Walking down the aisle will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable moments of your special day. But planning your wedding processional (and recessional, for that matter) can also be a little confusing!
Who should be first down the aisle? What role do your parents play? And should your wedding party walk in pairs, or separately?
Ultimately, the order of your wedding processional will really depend on your ceremony style and personal preferences. From religious ceremonies to non-traditional alternatives, read on as we share our ultimate wedding ceremony processional and recessional guide below.
What is the Wedding Processional?
The wedding processional refers to the group of people who will walk down the aisle at the beginning of your ceremony. This can include specific family members, the bridal party, flower girls, ring bearers and of course, the soon-to-be newlyweds!
Your procession marks the start of the ceremony, making it a highly anticipated moment. With this in mind, it’s important to consider the processional order that will be the best fit for your special day – whether you’re planning a formal ceremony, or something less traditional.
Remember, your wedding processional can be totally customized to suit your vision for the day. Use the below processional orders as a helpful starting point, but feel free to adapt things as needed!
What is the Christian Wedding Processional Order?
The traditional order of the Christian wedding processional is as follows:
- The Mother of the Bride, who traditionally takes her seat in the front row on the left hand side.
- The Groom, optionally escorted by his parents. The groom’s parents traditionally sit in the front row on the right hand side.
- The Best Man, who marks the entrance of the wedding party.
- The Wedding Party. The groomsmen usually enter first followed by the bridesmaids, but may also walk together in pairs.
- The Maid of Honor. After making last-minute adjustments to the bride’s dress and veil, the maid of honor makes a solo entrance before joining the bridesmaids at the altar.
- The Ring Bearer(s) and Flower Girl(s) who can be seated with their parents after walking down the aisle.
- The Bride, traditionally escorted by her father who will “give her away” to her spouse at the altar to signify his blessing.
What is the Jewish Wedding Processional Order?
The traditional order of the Jewish wedding processional is as follows:
- The Rabbi, who will stand underneath the Chuppah to mark the beginning of the processional.
- The Grandparents of the Bride, who will be seated in the front row on the right hand side.
- The Grandparents of the Groom, who will be seated in the front row on the left hand side.
- The Groomsmen, walking down the aisle in pairs.
- The Best Man, walking solo down the aisle.
- The Groom and his Parents, with his father on his left and mother on his right.
- The Bridesmaids, walking down the aisle individually or in pairs.
- The Maid of Honor, walking solo down the aisle.
- The Ring Bearer(s) and Flower Girl(s) who can be seated with their parents after walking down the aisle.
- The Bride and her parents, with her father on her left and mother on her right.
What is the Non-Denominational Processional Order?
A non-denominational ceremony processional is typically less formal than a religious ceremony, with more flexibility around the processional order.
In many non-denominational ceremonies, the groom and his groomsmen will already be waiting at the altar before the processional begins. The remainder of the processional will usually follow this order:
- The Bridesmaids
- The Maid of Honor
- The Flower Girl(s) and Ring Bearer(s)
- The Bride and her Father
A Word About Breaking Tradition
While the above processional orders may help with planning a traditional ceremony, the reality is that many modern weddings will require some customization! There are no set “rules” you must follow, and it’s completely okay to adapt your processional order to suit your family dynamics and personal wishes.
Some non-traditional wedding processional ideas can include:
- Walking down the aisle together with your spouse
- Having both parents walk you down the aisle
- Walking down the aisle alone
- Having grandmother flower girls
- Including your pets
The options are endless! Remember, your wedding ceremony is one of the most meaningful elements of your day, so it should be a true reflection of you, your partner, and your shared values. Check out our ultimate guide to planning your wedding ceremony here.
What is the Wedding Recessional?
Now that your ceremony processional has been sorted, let’s discuss the wedding recessional. The wedding recessional refers to the group of people walking back down the aisle and marks the conclusion of your ceremony.
What is the Traditional Order of Wedding Recessional?
Your wedding recessional will typically be the reverse order of your ceremony processional, starting with the newlyweds. Generally, there is less of an emphasis on the correct “order” for the wedding recessional, but a typical wedding recessional order may look something like this:
- The Newlyweds
- The Flower Girl(s) and Ring Bearer(s)
- The Maid of Honor and Best Man
- The Wedding Party
- Both Sets of Parents (optional)
Setting the Tone For Your Ceremony
Your wedding processional will ultimately set the tone for your entire ceremony, whether you’re planning a formal religious ceremony or something more relaxed. Use the above processional orders as a helpful guide, but feel free to flip the script on its head if that better suits your preferences!
Need some inspiration for ceremony music? Check out our ultimate list of wedding songs here.