The bride's walk down the aisle is always one of the highlights of a wedding ceremony, but a few other important people like members of the bridal party, the mother of the bride, and officiant prep the runway before the headliner in the white dress makes their grand entrance. Different types of weddings employ different processional orders, so we're breaking down who should walk when to familiarize yourself with the different possibilities and to ensure your bridal march runs as smoothly as possible.
Traditional Christian Wedding Processional Order
The Bride's Mother: The mother of the bride's entrance signals that the processional is about to begin. Once they reach the end of the aisle, they take their seat to the left of the aisle in the first row.
The Groom: After the mother of the bride takes their seat, the groom will traditionally take their place at the head of the altar (coming in from the side of the venue). However, many couples choose to have the groom's parents escort them down the aisle (then his parents sit to the right of the aisle in the front row).
The Best Man: The best man either walks in from the side and takes their place at the altar next to the groom, or they can walk in as the last groomsman. They may also hold the bride's ring (or both rings).
The Groomsmen: The groomsmen open the processional as they walk down the aisle one by one.
The Bridesmaids: The bridesmaids walk down the aisle one by one before the maid or matron of honor. Some couples may choose to have the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk in together in pairs.
The Maid or Matron of Honor: Before the ceremony, the maid or matron of honor assists the bride with their dress, veil, and train, making sure everything looks perfect before they walk down the aisle. They then stand by the bride's side at the altar and holds their bouquet and sometimes the groom's ring.
The Flower Girl(s) and Ring Bearer(s): The ring bearer and flower girl precede the bride down the aisle. Traditionally, the ring bearer carries the wedding rings (or decoys, if they're too little to be trusted with the real things), tied to a small pillow. The flower girl may carry a basket of petals, which they scatter as they walk, or a posy of flowers. After the procession is over and the rings are handed off to the best man, the children's work is done, and they can be seated with their parents.
The Father of the Bride and the Bride: The bride's father traditionally escorts their daughter down the aisle, standing to the bride's right. After the father of the bride "gives them away," they lift the veil and kiss the bride, signifying their blessing, then takes their seat beside the bride's mother.
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