And that's perfectly fine—it's your wedding so you get to do things your way. This modern option pays homage to two people uniting and is a lovely way to begin your marriage.
Walk down the aisle together.
Many couples now choose to meet at the top of the aisle and walk it together. It's a lovely way to signify that you are taking this journey together as equals. Meet at the altar: A fun twist on walking the aisle together is to walk it separately but at the same time.
From walking down the aisle first to last, the traditional order is: Mother of Bride, Mother of Groom, Grandparents of Bride, Grandparents of Groom, Groom, Officiant, the Wedding Party, Maid of Honor and Best Man, Ring Bearer, Flower Girl and lastly the Bride and her Father.
The tradition that the groom should not look back up the aisle is an extension of not seeing each other before the day. By not seeing the bride at all until she reached the altar, he had no time to leave the building.
“Well, the tradition comes from an era where women were the property of men,” she says. “Fathers walking their daughter down the aisle and giving their daughter, the bride, away represented a transfer of ownership from her father to her new husband.”
The Groom: The groom proceeds to walk down the aisle accompanied by their parents, with his father on the left and his mother on the right. The Bridesmaids: The bridesmaids then proceed in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the bride. The Maid or Matron of Honor: The bride's right-hand woman walks alone.
So who walks the bride down the aisle? The answer is anyone! Anyone can walk the bride down the aisle as long as that's what the bride wants on their wedding day. Whether it's the parents, the groom, or someone else, “traditional” doesn't matter unless it's something that makes you feel good about your day.
Wearing “something old” represents the bride's past, while the “something new” symbolizes the couple's happy future. The bride is supposed to get her “something borrowed” from someone who is happily married in the hope that some of that person's good fortune rubs off on her. “Something blue” denotes fidelity and love.
For a Non-Denominational or Secular Wedding
The groom might opt to escort his mother down the aisle and to her seat in the front row, followed closely behind by the groom's father. This gives the groom an opportunity to give his parents a hug before taking his place at the altar.
When they see their bride, all dolled up in a beautiful gown, the moment becomes more real to him. The tears might even show up when exchanging vows because he can't believe he's finally marrying the love of his life. This special time can make even the manliest man tear up.
In many cultures, it's traditional to have both the mother and father walk their daughter down the aisle. Some brides may find this more suitable rather than choosing just one parent to do the honor. If you prefer to be escorted by both your mom and dad, Erb says go for it!
It's the first time guests—and usually even the soon-to-be spouse—will see the wedding dress, and it marks the start of the marriage journey. Traditionally, fathers walk daughters down the aisle. Once the pair reach the altar, she's then presented to her partner to be wed.
In the first month of 2023, couples should look to get married on January 15, 18, 25, 26, 27, or 30. February is also filled with lucky days (including Valentine's Day!). Those looking to get married that month should look to February 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22, 23, 27, 23, 27, and 28.
Steer clear of off-white, eggshell, beige, champagne, cream, or any other super light color that could be mistaken for white. There are so many dress options available in a variety of hues, so steering clear of these shades should not be a major issue.
This leaves many wondering which finger their new ring should go on or if they should even be wearing their engagement ring to the ceremony. It's perfectly normal, however, to wear both the engagement ring and the wedding ring during your wedding ceremony – how you wear them is up to you.
The mother of the bride is traditionally escorted by her son if she has one. Otherwise, any close male relative, the best man, or a groomsman walks with the mother of the bride during the procession.
In some situations, there is the sadness of an absent father, so a bride might choose her mother, a grandfather or grandmother, an uncle or aunt, a brother or sister, her own son or daughter, or any combination of people to walk her up the aisle.
Each group of bridesmaids and groomsmen walk in pairs of two unless you have an odd number; then someone can walk alone. The maid of honor walks alone since the best man is already at the altar. Both the ring bearer and flower girl walk alone, and in that order. Optionally, they can walk together if you prefer.
Typically, the maid of honor walks down the aisle with the best man, but this "head bridesmaid" could also walk behind the bride. If you have two MOHs and only one best man, you could either have him escort both MOHs down the aisle or tap another VIP (such as one of your brothers) to serve as a second escort.
5 minutes prior to ceremony: The groom's mother is escorted to her seat by the head usher, a son, or the groom. The groom's father follows and sits next to her. The wedding processional follows. Read more about the wedding processional order here.
Chief among father of the groom duties is walking the groom's mother down the aisle. If the groom's parents are divorced and the father is remarried, they should, instead, escort their new spouse down the aisle and to their seat. In certain ceremonies, the father of the groom will also walk their son down the aisle.
Lock arms with who is walking you down the aisle. While one hand is holding your bouquet, the other can gracefully lock arms with the person walking you down the aisle. It will help ensure a smooth walk and both of you will start on the same foot. Keep your shoulders back.
3. Parents. Again, the couple's parents may or may not walk down the aisle (they can also just take their seats as the procession begins). Traditionally, the groom's parents will go first, followed by the mother of the bride, but the couple may choose to be escorted down the aisle by one or both of their parents.