How are you processing in?

cmkuno · May 2010

I was surprised when we went to our church to plan our ceremony, they were pretty much willing to let us do whatever we wanted with the processional. I always thought the Catholic tradition was to have both of the groom's parents escort the groom, then both of the bride's parents escort the bride. Are you doing it this way? If so, can you please give me some guidance on the full order of your procession - including where the rest of bridal party fits in, the priest, flower girl, ring bearer, etc. Also, is everyone walking in to the same song, or do have change the music at some point? If you're using 2 entrance songs, is your second song just for the bride, or for both the bride and groom?

Sorry I'm so clueless on this, but I really need some help! TIA!

akg0053 · May 2010

I'm walking myself in. FI will already be there... he's not walking in.

ring_pop · May 2010

Technically I think the Catholic tradition is for the bride and groom to walk in together. But most churches allow the more popular tradition of having the groom waiting at the front and the bride walking in alone or with one or both parents.

This is what we did:

Groom and groomsmen walked in from the sacristy along with priest and deacons and waited at the altar.

Flower girls went first, then bridesmaid and MOH. (Usually FGs go last before the bride but the parents felt it would be better for them to go first and just get it over with.)

Then I walked in with my parents.

I don't actually remember what the ILs did. They might have just seated themselves in the congregation.

Riss91 · May 2010

My husband waited at the altar with his two best men - that's what he wanted to do.

Then, it was:
MIL with a GM (that is basically my husbandl's non-blood brother)
My mom escorted by my brother (also a GM)
Bridesmaids escorted by groomsmen
MOHs each walked separately
Aisle runner laid down
Me and my father

The Moms and BMs all had one song, and then they switched songs for me and my father.

mswood1977 · May 2010

We are having the priest, altar server, groomsmen and groom already at the altar (no procession) and then my bridesmades are walking in to Cannon in D and then I am coming in with my father (my mother passed away 12 years ago) we are using Trumpet Voluntary.

The parish wedding coordinator told us how we are processing, it didn't matter to us other than getting to pick the music.

CourtneyJ2010 · May 2010

Here is what we are doing:
The mothers go up and light the altar candles and then come back down.
The priest goes up in silence.
Processional Hymn begins
Groom walks in with his parents
My mom is walking in with her fiance
Bridal party walks in as couples
Bridal March begins
I walk in with my grandfather (my dad is deceased).

In your case if both your parents are walking you just have his parents walk him in and then everyone else goes then you and your parents. We are only having 2 songs and the second one is just for me. You can also have all the groomsmen already standing at the altar and then the bridesmaids walk in solo. Hope this helps.

Theresa626 · May 2010

I've never heard of it that way. The groom is coming in first in front of the priest. Then the bridesmaids will come in escorted by the groomsmen. Finally, the bride will come in escorted by her father. Sorry that was in the third person.

[Deleted User] · May 2010

I have never heard of that either. Here is what we are doing:

My mom escorted by BM
FMIL escorted by GM
Grandmas's escorted by GM's
MOH with BM
rest of the BM and GM
Bride walks down the isle with Dad to Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

GulfCoaster · May 2010

Technically, I think the rite of marriage calls for the bride and groom to process in together. But most parishes are pretty flexible with the processional, I think.

We did:

Grandmothers escorted by GMs
GMs and BMs, in pairs
then MOH and best man
DH escorted by his parents
then me escorted by my parents

I really wanted to walk in with my DH, but he balked at that at the last minute and decided he'd rather be escorted by our parents.

Edited: Grandmothers were escorted during the prelude. Our processional song (used for all of us) was "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" -- the organist alternated between sung verses and instrumental-only verses.

[Deleted User] · May 2010

Thanks gulfcoaster, yes, I forgot to add that - our Grandmas will be escorted during the prelude, we are doing 2 songs so it is long enough. I was actually freaking out about that last night but remembered that is why we did 2 songs for the prelude...duh

bel138 · May 2010

We did:

My 2 youngest brothers (who were helping usher, with part of Liturgy. etc)
My oldest younger brother with my Grandma
GM escorting BM
BM escorting MOH
ILs escort DH from narthex to the nave
My parents escort me from narthex to nave
ILs walk down
My parents walk down
DH and I walk down together, escorted by priest

It was also one sung psalm the whole time, because we don't get a choice in the matter.

cmkuno · May 2010

Thanks for all the help everyone! Just so you know, I didn't just make it up that the Catholic tradition is for both bride and groom to be escorted by their parents. It talks about it here, on this website created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Scroll down to where it says "entrance procession."

http://foryourmarriage.org/catholic-marriage/planning-a-catholic-wedding/ceremony-options/

I really like the symbolism of the bride and groom as ministers in the mass, rather than bride being given away by her father (not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not for me). So any further guidance on how we would do that would be much appreciated! Thanks again!

ring_pop · May 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_processing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:d86e0056-8ef4-4fa2-be44-0b7529c0abb1Post:1967ce94-0206-422b-a190-7a3b6f5cf8fa">Re: How are you processing in?</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for all the help everyone! Just so you know, I didn't just make it up that the Catholic tradition is for both bride and groom to be escorted by their parents. It talks about it here, on this website created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Scroll down to where it says "entrance procession." <a href="http://foryourmarriage.org/catholic-marriage/planning-a-catholic-wedding/ceremony-options/" rel="nofollow">http://foryourmarriage.org/catholic-marriage/planning-a-catholic-wedding/ceremony-options/</a> I really like the symbolism of the bride and groom as ministers in the mass, rather than bride being given away by her father (not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not for me). So any further guidance on how we would do that would be much appreciated! Thanks again!
Posted by cmkuno[/QUOTE]

From this website, it sounds to me like "escorted by their parents and two witnesses" in this context probably means that the parents and witnesses process in ahead of the couple. I don't think that it means that all of those people walk alongside the couple down the aisle. (Can you imagine, how chaotic?)

Calypso1977 · May 2010

my brother in law, who was our best man, seated his mom. my H seated my mother, who is a widow. then we had the best man escort the MOH and then H and i walked in together. i didnt like the symbolization of being given away.

Amy_Justin · May 2010

Groomsmen, groom, and Deacon will be waiting at the front

Grandmas escorted by ushers

Mothers escorted by ushers

Flower girl and ring bearer together

Jr Bridesmaid

Bridesmaid

MOH

Ushers roll out aisle runner

my Dad and I then he will give me away, etc.

Our ushers are different people than our groomsmen, so that is how that's working.

We're doing a separate song for the parents seating, then a different one for the WP processional, then the Wagner bridal march for my entrance.

wifeandmommy0609 · May 2010

We are planning for it to go this way:

Brides mom excort
Grooms Parents

Groom walked in from the sacristy along with priest and deacons and waited at the altar.

Flower girls (3 of them )
Ring Barrer

MOH (no brides maids)
Best Man

Me and my Father.

Not sure if we will keep it that way!

Ckirwin · May 2010

for us, we're only having the bridesmaids/MOH process in alone followed by the flower girl, everyone else will either already be seated or waiting at the altar, then my dad will walk me down the aisle. i'm super close with my dad so i'm very excited for us to have that moment together. and my FI is Irish and that's how they do it in Ireland so it was an easy choice for us to make. but there are lots of options so pick what works best for you and your FI! GL!

portia.young · May 2010

Well here's what I'm thinking:

*Two ushers, my brother and BIL escort the Moms/Grandma down the aisle.

Groom walks down.

His sister, FSIL, who is the 'Best Woman' walks down after him.

Then my bridesmaids walk down, one by one, because there are no other groomsmen.

Then my darling 11-yr-old nephew, the ring bearer

Then my adorable flowergirls: Niece and my girlfriend's daughter

Then Me and my father!!!!

*This is a December wedding, so this will all be happening to 'Ave Maria' played instrumentally by a string quartet. When my father and I enter, the cantor will begin to sing. I love that song at Christmastime.

Calypso1977 · May 2010

portia, we walked into Ave Maria as well - my mom had the same song at her wedding. :-)

dc*prep · June 2010

We're doing:

My parents
FI's parents
Matron of Honor, escorted by my Man of Honor and FI's Best Man
BM, GM
BM, GM
BM, GM
FI and Bride walk down together.

Not sure how we're having the priest walk in though

Our church recommends that the Bride and Groom process together. They also recommend that BMs and GMs walk down together -- to show that our lives (and our closest friends) are coming together.

How are you processing in?

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