Wedding Etiquette for the Processional

Now that you're almost finished planning your wedding, you want to make sure that all the ceremony participants are aware of the etiquette that is expected of them. Certain courtesies and formalities are the responsibility of the wedding processional; going over these rules with your wedding party will help to ensure that your special day is even more memorable.

Mothers of the Bride and Groom

In traditional Christian weddings, the mothers of the bride and groom are separately escorted down the aisle by an usher before the ceremony begins. The women should be to the left of the usher, and if they are wearing corsages, these should be placed on the left shoulder. The mothers are usually the first of the wedding processional to be escorted down the aisle.

Fathers of the Bride and Groom

The father of the groom is usually seated before the mothers enter the wedding site. Parents of the couple getting married should be seated on the first two rows of the chapel or church. The bride's father usually escorts her down the aisle, and is positioned outside of the church to the right of the bride before entering the ceremony. If the bride has chosen to walk down the aisle alone, or with her groom, the father of the bride should be seated with the groom's father before the wedding begins.

The Groom and Groomsmen

After the parents of the bride and groom have entered the ceremony, the groom walks down the aisle, with his best man by his side. The groom may also come from the side or front of the church, in order to walk directly to the podium and stand next to the officiant. The remainder of the groomsmen should take their places behind the best man. Usually, when the groom enters, the music changes, signaling that the rest of the wedding party, and the bride, are preparing to come in.

Bridesmaids, Flower Girls and Ring Bearers

After the groomsmen are positioned at the front of the church, the first bridesmaid should enter. It is best for the second bridesmaid to wait until the woman before her is halfway down the aisle before entering. Some brides choose to have the bridesmaids escorted by ushers, which is acceptable as well. The maid or matron of honor is the last to come into the wedding chapel, and she is followed by the ring bearer and the flower girl (or girls). Once the flower girls have decorated the aisle with petals, it is time for the bride to come in.

The Bride

The bride traditionally enters the ceremony with her father. She is positioned to the left of him. The music changes when the bride comes into the wedding, and she walks slower than any other member of the wedding processional. Once the bride reaches the front of the church, her father gives her away by placing her hand in the groom's; some fathers choose to kiss their daughters on the cheek or hug them before giving the bride to the groom.

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