The Tamesis
Main points
The order of the procession during the wedding ceremony is actually decided by the couple. But typically, a celebrant starts the procession, followed by the parents, the wedding party, and finally the couple.
Deciding on the order of the wedding procession is an important part of wedding planning. After all, the wedding aisle entry sequence intentionally kicks off the ceremony by whoever walks down the aisle first. The ceremony is the most show-like part of the wedding, and the actors walking down the aisle can set the tone for the rest of the ceremony.
The order of the procession is mostly based on tradition, but nowadays many couples change the order according to their preferences. Some may follow a procession sequence based on their religious beliefs, while others may choose a non-traditional wedding procession in which the couple walk alone, arm in arm.
Still not sure about your own parade schedule? Ahead, we’ll break down everything there is to know about wedding procession order so you can choose what’s best for your own celebration.
What is a wedding procession?
The wedding procession is the beginning of the wedding, with the couple, family, wedding group members, and officiant walking down the aisle to their seats or taking their seats at the altar. This is a time to honor the important people in the couple’s lives and mark the beginning of the wedding. Parades are often accompanied by music, either recorded or performed by live musicians.
Why is order important?
In some religions, wedding ceremonies have a very specific sequence that must be followed. However, this sequence usually refers to the important people who stand by the couple as they take the next step in life. This is usually the most traditional part of the wedding. However, the order can be changed according to your preference. An element of parade order is also logistics. If you want certain people to stand with you or sit in certain seats during your wedding, you can swap their order in the procession to make it easier.
The most common wedding procession order
While the process is really up to you, below, we’ve shared some modern and cultural wedding procession sequences for you to consider using in your own celebration.
Non-Sectarian Wedding Procession Order
The most common order of wedding processions for non-religious weddings starts with the officiant, then the grandparents of the couple, then their parents. Next comes the wedding party, followed by junior wedding party members such as flower girls or ring bearers. The couple will then walk down the aisle – either alone or accompanied by a parent or two.
Traditional Christian Wedding Procession Sequence
The traditional procession sequence for a Christian wedding begins with the officiant, then the grandparents, parents, groom, best man, groomsmen, bridesmaids, bridesmaids, flower girls and ring bearers, and finally the bride and her father. During some ceremonies, members of the wedding party hold each other’s arms as they walk down the aisle. In a same-sex marriage, both spouses can follow this sequence in a similar manner.
Traditional jewish wedding procession sequence
At a Jewish wedding, the procession begins with the rabbi or cantor. The bride’s grandparents then walk down the aisle, followed by the groom’s grandparents. Then the best man, best man, groom and his parents walked down the aisle. Next are the bridesmaids, bridesmaids, flower girls and ring bearers, as well as the bride and her parents. Same-sex couples can reflect this as well.
Traditional hindu wedding procession sequence
In a Hindu wedding, the bride’s family will be the first to arrive at the ceremony and walk down the aisle. The groom will then take part in the barat procession along with his friends and family, most likely with a drummer. The bride will then walk down the aisle with loved ones, such as her aunt, uncle or her brother.
How to decide what’s right for you
As you are developing your own wedding procession sequence, it can be helpful to think about what is important to you and your wedding. Are you having a wedding? Would you mind doing something a little outside the box? Is this a weird wedding? So you think the traditional order should be changed a bit? Whatever the reason, you can use it to fine-tune the flow of your wedding party procession.
For my own wedding, we chose to base some of the parade on tradition and others on logistics. When we planned to have our siblings stand next to us at the altar, we had them walk down the aisle after our officiant, and then the rest of the wedding party walked down the aisle in an order they could comfortably seat. My wife then walked down the aisle with her parents, followed closely by my parents and I as a nod to our Jewish backgrounds. While it’s not exactly traditional, I love that we were able to redefine it in a way that feels authentic to us.
