A Guide To Walking Down The Aisle – Who Goes First? (UK Edition)
The walk down the aisle is one of the most special parts of a wedding. The order of the procession can vary greatly depending on cultural norms, personal preferences, and the style of your wedding. In the UK, the order of the wedding procession often differs from other traditions. Here’s a general guide to help you plan your perfect procession.
The Prelude: The Arrival of Guests
The wedding ceremony begins with the arrival of guests, who are usually guided to their seats by the ushers. Traditionally, the groom’s family and friends are seated on the right, while the bride’s family and friends are seated on the left. However, many modern weddings opt for a more relaxed seating plan, inviting guests to sit wherever they prefer.
The Groom, Best Man, and Officiant
Once the guests are seated, the groom and his best man enter from the side of the venue to take their positions at the front. They are usually followed by the officiant.
The Bridesmaids, Maid of Honour, Page Boys & Flower Girls
Next, the bridesmaids make their entrance, often walking down the aisle one by one. The order of your bridesmaids and maid of honour is completely up to you! You can have your maid of honour walk down the aisle first, or last. If the bride is extremely nervous, it can be helpful to have the maid of honour go last to help settle her nerves!
Page boys and flower girls can go before the bridesmaids, after or with the bridesmaids! If you want to shorten the time (as the aisle song might not allow for a lot of time!), you can have page boys and flower girls walk together. Another lovely idea is to have a page boy or flower girl walk with each bridesmaid.
The Main Event: The Bride
And now, for the moment everyone has been waiting for…the brides’ entrance! Traditionally, the bride walks down the aisle on her father’s left arm. This tradition stems from the days of arranged marriages, where the father would present his daughter to the groom, who would be seeing her for the first time. However, modern brides often choose to adapt this tradition, and may be escorted by both parents, their mother, or choose to walk down the aisle alone.
The Recessional: A Joyful Exit
After the ceremony, the newly married couple leads the way back down the aisle, marking the start of their journey as a married couple. They are followed by the bridesmaids and the best man, and then the proud parents and the rest of the wedding party.
Remember, this is a general guide and can be customised to fit your wedding style and personal preferences. The most important thing is that your wedding feels true to you and your partner. After all, it’s your special day, and it should reflect who you are as a couple.
