Even though pop-up weddings are anything but traditional, the wedding processional typically is. Although the wedding processional has evolved, for the most part, people tend to stick with doing it the way it’s always been done. If you’ve ever attended a wedding or two, chances are, you’ve seen how it’s been done! But in case you needed a refresher, here’s the order!
1.Officiant walks in
If you’d like your officiant to walk in, he/she walks in first. Sometimes, the officiant comes in from the side and is already up there before the official processional begins. This is totally up to you and how you’d like it to be done!
2. The Mother of the Bride & Groom’s Dad
This doesn’t have to happen, but if you’d like these parents to walk, this is the perfect moment to allow this to happen. The dad would walk her to her seat and then go take his seat.
3. The Groom
The Groom is the next to walk in (or first if you’re skipping the officiant). If he would like to, he may also walk in with his mother. He would walk her to the front, seat her in the front row and then walk up to stand by the officiant.
4. The Best Man
The Best Man can walk in right behind the Groom and his mom (all walking together), or give him his own moment. He can also walk a step-mom or grandmother in. He would also walk that individual to their seat and then take his place beside the Groom. If the ring bearer isn’t carrying the rings, the Best Man typically holds both or the Bride’s ring only.
5. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
Couple by couple, they walk down the aisle and then split at the end. They each take their positions furthest away from the altar and make their way to the center with each couple that comes in. The Maid of Honor and Best Man stand nearest to the Bride and Groom.
6. Maid of Honor / Matron of Honor
She walks in alone. She helps the bride to her place before the ceremony begins, fixes the veil, rearranges the dress and touches up makeup if necessary. She also holds the bride’s bouquet throughout the ceremony and gives it back to her after the ceremony, before walking out with her Groom. She is the Bride’s very own personal assistant for the day! She also holds the Groom’s ring if the Best Man isn’t holding both.
7. Ring Bearer & Flower girl
The ring bearer and flower girl can walk in separately or together. If separately, the ring bearer would go first followed by the flower girl. The ring bearer usually carries a little pillow with the rings for the ceremony. But you can totally put fake little rings on it if they can’t be trusted. The flower girl can have a little basket and throw real or fake flower petals as she walks. Or if your venue doesn’t allow that kind of mess, you can ask your florist to make her a little flower girl bouquet. If they’re too young to stay standing for the ceremony, they can take their seat with their parents.
8. Bride & Father of the Bride
Last, but certainly not least, is the Bride and her Father! Once the flower girl & ring bearer walk through the doors, the doors will close to allow the Bride and her dad to take their place. This is the moment when the wedding processional comes on (or whatever song you’ve chosen to walk down the aisle to) and once everyone is standing to welcome the bride, the doors open and she walks through.
Recessional
When the ceremony is over and it is time to exit, everything is in reverse order. The Bride and Groom walk out first, followed by the Best Man and Maid of Honor, then every couple making their way out from the closest to the altar to the furthest. The Ring Bearer and Flower Girl can walk out at this point or they can skip the Recessional.
After this, you can have the officiant walk out followed by parents and grandparents. At this point, you can do the actual couples:
Her Parents
His Parents
Her Grandparents
His Grandparents
The parents and grandparents are totally optional! If you’re having a larger wedding, it’s a nice way to ensure they get out to pictures and such in time. If it’s a small wedding, you can skip it and allow everyone to stand and leave as they please.
Every wedding processional and recessional is different. There’s a “traditional” way to do it, but since many families have different components (step parents, a deceased parent, etc), it can be tricky to follow it exactly.
Use this as a guide, but definitely do what works best for your family and what will make everyone most comfortable! If you have any questions, please reach out to us. We would love to help you plan your pop-up wedding processional and recessional. Contact us today!