The Matron of Honour enters (she will be standing closest to the bride), then flowergirls and pageboys walk down the aisle and take their places among the bridal party. The music changes and the guests are asked to stand to welcome the Bride. The Bride enters on the arm of her escort.
Parents of Partner #1 walk down the aisle, followed by parents of Partner #2; then, Partner #1 and Partner #2 walk down the aisle together. Partner #1 waits at the altar/chuppah and meets Partner #2 halfway down the aisle; then they walk the rest of the aisle together, arm-in-arm.
1. Officiant. Your officiant is generally the first person to walk toward the altar, signifying the ceremony is about to commence.
The groom's parents precede the bride's mother during the processional. Here's a rundown: After the ushers have seated all of the guests, the grandparents start up the aisle, followed by the groom's parents. Then the bride's mother takes her turn.
The Bridesmaids
At the ceremony, bridesmaids precede the maid of honor in the procession. If you choose to pair the ladies with groomsmen for their walk, keep these rules in mind: If there is an odd number of bridesmaids, two women can walk together, or a groomsman can escort one on each arm.
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.
The flower girl and the ring bearer (if they remained at the altar during the ceremony) come first (if there's only one or the other, he or she can walk alone), then the maid of honor and the best man, then the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
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.
Traditionally, a groomsman should walk the mother of the bride down the aisle. However, as with most details of a modern ceremony, the couple getting married is free to make any adjustments or choices they would like when wedding planning.
What order do people walk out in a wedding ceremony? In a traditional wedding ceremony, the processional begins with the bride's mother before the groom, best man, wedding party, flower girl, and ring bearer follow. The bride, who is escorted by her father, is the last to make her way down the aisle.
The bride's walk down the aisle is always one of the highlights of a wedding day – however, she's not the only one to take that walk during the ceremony. A few other important people, such as the officiant, groomsmen, bridesmaids and groom all make an appearance on the aisle before the bride makes her grand entrance.
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.
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.
The best man follows the bridesmaids and groomsmen and can walk down alone or with the maid of honor. He may also be the ring bearer for some weddings, and will stand next to the groom at the altar.
The grandparents of the groom are the first to enter & are seated on the right side in the first or second row, if seats have been reserved for them. Ushers can escort a grandmother if so desired. Grandparents of the bride would follow immediately after & are seated on the left side.
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!
2. Mother of the bride. The mother of the bride is the last person seated before the officiant, groom and best man take their places at the altar. She can walk alone or be escorted by her son, son-in-law or another relative.
The Best Colors for a Mother of the Groom
"Wear a flattering color that compliments the color palette of the wedding," advises Valiente. For example, jewel tones and earthy hues are perfect for fall nuptials, while formal gowns in navy or silver would be ideal for black-tie weddings.
Traditionally, ceremony ushers roll out the runner (which is secured near the altar) from altar to aisle entrance to signal the start of the processional.
Traditionally speaking, the mother of the groom is responsible for planning and hosting the rehearsal dinner with the grooms' father (typically) the night before the wedding. This is one of the biggest mother of the groom responsibilities, so make sure you start planning the dinner about six months in advance.
If you're closer to your mother, there's no reason she can't be the one to walk you down the aisle. By designating your mom as your escort, you'll be able to focus the spotlight on the influence she's had on your life.
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.
“A lot of brides love the idea of honoring their independence and strength by walking down the aisle on their own, or walking down with their fiancé, symbolizing the two of them heading toward their future as equals,” Ms. Ring said.
Of course, you'll start with your maid of honor, followed by your sister or sister-in-law, and then from there, it tends to vary. You may have your best friend, followed by your cousin and then another close friend, or you may swap the order around. Just be careful, as the person standing on the end may feel slighted.