Wedding Entrance – A Memorable Procession

People are getting creative with their wedding entrances (processions), and making a grand, memorable entrance. There are many ways to make this day your own, and your wedding entrance is one place you can make a statement.

Traditionally, the wedding party, consisting of bridesmaids and groomsmen come down, then the ring bearer, and the flower girl. Lastly, the bride comes with her father who hands the woman off to the most happy groom.

Groom Wedding Entrance

A question I get often is: What about the groom? Here are ways we give him a moment. Sometimes he stands up front with the officiant, awaiting the wedding party. However, sometimes he can have his back to those coming down the aisle so he can be “surprised” when his blushing bride makes her entrance. This is a real jerker because 100% of the time, he is in awe of how beautiful she is.

Another entrance for the groom is coming down with his mother. This is not only sweet and tender, it gives the groom a moment with the audience too. There are usually sounds of “awww” on this as well.

If there are two groomsmen, then they both come down together, and they have their own moment together.

And what if the groom begins the whole procession and has a grand entrance himself? It’s a great way the couple is highlighted in the ceremony. He begins it and she ends it….

Wedding Party Entrance

Another big question I get asked a lot is how to get all those people down the aisle in an orderly fashion. The most efficient way, and the way pictures turn out the best, is to have the bridesmaids and groomsmen come down together, starting with the Maid of Honor and Best Man and continuing on. This gets people filling in from the inside out, allowing everyone to be spaced more evenly and looking awesome for pictures.

What are ways to do this creatively? What if the groom’s best friend is a woman? Yes! You can have her dress in a tux like the rest of the groomsmen, or she gets a tux her own color, or she wears a dress that matches the groomsmen. It’s super special. Even on the bride’s side, if her best friend is a man, she will usually have him wear a tux the same color as the bridesmaids do, or he can have his own colors, dress and style.

Sometimes the flower girl is a fun adult, man or woman who flutters about in a “frolicking fairy-like” fashion dropping petals like rain in a forest. It lightens the mood and everyone claps in excitement.

Sometimes ring bearers and flower girls can be family or children of the bride and groom and stand up front with everyone else. It can be a sweet moment. Be mindful of who you choose because you don’t want them to be distracting of the vows themselves. It can be hard to hear. But still sweet.

Speaking of ring bearers, what do they do with those rings? Usually, the most effective way is to hand them off to the best man/woman. Sometimes there is a call for the rings and someone is designated to hand them to the officiant.

Bride Wedding Entrance

Last, but certainly not least, there are creative bride entrances. Sometimes she may have someone in her life who has acted as a father figure, and she walks with them down the aisle. It could be a stepfather (bonus dad), a family friend, even a family member like a brother or cousin.

If the bride is particularly close to her mom, she will walk with her mom, and her mom gives her a kiss as she leaves her daughter with her groom. Honestly, anyone the bride wants to bring with her is a good choice!

What if the bride is an independent woman who doesn’t want to be given away but strongly walk up to her prince on her own accord? That works nicely too.

When there are two brides, they look amazing coming down together, or even waiting up front together. It makes for a very private moment when they pause and stand there gazing into each other’s eyes before things begin.

And what if the bride and groom just want to make a GRAND entrance together? This works well if you want the audience to focus on the two of you and your love story. It is special in its own way, offering a warm tone and a sacred moment. This can be an easy choice for a second marriage, or a wedding where you might not want to hurt anyone’s feelings by not choosing them. Maybe you have so many friends it’s hard to choose! At any rate, it’s a wonderful way to bring intimacy into the wedding right away.

As you can see, there are no wrong ways to have a procession. There is a right way for the TWO of YOU. What makes it special for you? And the most important question, what do you want your audience to feel when they leave?

PLEASE SHARE ANY IDEAS YOU THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL.

Bless your journey! Marie (aka luvrev♥)