Wedding Processional Order

Here's a very traditional arrangement, as the groom and groomsmen wait for the bridal processional, along with the officiant. Photo by Happy Buddy PhotoArt.

If you search the internet for the “correct” wedding processional order, you will probably come away confused.  Everyone has an answer and they don’t all agree.

I have found the greatest amount of agreement about the traditional Jewish order.  (If in doubt, consult your rabbi.)  The one I have found in many places goes like this:

• The rabbi and the cantor
• Grandparents of the bride
• Grandparents of the groom
• Groomsmen in pairs
• Best man
• The groom, escorted by his parents.
• Bridesmaids in pairs
• Maid or matron of honor
• Ring bearer and/or flower girl
• The bride, escorted by her parents

A Christian processional seems to have many more variants.  In general, it seems that tradition calls for a processional of bridesmaids (junior bridesmaids first, if there are any), followed by the ring bearer, the flower girl, and the bride with her father or other escort.  Sometimes the ushers or groomsmen are in the processional; sometimes they are not.

The one constant in the traditional Christian processional seems to be the groom and the best man entering from the side, rather than as part of the processional.  Strangely, I have only seen this happen in practice a few times.

I have yet to see grandparents included in a Christian processional in anyone’s internet list, but I have seen many grandparents included in processionals, both religious and secular.

Secular weddings can choose from any tradition.  Here are some of the variants I have seen at actual weddings:

• Parents and grandparents
• Groom and best man
• Groomsmen
• Bridesmaids
• Bride

Here is another:

• Officiant
• Groom
• Groomsmen escorting the mothers
• Junior bridesmaid
• Bridesmaids
• Ring bearer
• Flower girl
• Bride escorted by father

And:

• Usher escorts mother of bride to front row
• Officiant, groom and groomsmen enter from side
• Junior bridesmaid
• Bridesmaids
• Maid of honor
• Bride, escorted by her brother

Every wedding I have worked on or been to as a guest has had its own unique processional.  Traditions have been borrowed from other cultures; they have been tossed out; they have been reconfigured to suit individual taste.  Officiants often have the final say on processional order, especially at religious ceremonies.  But I say that if you have the latitude to do so, you should feel free to rearrange things until you have the processional that suits you.