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Processional Order Suggestions

Processional orders can be changed to suit your needs or family dynamics, but here are a few suggestions to help you organize your bridal party for your special day:

Non-denominational ceremony or A Wedding Processional With a Small Bridal Party If you only have a few people in your bridal party, it's a good idea to send them up one by one. For example, if you had a best man, maid of honor, flower girl, and ring bearer consider this order.

  • Groom takes his place at the front
  • Best man enters
  • Maid of Honor walks up aisle
  • Ring Bearer
  • Flower Girl
  • Bride, with escort if she has one

With such a small wedding party, it's probably not formal enough to seat mothers and grandmothers. However, if you still want to do this, let the best man seat the grandmothers and the groom seat the mothers as part of their entrances.

Catholic Wedding Processional Order

  • The priest, groom, and best man enter through a side door and wait at the altar.
  • The groomsmen and bridesmaids walk down in pairs, starting with the two who will stand farthest from the bride and groom, and ending with the best man and maid of honor.
  • The ring bearer and/or flower girl.
  • The bride escorted by her father, or other close family member. The bride walks on the left side. If the bride's escort is her father, he leads her to the front of the aisle, then takes his seat next to the bride's mother.

Jewish Wedding Processional Order

  • The Rabbi and/or cantor
  • Grandparents of the bride, who are then seated in the first row
  • Grandparents of the groom, who are then seated in the first row
  • Groomsmen, walking in pairs
  • Best man
  • The groom, who is escorted by his parents.
  • Bridesmaids
  • Maid or Matron of Honor
  • Ring bearer and/or flower girl
  • The bride, escorted by her parents

Protestant Wedding Processional Order

  • The mothers of the bride and groom are seated after all guests are seated, and immediately before the start of the processional music. They are usually escorted to their seats by a brother of the bride or groom, or by another usher.
  • The officiant, groom and best man enter by a side door and wait at the altar.
  • Groomsmen may also enter by a side door, or can escort the bridesmaids.
  • Bridesmaids
  • Ring bearer and/or flower girl
  • Maid or Matron of Honor
  • The bride, escorted by her father or other close male family member or friend. At the front of the aisle, her escort can remain standing with her until the minister asks "Who gives this woman in marriage?" to which he responds "I do," or "Her mother and I do." However, some people feel this tradition is old fashioned and sexist, and choose to forgo it. In such a case, her escort walks with the bride to the front of the aisle, and then takes his seat in the front row.

    Don't forget to smile! It's a good idea to have either a coordinator, or a friend with a written list helping to line up the bridal party and telling each person when to go. They can stand just beyond where the guests can see them. They should also remind each person to smile when they're walking down the aisle!