Correct Wedding Procession Order for Different Types of Weddings

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A traditional wedding ceremony that starts and ends smoothly without any panic and disorder is what everyone wishes. For a flawless wedding ceremony, basic wedding etiquettes must be observed and plan before the “Big Day” arrives. You must learn to use that aisle properly. When will the wedding party enter the hall? How will the bride walk down the aisle? What should be the most appropriate wedding procession order? Here is a comprehensively researched guide to proper wedding etiquettes and procession order.

Correct Seating Arrangment Before the Ceremony

The groom accompanied by the clergy man waits at some secluded place in the church. So does the bride. The wedding ceremony begins with the arrival of guests. The first priority should be the proper management and seating arrangement of the arrivals to alleviate any confusion or disorder. It’s better to assign duties to each wedding party member. Groomsmen can also serve as ushers. As they have been observed many times. They should arrive earlier to the venue for it.

Groomsmen should lead the guests to their seating area. According to the wedding etiquettes, its groomsmen’s duty to lead the immediate relatives of bride and groom to their respective seats. Normally the first few rows on the left side are for bride’s immediate relatives and the right side is for groom’s family. So this should have been arranged ahead of time. When all are seated exactly where they should, bridesmaids and groomsmen get together in the church backyard to get started for traditional wedding march order.

Correct Wedding Procession Order for Different Types of Weddings

A wedding procession march varies according to the religious influences. Even the family traditions can create difference. Let’s have a look at the order of wedding procession with different influences.
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Traditional Wedding Processional

The most commonly followed or traditional wedding processional order begins with a mother and ends with the bride. Check it out:

  • Mother: Bride’s mother is the first to walk the aisle. Reaching on the second end of the aisle, mother takes her seat. Which is on the left hand side and first row.

  • The Groomsmen: The groomsmen enter the area one by one. Or they can also come a bit later hands in hands with the bridesmaids. Both ways are observed.

  • The Best man: Now the best man makes his entry. He is supposed to stand by the groom while the proceeding is on. He may also offer his services as a ring bearer on the altar.

  • The Groom: The groom is the next in order. Normally he walks down the aisle solo.

  • Officiant: Officiant gets a reverend place in the wedding procession order. After all he is the one who is going to announce you as “husband and wife”.

  • The Bridesmaids: Next entry is made by bridesmaids. Normally these girls wear same dresses and enter holding flower bouquets in their hands.

  • Matron of Honor: Maid is the one who helps the bride in carrying her dress and taking care of her accessories all the time. While the ceremony is on, she stands by bride’s side to carry her possession like bouquet and sometimes the groom’s ring too.

  • The flower girl & ring bearer: The flower girl carries a flower basket and sprinkles the fresh petals all around before the arrival of the bride. The ring bearer with her carries the ring and walks down the aisle, he hands over the ring to the best man. Kids task is over here. They may join their parents then. These days cute kids make an impressive entry carrying a creative banner with the words, “here comes the bride” or some other unique and different piece of writing.

  • Bride with her father: Lastly enters the elegant bride holding hand of her father. Father escorts his daughter to the other end of the aisle to the groom. Father hands the bride to the groom, lifts her veil and offers his love and blessing in the form of a kiss. Leaving her on the altar, he joins her mother.

2

Christian Wedding Order

Christian all across the globe follow the same procession order, Catholics are an exceptional case. A catholic bride’s father would joyfully accompany her to the alter. He would stand by her side for as long as he takes his seat. Let’s have a look at the Christian procession order.

  • Officiant is the first person to appear on the altar.

  • Soon he is joined by the groom and best man, who enter from a side door, at the altar.

  • Bridesmaids and groomsmen enter the hallway, hands in hands. If any of them does not have a partner, he or she can walk alone.

  • The next to enter is the maid or matron of honor. She walks alone on the aisle.

  • Ring bearer makes the next entry. He also walks alone.

  • Now enters the flower girl or a couple of kids with flowers.

  • Lastly, enters the bride holding a bouquet, with her father. She walks on the right side of her father.

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Jewish Wedding Procession Order

Jewish also follow the same basic order of procession. But it may vary in their respective religious sects and practices.

  • Rabbi and Cantor are two important religious personalities. They are first on the altar.

  • Bride’s grandparents make the next entry.

  • Then come the groom’s grandparents.

  • Ushers (who guide wedding guests in all the matters) come next in pairs.

  • Ushers are followed by a best man who comes without any companion on the aisle.

  • Now enters the man of the day—the groom, accompanied by parents on both sides. Father on the left, mother on the right.

  • Next entry is of bridesmaids. They enter in pairs.

  • Maid or matron of honor make a lone entry.

  • Now comes a ring bearer.

  • A flower girl enters all alone.

  • The last entry is made by bride with both her parents. Father is on the left while mother comes on the right side of bride.

Chuppah is a wedding canopy used particularly in Jewish weddings. Jewish wedding ceremony takes place under a Chuppah. Bride, groom, best man and maid of honor stand under this canopy. Parents of the couple can also join them under Chuppah, if there is enough space to stand.

4

Civil Ceremony

There is nothing unique about a civil wedding ceremony. People borrow various traditions and inspirations from anywhere they want.

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Final Note

Wedding procession order is influenced both by religious inclinations and personal choices. There is not a single established way to manage a procession order. The traditional wedding processional order is in many ways convenient and adaptable for the outdoor weddings. So the best you can do is to research and plan the whole event earlier. This is the only way to arrange a well-organized processional order.

Order of Events in the Wedding Ceremony

  • The Officiant will proceed the ceremony speaking the most heard sentence, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today...."

  • Secondly, the officiant would give you a brief lecture on the significance of this relationship, your responsibilities and the worth of the vows, you are about to take.

  • This is the time to exchange the vows. You can start from the most commonly heard vows or you can write something very special for your life partner and recite it in front of all.

  • With this ring, I thee wed," is what you utter as the wedding ring exchange takes place.

  • The officiant would then declare you as “husband and wife”.

  • Now the couple kiss each other for the first time as a married couple.

  • Lastly the officiant would utter some nicely chosen closing remarks as a blessing for the newly weds.

  • Its recessional time now. Bride and groom would lead the whole wedding party out of the church or the wedding venue.