How to Choose the Order of Your Wedding Processional

Planning your wedding processional may seem straightforward—but once you start organizing who walks when (and with whom), it can get a little tricky! The processional is deeply personal. It’s your first step toward marriage, surrounded by the people you love most, and it sets the emotional tone for your entire day.

Keep in mind that your ceremony location may influence your processional order. Many churches, especially those with traditional or religious ceremonies, have set guidelines for the processional—particularly for roles like the officiant, parents, and wedding party. If you're getting married in a church, it’s a good idea to ask your church contact about any specific expectations ahead of time.

However, if your ceremony is taking place at a wedding venue or outdoor location, you’ll likely have much more freedom to personalize the order of your processional. Here’s a breakdown of the most common wedding processional order with things to consider personalizing for your own day.

The Most Traditional Wedding Processional Order

This is the classic processional order often seen at religious or more formal weddings:

  1. Officiant: Sometimes the officiant enters first or comes from the side.

  2. Groom: Either enters solo, with parents, or with officiant. Can walk down the aisle or come in from the side.

  3. Groomsmen: Can walk in as a group from the side, with the groom, or paired with bridesmaids later.

  4. Grandparents of the Groom & Bride: Grandparents typically walk with their spouse or with an escort that is family.

  5. Parents of the Groom: If not walking with the groom, they can walk together.

    • For separated or divorced parents, they typically walk with their current partner or a family member.

  6. Mother of the Bride: If not walking with the bride, she is usually escorted by a male family member.

  7. Bridesmaids: Walk down the aisle one by one or paired with a groomsmen.

  8. Maid or Matron of Honor: Can walk solo or paired with the Best Man.

  9. Ring Bearer(s): Walks down carrying rings (sometimes fake ones for safety!).

  10. Flower Girl(s): Walks down scattering petals or carrying flowers.

    • Ring Bearers and Flower Girls can also walk together as a group.

    • For younger children, an adult may need to assist in escorting them down the aisle.

  11. Bride’s Processional: The bride enters, traditionally escorted by her father or both parents.

Personalizing Your Processional

While the traditional order is a great starting point, many couples choose to personalize their processional to better reflect their unique relationships, family dynamics, and wedding style. Here are some ways you can make the processional feel more like you:

1. Get Creative with Pairings:
If you have an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen, there’s no need to stress! The focus should be on what feels natural—not just symmetry. You can:

  • Have some walk solo

  • Pair two bridesmaids or two groomsmen together

  • Have a group of three - Two bridesmaids with one groomsmen, or vise versa

2. Adjust Parent Roles:
Every family is different. You may want both parents to walk you down the aisle, or you may choose a step-parent, grandparent, or another loved one to walk with you. Some couples even choose to walk in together, symbolizing partnership from the start.

3. Include Special Guests:
Want to honor grandparents, godparents, or close friends? You can include them in your processional or offer them special seating moments before the ceremony begins.

4. Change Up Your Entrance:
While the bride traditionally enters last, some couples prefer walking in together as a symbol of unity, or entering from opposite sides to meet at the altar. Others skip the processional entirely for a more relaxed, informal vibe.

5. Personalize with Music:
One simple way to personalize your processional is by choosing music that feels meaningful. You can even assign specific songs to different parts of the processional to highlight the moment.

At the end of the day, your wedding processional is one of the most personal parts of your ceremony. Whether you follow tradition, create something completely unique, or blend a little of both, the most important thing is that your entrance feels authentic to you and your story. As a wedding coordinator, I love helping couples organize a processional that’s smooth, stress-free, and meaningful. No matter what order you choose, your walk down the aisle should be a moment you’ll never forget!

How Your Wedding Coordinator Can Help

One of the ways I help couples as a wedding coordinator is by organizing the processional order before the rehearsal. We’ll sit down together and go through every detail—who walks when, who walks with whom, and any special considerations for family members or wedding party dynamics. That way, when it’s time for the rehearsal, everyone knows exactly what to expect. This makes the rehearsal run smoothly and keeps the wedding day stress-free and enjoyable for you and your loved ones.

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Why You Should Imagine Your Wedding From Your Guests’ Perspective