Who arrives first at a wedding?

The Processional
If the groom chooses to lead the processional, he will be followed by the best man, groomsmen and bridesmaids (typically in pairs), maid of honor, ring bearer and flower girl, and the bride with one or both parents.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on brides.com


Who comes first in a wedding ceremony?

As stated above, the groom says his wedding vows first most times. This is an old-fashioned tradition that has made its way into standard wedding etiquette. As a result, most traditional or religious vows are written with the groom's vows first, and your officiant will likely lead the ceremony with that in mind.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on yeahweddings.com


Who walks out first in a wedding?

1. Officiant. Your officiant is generally the first person to walk toward the altar, signifying the ceremony is about to commence.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on theknot.com


What is the order of entrance to wedding ceremony?

Officiant stands at the altar. Groom and best man enter from a side door and stand at the altar. Bridesmaids and ushers walk in pairs (if there are uneven numbers, the odd person can walk alone, or two maids or groomsmen can walk together). The maid or matron of honor walks alone.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bridalguide.com


Who enters first the mother of the bride or groom?

The groom's parents precede the bride's mother during the processional. Here's a rundown: After the ushers have seated all of the guests, the grandparents start up the aisle, followed by the groom's parents. Then the bride's mother takes her turn. She is the last to be seated before the bridal party procession begins.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bridalguide.com


Who Comes First? Spouse Or Kids| Millennial Marriage Series



Who walks mother of bride down the aisle?

2. Mother of the bride. The mother of the bride is the last person seated before the officiant, groom and best man take their places at the altar. She can walk alone or be escorted by her son, son-in-law or another relative.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on weddingwire.com


Who walks groom's mother down the aisle?

As the wedding begins, the groom's mother will be escorted down the aisle, to the first pew, right-hand side, by the head usher or a groomsman who is a family member. A nice touch includes the groom escorting his mother down the aisle. As the groom's mother is escorted to her seat, her husband will follow along behind.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ourmarriage.com


Who walks down the aisle first bride or bridesmaids?

Bridesmaids. They walk down the aisle solo or in pairs. They take their places up front, on the left side, with the first bridesmaid taking her place farthest from the bride. The bridesmaids might form a diagonal line so they all get a good view of the couple.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on minted.com


Does maid of honor walk first or last?

The maid or matron of honor is the last of the bride's attendants to walk down the aisle, either alone or with the best man. The ring bearer walks in next. The flower girl walks in just before the bride.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on dummies.com


How does a wedding go step by step?

The Must-Hit Steps Of A Traditional Wedding Timeline
  1. The Bridal Party Gets Dressed.
  2. Bridesmaid Photos.
  3. The Bride and Groom's First Look.
  4. Wedding Party and Family Photos.
  5. Ceremony “Start” Time.
  6. Actual Ceremony Start Time.
  7. Cocktail Hour.
  8. Invite Guests To Dinner.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on watermillcaterers.com


Who goes first ring bearer or flower girl?

The Maid or Matron of Honor: The bride's right-hand woman walks alone. The Ring Bearer(s) and/or the Flower Girl(s): The ring bearer walks down the aisle followed by the flower girl. They then sit with their parents after walking down the aisle.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on brides.com


Do siblings walk down the aisle?

Walking the Bride Down the Aisle

Traditionally, the father of the bride walks the bride down the aisle. Now, you can have anyone who is special walk you down the aisle – brother, uncle, cousin, your children, your sister, you Maid/ Matron of honor, or maybe even both parents.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on coastalcaliforniaweddings.com


Who stands next to the bride?

The maid of honor usually stands closest to the bride and holds the bride's bouquet. If one of your besties is a matron of honor, you can ask her to stand in the second spot. But if they're both equal MOHs, you'll just have to decide who stands where.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bellabridesmaids.com


Who puts the ring on first?

In a traditional wedding ceremony order, the vows are followed by the ring exchange. The groom usually goes first, though we invite you to be progressive. He puts the wedding band on the bride's finger while repeating a phrase like, “I give this ring as a sign of my love.” Then, it's the bride's turn.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on withjoy.com


Who walks the bride down the aisle?

A Groomsman. The most traditional choice is for a groomsman to walk the bride's mother down the aisle. This can be an especially good choice if the two sides of the wedding party are uneven or if you'd like to give this gentleman some additional spotlight.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on zola.com


Does the order of bridesmaids matter?

Arranging from oldest to youngest is another good way to do it—since age is something that can't be negotiated. The oldest of the group can stand closest to you, and the baby of the group can go on the outer edge of the lineup.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on theknot.com


Why do fathers walk daughter down the aisle?

Today, the act of the father walking their daughter down the aisle is seen as a way to show support for this next chapter in life. It's looked at as less of a "giving away" and more of a "letting go."
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on brides.com


Who should pay for the flower girl dress?

Who Pays for the Flower Girl Dress? In line with both the bride and bridesmaid dresses, the flower girl's dress is another item traditionally paid for by the bride's parents. If that's not an option, you can pay for this yourself. Or — if the flower girl is young — you can ask her family to contribute.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on davidcharleschildrenswear.com


Who sits in the front row at a wedding?

Reserved Seating

The bride's parents should be in the first row on the left, with grandparents behind them. If the bride's parents are divorced and remarried, seat one set in the front row and the other behind, with grandparents in the same pew as their child.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on weddings.lovetoknow.com


Do bridesmaids walk down the aisle to the same song as the bride?

Wedding music commences, either a separate song for the Bridesmaids to enter and a different song for the Bride. Alternatively, the entire wedding party can use just one song. Groom, Best Man and Groomsmen are standing up front facing towards the seated guests.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on weddingdells.com.au


Why does the groom wait for the bride?

Stemming from arranged marriage, the tradition's roots come from when couples wouldn't meet until their wedding, with fathers tricking the grooms into thinking that the bride was more attractive than she was, forbidding them to see each other until her veil was removed.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on marieclaire.co.uk


Does mother of groom get ready with bride?

She can spend a little time with both the bride and groom.

If that's the case, she may want to start her morning with the bride and her group, then leave once she has her hair and makeup done. After, she can head to the groom's getting-ready area to help him prepare for his walk down the aisle.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on marthastewart.com


Who gets invited to the rehearsal dinner?

Here's who definitely gets an invite.

Your immediate families, the bridal party (including the parents of the flower girl and ring bearer, even if they're not in the wedding), any ceremony readers, and your officiant (plus his or her spouse, if married) should always be invited to the rehearsal dinner.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on marthastewart.com


What does mother of the bride do?

The mother of the bride plays the role of hostess, meaning you should spend some time greeting guests during the reception. Although there are exceptions, other wedding-day duties may include sitting at the parents' table and dancing with the father of the bride to help warm up the dance floor.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on minted.com


Who does the father of the groom walk down the aisle with?

Chief among father of the groom duties is walking the groom's mother down the aisle. If the groom's parents are divorced and the father is remarried, they should, instead, escort their new spouse down the aisle and to their seat. In certain ceremonies, the father of the groom will also walk their son down the aisle.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on brides.com
Next question
Is Dlamini a Zulu surname?