What's the order of your processional?

anrforanr · June 2015

I've seen it done so many different ways, I just don't know what to do. So throw some ideas at me!

Some things to keep in mind:

We will be having 3 flower girls, and may or may not have a ring bearer.
I would like for each of my 3 bridesmaids to walk down the aisle with each of the 3 groomsmen (in pairs).
Grandparents will not be a part of the precessional, due to health issues.
My mom has requested to walk me down the aisle along with my father.

So, what order does everyone go in? Does FI mom walk him down the aisle, or walk by herself (FI dad has passed away)? Help!

Also feel free to throw in things you've seen that you though were cool, or things you've seen that you didn't like. Thanks Knotties!

lachattefatale · June 2015

From what I've seen, the groom and groomsmen usually follow the officiant in kind of before the processional, or at the beginning of it, and wait for the ladies at the front. Then the ushers escort any close family who are not members of the wedding party to their seats in the front row. Grandparents, then siblings, then parents except the bride's father. Then the processional music starts and it goes bridesmaids, MOH, flower girl and ring bearer (together or one then the other, and I've seen FG most of the time but RB first once or twice), then the bride and her father.

For you, it would probably go something like:

officiant-and-groom
ushers with close family besides grandparents
cue processional music
bridesmaids-and-groomsmen
MOH-and-Best-Man
all the adorable kids
you and both your parents

You might want to swap the MOH/BM before the bridesmaids/groomsmen, though, since you're having the guys come in with the girls. It'll make the order at the front a little bit more natural, with each pair taking the outside places rather than lining from the outside in.

CMGragain · June 2015

Do you mean the PROCESSIONAL? This is traditional for non-Jewish weddings.

Guests are ushered to their seats. The last to be seated are the parents of the groom and, then, the MOB. If there is a candle unity ceremony, the mothers often light the two family candles at this point, before the processional.
The groomsmen and the groom appear at the front along with the officiant. They line up on the right side of the ceremonial space with the groom the closest to the left, nearest the officiant.

NOW, the processional begins.

1. Bridesmaids
2. Flower girl and ring bearer (if applicable)
3. MOH
4. Bride and her escort.

I am a retired church organist, and I have seen this done at least 100 times.

PamBeesly524 · June 2015

CMGragain said:

Do you mean the PROCESSIONAL? This is traditional for non-Jewish weddings.

Guests are ushered to their seats. The last to be seated are the parents of the groom and, then, the MOB. If there is a candle unity ceremony, the mothers often light the two family candles at this point, before the processional.
The groomsmen and the groom appear at the front along with the officiant. They line up on the right side of the ceremonial space with the groom the closest to the left, nearest the officiant.

NOW, the processional begins.

1. Bridesmaids
2. Flower girl and ring bearer (if applicable)
3. MOH
4. Bride and her escort.

I am a retired church organist, and I have seen this done at least 100 times.

BOXES----------------

Just because you've seen this done at least 100 times doesn't mean this is THE way for a processional to go. I got married two weeks ago and we did it as follows:

Groom enters from side
Brother of Bride (also the officiant), walks mother in from the side to her seat, takes his place up front
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen walked in pairs
Bride and her father

Nobody passed out at the sight of the groomsmen being part of the processional. It worked out beautifully.

MairePoppy · June 2015

Officiant and best Man (Alternatively, the officiant could wait up front and the Best Man could escort the Maid of honor.)

Groom and his mother

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen walk in pairs and take seats in front pew

Maid of Honor

Flower Girls and Ring Bearer

Bride and Parents, parents greet the groom and take their seats in the second pew behind the bms

CMGragain · June 2015

kikilamp said:

show previous quotes
Just because you've seen this done at least 100 times doesn't mean this is THE way for a processional to go. I got married two weeks ago and we did it as follows:

Groom enters from side
Brother of Bride (also the officiant), walks mother in from the side to her seat, takes his place up front
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen walked in pairs
Bride and her father

Nobody passed out at the sight of the groomsmen being part of the processional. It worked out beautifully.

The OP asked for ideas. I gave the traditional church order. That doesn't mean it is the only way to do it, but since I have never seen anything else done, this was my contribution.

At my mother's last wedding, there was an unexpected glitch in the processional. The priest's poodle dog got loose and came running in to find his master. He barked and barked, and we thought the priest was going to faint. Mother handed off her bouquet and picked up the dog, then saying "I do!" Nobody will ever forget that one.

Jen4948 · June 2015

Jewish weddings have processionals too. The differences between them and traditional Christian ones are that first VIP guests are ushered to their seats. Then the officiant enters, then the groomsmen and best man enter, followed by the ring bearer and then the groom and his parents. Then the bridesmaids and MOH enter, followed by the flower girl and then the bride and her parents. They all stand under the huppah, including the mothers. (Anyone who needs to sit is of course allowed to do so in a front row.)

Edited because originally left out flower girl-oops!