The wedding processional refers to the group of people that walk down the aisle in a specific order to mark the beginning of a wedding ceremony. This is where anyone in the family, bridal party, or other people close to the couple find their place in front of all guests before the ceremony begins.
The Processional Order
Mother of the bride: When the mother of the bride enters, that is the signal that the processional is about to begin. She can be accompanied by another family member (a son, nephew or cousin, if not in the bridal party) as she walks down the aisle, or she can choose to walk alone. Once she reaches the end of the aisle, she will take her seat on the left side of the aisle (traditionally) in the first row.
Officiant: Next in the processional order is the officiant. The officiant can be a friend, family member, or anyone ordained to perform weddings chosen by the couple. The officiant will make their way up to the altar and stand their while the rest of the processional makes their way forward.
Groom: The groom is the next to enter the ceremony space, entering from the side of the venue close to the right side of the altar, where traditionally the groom and his family are placed. However, many couples also choose to have the groom escorted down the aisle with both of his parents, who then sit on the right side of the aisle in the front row.
Best man: The best man then either walks in from the same side that the groom came from, or walks down the aisle alone. When they get to the front of the aisle, they take their place next to the groom at the altar in the closest spot behind him. The best man may also have the bride’s ring with him to give to the groom when needed.
Groomsmen: The groomsmen enter the ceremony space by walking down the aisle one by one. Groomsmen walk in order of who will be places farthest away from the groom to who will be standing by the best man.
Bridesmaids: The bridesmaids walk down the aisle one by one before the maid of honor enters.
*Some couples may choose to have the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk in together in pairs down the aisle. The same order of placement will follow – farthest away from the couple to the best man and maid of honor entering last.*
Maid of honor: Before the ceremony, the maid of honor helps the bride with any dress, veil, or train needs, making sure everything is perfect before they walk down the aisle. The maid of honor then stands by the bride’s side at the altar and holds their bouquet and sometimes the groom’s ring during the ceremony.
Flower girl and ring bearer: The flower girl and ring bearer are the final processional members to precede the bride before she walks down the aisle. Traditionally, the ring bearer carries the wedding rings tied to a small pillow, which is then handed to the best man (however, some couples choose to give the maid of honor and best man the actual rings to ensure they are not lost or dropped along the way). The flower girl may carry a basket full of petals to scatter as she walks down the aisle. Once both make it to the end of the aisle, they can find a seat with their parents or stay standing with the rest of the bridal party.
Father of the bride and bride: The father of the bride traditionally is the one who escorts his daughter down the aisle, standing to the right side of her as he does so. After the father of the bride “gives them away,” they lift the veil and kiss the bride, signifying their blessing, then take their seat beside the mother of the bride.
The Recessional Order
The recessional begins immediately after the first kiss and usually follows the reverse order of the processional. The newlyweds lead the way back down the aisle, but not before the maid of honor hands back the bouquets and straightens out the bride’s gown and its train, if needed. Afterward come the flower girl and ring bearer, followed by the maid of honor and best man.
The rest of the recessional will depend on who makes up the wedding party. Bridesmaids and groomsmen can walk back down the aisle in pairs, which is best if you have an even-numbered wedding party, or they can go solo, which, works well when you have an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. For balance and symmetry, they should follow the pairing type they entered the ceremony space in. After that, the parents may want to follow, but it’s not a must.
