk down the aisle together and then walk back up it together.

lauralaur · November 2012

At ours, my H entered from the front of the church with the reverend. His step-father escorted his mother down the aisle.

StephJean83 · November 2012

I just attended a wedding where the groom walked his mom down the aisle, went back and walked his (now) MIL down the aisle and he than stood off the side by the altar. Both moms than lit the taper candles for the unity candle ceremony and the pastor than walked up once the moms were seated. Once the pastor gave a little welcome of sorts, the WP came in followed by the bride and her dad. I thought it was really touching the groom escorted both mom's up the aisle. A lot of weddings I've been to, the groom escorts his mom up the aisle with his dad behind them and than he stands waiting for the bride to come down the aisle.

rajahmd · November 2012

For our wedding, the wedding party will walk down first. My fiance will then walk down with his mom,followed by me and my father. We like the idea of having a little moment together before walking down the aisle, which is why our wedding party is going first.