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Christine
Super October 2011

Walking Down the Aisle - Order?

Christine, on September 24, 2011 at 12:44 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 10

So here is my dilema - I'm trying to make my list of people walking down the aisle. I know my FH and my parents walk down first, then who is next. One of the readers is his brother, so I am assuming he walks down with his wife. But then what do we do with the grroomsmen's wives? One of them is my sister-n-law, so do I have him walk her down the aisle then go with the guys or just have her sit before the ceremony. Then what about the other two groomsmen's wives? Then my best friend is doing a special ceremony where the unity candle goes, so do I have him walk down the aisle? Please help!!!!!

10 Comments

Latest activity by Diana, on October 16, 2019 at 2:28 AM
  • Hayley C™
    Master March 2008
    Hayley C™ ·
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    Are the readers standing up at the altar? the candle person standing up there?

    If not, they don't need to walk, they can just sit before the ceremony starts. Same with the wives. They are not standing up at the altar, so they just sit before the ceremony starts.

    The officiant can give a little announcement when they need to come up ...

    "Mike, brother of Groom will now come up for our first reading"

    or just acknowledge them in the program.

    When do you plan on having her do the unity candle thing? In Catholic churches the mothers light them before they sit down after they walk down the aisle. I'm not sure what your friend is doing, or if the officiant would need to announce her or explain.

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  • Hayley C™
    Master March 2008
    Hayley C™ ·
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    Ceremony - Seating

    Traditional Wedding Etiquette Seating Option: The general wedding etiquette rule of thumb with grandparents is to seat them as they arrive. This prevents them from having to stand longer than would be comfortable. This also prevents the hassle of figuring out who walks with whom, when and where they sit when they get there.

    Modern Wedding Etiquette Seating Option: Seat your mother's parents first, then your groom's mother's parents, then your father's parents, then the groom's fathers parents. Wedding processionals and seating always favor the bride and then the maternal side of both families.

    Polite and Modern Wedding Etiquette Seating Option: If you really want to have your grandparents walk before the wedding processional, a polite seating option would be to seat the your grandparents first (both sets) then seat both sets of the groom's grandparents. This is a spin off of the modern wedding etiquette option for seating that is very popular.

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  • Hayley C™
    Master March 2008
    Hayley C™ ·
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    The guests are seated.

    The groom, best man and Officiant enter by using a side door. They all stand facing the guests.

    An usher escorts the grandmother(s) of the B to their seats.

    An usher escorts the grandmother(s) of the G to their seats.

    An usher escorts the mother and father of the G to their seats.

    An usher escorts the mother of the bride to her seat. Her father is also seated, if he is not walking her down the aisle.

    Processional music begins.

    The bride's mother (and father) stand(s).

    All the guests stand.

    The ushers walk down the aisle (or escort the bridesmaids) and stand next the groom and best man and then face the guests.

    The bridesmaids walk down the aisle.

    The maid and/or matron of honor walk(s) down the aisle.

    The ring bearer walks down the aisle.

    The flower girl walks down the aisle or the flower girl and ring bearer walk down together.

    Processional music changes and/or the volume increases.

    The father of the bride escorts the bride down

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  • Christine
    Super October 2011
    Christine ·
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    The wine and chocolate ceremony is towards the end of the ceremony, and the officiate will call him up to the alter when it is time.

    The others are not standing at the alter, so I guess I will have them all sit before the wedding starts. The readers are acknowledged in the program.

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  • Christine
    Super October 2011
    Christine ·
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    Thank you Hayley!!

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  • Celia Milton
    Celia Milton ·
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    I usually try to make this as simple as possible.

    -guests are seated including grandmothers who may not want all eyes on them if they are not so agile on their feet or possibly in wheelchairs/walkers

    -Groom, BM. groomsmen and Officiant enter by a side entrance or up aisle, but not processing per se.

    -Groom's parents

    -Bride's mom with escort

    -Bridesmaids

    -Maid of Honor

    -RB and/or FG

    -All stand up for bride's entrance

    -Bride and Dad or other escort come in

    -Everyone sits.

    The more steps/actions that area added to this, the more chance of someone doing something weird. Not that it will ruin the wedding, but just keep it simple and you'll be fine.

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  • E
    Just Said Yes November 2013
    Ericka ·
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    I am wondering when are the groomsmen walking down the aisle in these comments? Hayley C- Is there mention of the groomsmen?

    Celia Milton- How do groomsmen walk up aisle but not processing? Who walks with BMs?

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  • K
    Just Said Yes August 2014
    Karen ·
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    I have a question, not sure if asking it here or starting a new thread is the right thing to do. What if the groom is going to walk down his grandmother and both mothers? Would priest best man and groom enter through side entrance, groom walks down to get grandmother then moms then returns to front for the others to begin? I was thrown in last minute as a wedding coordinator at my church and that is the one answer I can not seem to be able to find anyone to help with. The normal wedding lady had an emergency surgery and I have not been able to get ahold of the priest and nobody else knows. Thanks in advance for any guidance you ladies can offer

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  • Christine
    Super October 2011
    Christine ·
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    I would walk both mothers at the Same time. Can a cousin of brother walk the grandma?

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  • D
    October 2019
    Diana ·
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    Im the grandmother of the groom and I will be the officient. Would it be ok for the groom to walk me down the aisle?

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