The seating of the mothers of the bride and groom is an important part of the wedding ceremony. These women are very proud of the step that their children are taking that day. All of the wedding guests may not know who the mother of the bride and mother of the groom are, so special treatment helps them to stand out from the crowd.
Grandmothers
- The grandmothers of the bride and groom are escorted to their seats approximately five minutes before the ceremony starts. An usher will escort the grandmother of the bride to her seat first. Her husband will follow her down the aisle. After she is seated, an usher will escort the grandmother of the groom down the aisle, with her husband following right behind.
Mother of the Groom
- The mother of the groom is escorted down the aisle right after the grandmothers are seated. An usher, or the groom himself, will seat her on the groom's side of the church. She will sit in the front row, in the aisle seat. Her husband will follow her down the aisle and will sit next to her.
Mother of the Bride
- The mother of the bride is escorted to her seat by an usher right after the mother of the groom is seated. She will sit in the front row, in the aisle seat, directly across from the mother of the groom. The seat next to her remains empty until her husband has finished walking the bride down the aisle and is ready to sit down.
Stepmother
- It is up to the bride and groom whether or not a stepmother is escorted down the aisle by an usher prior to the ceremony, or if she simply seats herself as the other guests do. She should sit in the row behind her husband and the biological mother of the bride or groom.
