Divorced Parents & The Processional

Example 1Here is an example of something we would like to do

Why wouldn't she? Is she no longer your mother because she only contributed $200 toward your wedding? Your priorities seem way out of order.

Having parents process during the ceremony is to honor their role in your life, not the role of their pockets in your wedding. Unless you are completely estranged from your mother or your relationship with her is toxic, you should absolutely include her in the processional.

The processional has nothing at all to do with financial contributions. It’s simply a way to honor your family as your family.

I would list it like you posted the picture, but have their names on two separate lines rather than "Sally & Sam Smith" it would be:

Sally Jones

Sam Smith

So it's pretty clear they aren't together. My father & mother are both paying for our wedding, my fiance's parents aren't at all. They will all still be in the processional.

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My thoughts exactly.

That has nothing to do with people paying for the wedding. My parents and grandparents are helping pay but both sets of parents and grandparents and even our siblings are walking along with the bridal party. Its to honor loved ones not people who have money invested.

My husband's parents are divorced and his dad has remarried. The processional we had his brother walk his mom down the aisle, step brother walk step mom down the aisle, and my brother walked my mom down the aisle. If your parents are remarried just put parent 1 & step parent & parent 2 and step parent on their own lines.

My family is super complicated. My parents are divorced and my mom and stepdad are divorced. His parents are divorced but both moms have kept their names. They will process based on logistics and to honor them as our parents, not based on money.

My programs will say:
parents of the bride
ms Jane doe
mr and Mrs John and Sarah Smith
mr William doe

parents of the groom
mr mark Johnson
ms Mary Johnson

View Quoted Comment She left me when I was 5 months old and hasn't been a huge part of my life since. We talk as friends.

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She left me when I was 5 months old and hasn't been a huge part of my life since. We talk as friends.

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How could we include that in our response if you didn't mention it in your post?

If you’d like to include her in the processional I think PPs have given good advice on wording. With the extra info you gave on your relationship it seems like it’s something personal to consider if you want to honor her that way. If you don’t, you can simply write “Father of the Bride” on the program and his name if you’ll be including him only.

View Quoted Comment I feel like this would have been important to include in your original post. From what you originally posted, it simply sounded like her lack of financial contributions is what had you questioning including her in the processional.

In the super traditional form, the mother would walk down with the Best Man and be seated in the front row. You could do Parents of the Groom, mother of the bride, then father of the bride. This would designate that they are separated and not together.