Walking Down the Aisle Basics

Nowadays, there is really no right or wrong thing to do with weddings. It is pretty much up to the couple to choose how they want their wedding to be.   This article will outline what is traditional for weddings and what is an alternative way to do things.

Choosing Sides

Traditionally the bride’s family and friends sits on the left side and the groom’s family and friends on the right side.   Groomsmen many times escorts guests to the either side. The family sits in the front rows on both sides.

Now, you may see that guests can sit on any side that they’d like. We like to do the choose a seat not a side and save the front rows for immediate family.

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.

Wedding Party Entrance

#1

The officiant is at the front waiting for the wedding party to walk down. All the guests are seated, including the groom’s parents, and then the bridal party makes its way down the aisle. (If you are not having chairs, everyone will be standing, instead of seated.)

The order for walking down the aisle is below:

#2

The officiant is at the front waiting for the wedding party to walk down. All the guests are seated, including the groom’s parents, and then the bridal party makes its way down the aisle. (If you are not having chairs, everyone will be standing, instead of seated.)

The order for walking down the aisle is below:

#3

All the guests are seated, included the bride’s mother (except if she is walking with the bride) and the groom’s parents are seated. (If you are not having chairs, everyone will be standing, instead of seated.)

The groom and groomsmen will already be at the front waiting for the bride.  Many times, the groom will have his back to the bride and then turn around to see her for their first look when she is making her way down the aisle.

Then, the order for walking down the aisle is below:

#4

If there is something unique to the two of you for walking down the aisle, please let us know.

Here’s a few different ideas to think about also:

Bride’s Mother – maybe joining her could be the bride’s brother or other person in the family so she doesn’t walk down the aisle alone.

If you want to include your family more:

If there is no bridal party:

If there is a large bridal party:

Standing Up Front

Traditionally, the Bride, Groom and Minister are in the middle, and the bridal party is around them, in the reverse order they walked down the aisle. For example, the Maid of Honor would be the last person in the bridal party before the bride, she would stand right next to the Bride and the first bridesmaid to walk down the aisle would be on the very last person on the end.

You may want to have the bridal party take their seat and only have the Best Man and Maid of Honor up front.

Walking After the Ceremony

The Bride and Groom are the first to walk up the aisle after the ceremony. From there it is who ever is next to them that walks as a couple – for example, the Maid of Honor and the Best Man.

You can pair the two of them to walk up the isle or have them walk individually.

However you choose to have   the bridal party walking down the aisle, Coastal California Weddings helps their couples coordinate the order of the bridal party. Also, since we coordinate the day of the wedding, we will be in charge of working with the order of the bridal party. 

Coastal California Weddings provides all-inclusive weddings and elopements on the Central Coast.   Have your wedding overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, or Avila.

The post The Wedding Ceremony- Walking Down the Aisle appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings.