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Processional set up for a Catholic wedding

BeeRod82BeeRod82 member
10 Comments Name Dropper
edited August 2014 in Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions
While tradition states the bride and groom walks in together, we're not planning to do that. With that said, can you help me with this setup? This is what I came up with and if you have other ideas, let me know. 


Groom and Groom's mother, Groom's Paternal Grandma with Groom's dad, Groom's Maternal Grandma with Groom's aunt and uncle (both are his godparents), Bride's Maternal Grandma with Bride's aunt (also godmother), Bride's mother with bride's nephew (serving as usher) 


Then bridal party processional: Groom's sister and brother in law (Bridesmaid-Groomsman), Bride's cousin, Groom's cousin, and Groom's goddaughter (Bridesmaid-Groomsman-Bridesmaid), Bride's friend and Groom's 2 best friends (Best Man #1-Bridesmaid-Best Man #2), Bride's brother, Bride's sister in law, Bride's oldest niece (Bridesmaid-Man of Honor-Bridesmaid), Bride's youngest nieces (Junior Bridesmaid-Flower Girl #1), Groom's niece and Best Man's son (Flower Girl #2-Ring Bearer), Bride and Bride's dad 


or have all the men, except for my brother, wait at the front with the priest and each girl walk down with my brother walk down with my two youngest nieces last.
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Re: Processional set up for a Catholic wedding

  • mysticlmysticl member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    BeeRod82 said:
    While tradition states the bride and groom walks in together, we're not planning to do that. With that said, can you help me with this setup? This is what I came up with and if you have other ideas, let me know. 


    Groom and Groom's mother, Groom's Paternal Grandma with Groom's dad, Groom's Maternal Grandma with Groom's aunt and uncle (both are his godparents), Bride's Maternal Grandma with Bride's aunt (also godmother), Bride's mother with bride's nephew (serving as usher) 


    Then bridal party processional: Groom's sister and brother in law (Bridesmaid-Groomsman), Bride's cousin, Groom's cousin, and Groom's goddaughter (Bridesmaid-Groomsman-Bridesmaid), Bride's friend and Groom's 2 best friends (Best Man #1-Bridesmaid-Best Man #2), Bride's brother, Bride's sister in law, Bride's oldest niece (Bridesmaid-Man of Honor-Bridesmaid), Bride's youngest nieces (Junior Bridesmaid-Flower Girl #1), Groom's niece and Best Man's son (Flower Girl #2-Ring Bearer), Bride and Bride's dad 


    or have all the men, except for my brother, wait at the front with the priest and each girl walk down with my brother walk down with my two youngest nieces last.
    I have never seen that done at any wedding, including the Catholic ones I have attended.  What I have seen is the what you have listed in the very last paragraph.  The groom and his party wait at the alter and the Bride and her party (ring bearer is usually included in this regardless which "side" he is from) walk down the aisle.  
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  • manateehuggermanateehugger member
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    I've never seen the couple walk in together at a Catholic wedding - and I go to mostly Catholic weddings. 

    Your processional order sounds find. If you want all the men to wait down at the front, that's fine too. It's personal preference. I was planning to have all the men wait down at the front and the church coordinator lined them up to escort the bridesmaids down instead - oh well!
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  • BeeRod82BeeRod82 member
    10 Comments Name Dropper
    mysticl said:  
    I have never seen that done at any wedding, including the Catholic ones I have attended.  What I have seen is the what you have listed in the very last paragraph.  The groom and his party wait at the alter and the Bride and her party (ring bearer is usually included in this regardless which "side" he is from) walk down the aisle.  

    I guess we wanted to do something different, especially with two best men and a man of honor.  I'm just trying to figure out how to setup (and customize it) instead of the usual setup. 
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  • mysticlmysticl member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    BeeRod82 said:
    mysticl said:  
    I have never seen that done at any wedding, including the Catholic ones I have attended.  What I have seen is the what you have listed in the very last paragraph.  The groom and his party wait at the alter and the Bride and her party (ring bearer is usually included in this regardless which "side" he is from) walk down the aisle.  

    I guess we wanted to do something different, especially with two best men and a man of honor.  I'm just trying to figure out how to setup (and customize it) instead of the usual setup. 
    Then go with the plan in the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs.  
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  • CMGragainCMGragain member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 25 Answers
    edited August 2014
    BeeRod82 said:
    While tradition states the bride and groom walks in together, we're not planning to do that. With that said, can you help me with this setup? This is what I came up with and if you have other ideas, let me know. 


    Groom and Groom's mother, Groom's Paternal Grandma with Groom's dad, Groom's Maternal Grandma with Groom's aunt and uncle (both are his godparents), Bride's Maternal Grandma with Bride's aunt (also godmother), Bride's mother with bride's nephew (serving as usher) 


    Then bridal party processional: Groom's sister and brother in law (Bridesmaid-Groomsman), Bride's cousin, Groom's cousin, and Groom's goddaughter (Bridesmaid-Groomsman-Bridesmaid), Bride's friend and Groom's 2 best friends (Best Man #1-Bridesmaid-Best Man #2), Bride's brother, Bride's sister in law, Bride's oldest niece (Bridesmaid-Man of Honor-Bridesmaid), Bride's youngest nieces (Junior Bridesmaid-Flower Girl #1), Groom's niece and Best Man's son (Flower Girl #2-Ring Bearer), Bride and Bride's dad 


    or have all the men, except for my brother, wait at the front with the priest and each girl walk down with my brother walk down with my two youngest nieces last.
    I have never seen this, and I have been to many Catholic weddings!
    Traditionally, the groom and the groomsmen wait in front at the altar with the priest, and the girls walk in alone, or in pairs.  The FOB usually escorts her, but not always.
    I am confused about what part your brother is playing.  Is he a groomsman, or will he stand on the bride's side as her attendant?


    httpiimgurcomTCCjW0wjpg
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  • Marzipan13Marzipan13 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    OP, the bride & groom never walk in together for a Catholic ceremony.  I'm not sure if your church will budge on this, but I've never seen it / heard of it done (and I work at Catholic church).

    FI & I are doing this, fwiw:
    Priest / FI / Best Man stand at Altar
    FFIL & FBIL escort FMIL to seat - FBIL goes and stands on GMs side
    Mom is escorted down by my brother - brother goes and stands on GMs side
    My 2 bridesmen walk down and go stand on Bridal Party side
    3 couples (paired BMs and GMs) walk down and go to their respective sides
    MOH
    Flower girls / ring bearer
    Me & Dad
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  • Marzipan13Marzipan13 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited August 2014
    flantastic said:


    show previous quotes
    This is what they gave us at my home parish - I hadn't even heard of it till then, I just loved the idea: http://togetherforlifeonline.com/wedding/entrance-rite/entrance-procession/

    ETF:  Sorry, I missed your reply above mine.  :P
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  • BeeRod82BeeRod82 member
    10 Comments Name Dropper
    Anyway, I was surprised that was the "correct" way to do the procession.  Even I thought it was a little odd.  But I do understand why they prefer it that way.  However, we both agree that my dad will walk me down the aisle in the end.  When my older sister got married, she did not ask my dad to walk her down the aisle.  She asked her oldest son to do it instead.  Then again, her relationship with dad isn't as close as my relationship with him.  

    As for my brother, as stated in the original post, he's my Man of Honor.  So of course he's standing on my side, not on my fiance's side.  This is why I'm trying to figure out what to do.  Either he walks with his wife and oldest daughter or let them walk on their own and he walks with the youngest two daughters/flower girls, while FI's niece and one of his best men's son walk together.  
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  • southernbelle0915southernbelle0915 mod
    Moderator 10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary
    Ask your venue if they have restrictions. If they don't, do this however you want. You could be the first down the aisle with your fourth cousin your arm. 

    This literally doesn't matter. Get creative with it and have fun. If you're cool with either option for your brother, let him pick.
    *********************************************************************************

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  • PrettyGirlLostPrettyGirlLost member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    edited August 2014
    According to the information given to me by the church, the OP is correct in that the Catholic Church considers it traditional and correct for the couple to process to the altar together as a symbol that they are entering into the marriage freely of their own accord and not under any duress.

    Why ppl don't do this and why the Bride being G escorted by her father is the " tradition" that we all see is another matter.

    ETA: OP "usually" the flower girl is the last person before the bride. . . The ring bearer goes before her.

    "Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."


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  • BeeRod82BeeRod82 member
    10 Comments Name Dropper
    @PrettyGirlLost  Sometimes I see both the RB and FD together.  I have 3 FGs, 2 of them are my brother's daughters.  So I can let FI's niece and Best Man's son walk together first, follow by my 2 nieces.

    Plus I'm adding our godparents because in Hispanic tradition, the godparents usually plays a big role in the ceremony.  Instead of being the honor attendants, we're just letting FI's aunt and uncle (who are also his GPs) escort FI's grandma while my aunt (who is my godmom) walk with my grandmother.  Plus the GPs will do the readings. 
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  • chasseusechasseuse member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper First Anniversary
    Marzipan13 said:
    OP, the bride & groom never walk in together for a Catholic ceremony.  I'm not sure if your church will budge on this, but I've never seen it / heard of it done (and I work at Catholic church).

    FI & I are doing this, fwiw:
    Priest / FI / Best Man stand at Altar
    FFIL & FBIL escort FMIL to seat - FBIL goes and stands on GMs side
    Mom is escorted down by my brother - brother goes and stands on GMs side
    My 2 bridesmen walk down and go stand on Bridal Party side
    3 couples (paired BMs and GMs) walk down and go to their respective sides
    MOH
    Flower girls / ring bearer
    Me & Dad
    To the bolded: you may never have seen it, but it is the preferred way. It is listed in the norms as the preferred processional with the caveat that the parish may yield to "local tradition."
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  • Marzipan13Marzipan13 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    chasseuse said:
    show previous quotes
    To the bolded: you may never have seen it, but it is the preferred way. It is listed in the norms as the preferred processional with the caveat that the parish may yield to "local tradition."

    Never knew of it!  I'll have to attend more weddings! ;)
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  • holyguacamole79holyguacamole79 member
    5000 Comments Sixth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    I know of several couples who processed in together for their wedding.  I actually wanted to do this because I like the theology behind it,  but DH wanted to see me walk down the aisle from the altar. 




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  • MairePoppyMairePoppy mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its

    Most of the weddings I've attended have been Catholic. Although it's correct for the bride and groom to enter together, I have never seen it done that way. Also, the BM and GM have entered together. The MOH walks alone with the FG and RB walking behind her.  The groom, bm and priest enter  together from the sacristy and wait at the altar.

    Pre-processional - The grandparents of the bride are ushered to their seats - the usher takes gm arm with her husband following, next the gp of the groom, MOG and  FOG walking together or escorted, MOB is the last to be seated by an escort of her choice.

    I would reverse your order of seating the groom's family, paternal grandparents, maternal grandmother, FOG, MOG should enter immediately before the MOB - all with the escorts you've mentioned. It's wonderful that you're including the Godparents.

                       
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  • PrettyGirlLostPrettyGirlLost member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    MairePoppy said:

    Most of the weddings I've attended have been Catholic. Although it's correct for the bride and groom to enter together, I have never seen it done that way. Also, the BM and GM have entered together. The MOH walks alone with the FG and RB walking behind her.  The groom, bm and priest enter  together from the sacristy and wait at the altar.

    Pre-processional - The grandparents of the bride are ushered to their seats - the usher takes gm arm with her husband following, next the gp of the groom, MOG and  FOG walking together or escorted, MOB is the last to be seated by an escort of her choice.

    I would reverse your order of seating the groom's family, paternal grandparents, maternal grandmother, FOG, MOG should enter immediately before the MOB - all with the escorts you've mentioned. It's wonderful that you're including the Godparents.

    Me neither.  But I think it's cool and I like the symbolism behind it. . . although we aren't doing it that way either, lol!

    "Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."


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