Traditional Hindu Wedding Processional Order
Order Of Wedding Ceremony: What Comes First
Written by Shutterfly Community Last Updated: May 1, 2018
As you gear up for the big day, youve probably put a lot of thought into the order of ceremony for your wedding. The most important thing to know is that no two wedding ceremonies are alike. Even though most follow the same generic order, the couple is free to customize their order of ceremony to their own unique style. Whether that means incorporating religious or cultural traditions or throwing a celebratory fist in the air during the kiss, each couple can and should make their ceremony a reflection of their personal relationship.
Jewish Wedding Ceremony Order
Prior to the ceremony, the couple signs a marriage contract, called the ketubah, in private. It could be signed at the groom’s reception, the day before the wedding, or even 30 minutes before the ceremony begins. It’s proceeded by the bedeken, or the veiling, where the groom veils his bride’s face. This tradition comes from the story of Jacob in the Bible, who was tricked into marrying the sister of his betrothed because she was veiled.
Unlike other ceremonies, in Jewish weddings, the bride and her party are on the right while the groom and his party are on the left. Perhaps the most famous parts of the Jewish wedding are the glass breaking and the yelling of “mazel tov!”
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Does The Maid Of Honor Walk First Or Last
When it comes to wedding etiquette, there are many questions that arise. One of the most common questions is about the order of the wedding procession. Specifically, does the maid of honor walk first or last?
Traditionally, the maid of honor walks first, followed by the bridesmaids. Then, the bride walks down the aisle, followed by the groomsmen. Finally, the ring bearer and flower girl come last. This is still the most common order, but there are some variations.
Some couples choose to have the bride and groom walk down the aisle together, followed by the bridal party. This is becoming more and more popular, as it creates a more unified look. If you choose this option, the maid of honor and best man will walk last.
Another option is to have the bride and her father walk down the aisle together, followed by the bridal party. In this case, the maid of honor and best man will walk first, followed by the father of the bride and the groomsmen. This option is most popular for traditional weddings.
Ultimately, the order of the wedding procession is up to the bride and groom. If you have a preference, be sure to let your wedding planner know. They will be able to help you create the perfect procession for your big day.
Important: Get A Marriage License
A wedding is not legally recognized without the actual marriage license. In fact, the marriage license must be reviewed by your officiant before solemnizing the marriage. If the marriage license is not viewed in advance, this is considered a misdemeanor . To apply for your marriage license, you need to go to your County Clerk’s office and/or set up an appointment in advance. You will need identification . Both individuals must be present for this. You must pay the license fee.
Important: The marriage license is a legal contract and must be present on the wedding day.
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Should I Work With An Officiant Or Wedding Planner While Planning My Ceremony Order
Yes, you should definitely work with at least an officiant, even if you want a loved one to officiate. Many officiants offer ceremony writing support, so don’t be afraid to reach out to one. Minister Toya thinks that officiants are helpful because they’ll put in the work of listening to the couple’s love story and take account of the couple’s cultures to create an unforgettable ceremony they’ll be excited about. Northcott wants you to remember that “professional wedding officiants have so much experience orchestrating this aspect of the ceremony, so lean on us for guidance and advice.”
Is It Okay If I Change My Wedding Ceremony Order
Not only is changing your wedding ceremony order okay, but it’s also encouraged by plenty of officiants. The traditional wedding processional order, for example, tends to be heteronormative and, as such, has to be completely changed for LGBTQ+ couples. Maria Northcott, wedding officiant and founder of A Sweet Start, believes it’s okay to shake things up since your ceremony should represent you and your partner as a couple. “For all aspects of your ceremony, tradition is no longer the guiding force. In its place are creativity, customization, personalization and finding the options that feel right for you as a couple,” Northcott says.
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Traditional Catholic Wedding Processional Order
For a Catholic wedding, the wedding party should enter the ceremony venue in the following order, with men on the right and women on the left when walking down the aisle together. At the altar, the groom and groomsmen stand on the right side while the bride and her bridesmaids stand on the left, with the priest positioned in the center.
Who Walks Down The Aisle In A Gay Wedding
In a heterosexual wedding, a bride will typically walk down the aisle last. In a gay wedding, this is not always the case. Who walks down the aisle in a gay wedding depends on the couple and their personal preferences, expectations, how they identify, their relationship dynamics and needs.
The space, dimensions and setup of your wedding ceremony venue can also affect your decision on how you want your processional to go. While some spaces only have the option for one aisle, others can accommodate two aisles for both of you to be able to both make your way to the designated spot to commence their ceremony. This can occur simultaneously, or one after the other.
In some cases, both partners will walk down a single aisle together and arrive at their ceremony hand in hand. In some ceremonies, the engaged couple will both walk in individually escorted by their parents or grandparents and/or proceeded by their wedding party.
The bottom line is, whatever makes you feel most honoured and comfortable in that moment is what you should be doing. Deep dive and ask yourself what that looks like for you, share your vision, practice it and own it.
It can also help if your celebrant or officiant announces whats going to happen with the processional to your guests before the ceremony commences – they love you and they want to support you!
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What Comes First In A Wedding
The Grand Entrance & First Dance Clearly one of the most hotly anticipated traditional elements of the wedding, the grand entrance sees the wedding party introduced, usually in pairs, before the bride and groom make their first appearance as a married couple.
Which side does father of bride walk?
“The father of the bride typically walks down the right side of the aisle, having the bride on his left arm ,” Jones explains.
Can bride and groom walk in together?
Walk down the aisle together.Many couples now choose to meet at the top of the aisle and walk it together. It’s a lovely way to signify that you are taking this journey together as equals. Meet at the altar: A fun twist on walking the aisle together is to walk it separately but at the same time.
What should the mother of the groom not do?Here are a few things a mother-of-the-groom shouldn’t do.
- Don’t overshadow the bride’s mother. …
- Don’t act like a bridesmaid. …
- Don’t get too critical. …
- Don’t steal the bride’s spotlight with your mother-of-the-groom outfit. …
- Don’t try to invite extra guests. …
- Don’t skip the pre-wedding events.
Wedding Processional Order Walkthrough For Every Couple
Choosing a wedding processional order sets the scene for your ceremony. Whether you choose to stick to tradition or create something unique, use this guide to help you plan.
Once you select the perfect place to get married, book your vendors, and choose your attendants, it is time to start hammering out the details of your ceremony. You will need to select the songs you want to be played when you walk down the aisle, the vows you and your partner will say, and the processional order of the ceremony.
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Bridesmaids Flower Girls And Page Boys
The rest of the wedding party walks down the aisle in pairs, following the bride and her father. Either the page boys or the chief bridesmaid might help straighten or carry the train of the bride’s dress before she begins walking down the aisle. Once they have reached the altar, the wedding attendants will all take their seats in the front and second rows on the left side. The bride gives her bouquet to the chief bridesmaid.
In the United Kingdom, the youngest male attendants are called “page boys” while they are called “ring bearers” in the United States. Also, the bride’s honor attendant is called the “chief bridesmaid” in the U.K., while the role is called the “maid of honor” or “matron of honor” in the U.S.
Photo: Millie Pilkington
Processional Alternatives And Other Fun Ideas
Here are some other ideas you may want to include or use for your wedding processional:
- Couple walk down the aisle together. You can walk in from separate areas and meet at the aisle. Or an attendant can escort one or both of you to the aisle.
- Both parents walk you down the aisle. Your parents can walk one of you down the aisle at the beginning of the processional and the other the end.
- Two important people walk you down the aisle. Most commonly a dad and step-dad, but can anyone! Both can walk you down together, or one can escort you to the aisle and the other down the aisle.
- Grandmother flower girls. If you have not seen this idea, you need to check it out.
- Uneven bridal parties. You can have a group of three walk down the aisle together! Just make sure the aisle is wide enough for this option.
- Include Your Pets. Have them walk in with the groom. Or maybe one escorts each of you down the aisle. Or they could be a sign holder or ring bearer.
- Walk yourself down the aisle. Each of you can walk yourself down the aisle!
- Train Bearers. If you have a long train on your dress, you could have a train barer hold your train as you are walking to the aisle and or down the aisle.
- Sign Bearers. These are the attendants that hold signs while they walk down the aisle. These signs can be more traditional, like here comes the bride, or funnier like wait and wait for it
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The Signing Of The Register
The legal bit. After you’re married, you, your officiant and your witnesses will be required to sign the necessary paperwork. This will then go on to be registered and you’ll receive your marriage license. This is a nice opportunity to play some music to entertain your guests. Music can encourage them to relax and chat amongst themselves. A quick note here about your marriage certificate. Your celebrant will give it to you there and then in an envelope so make sure you have someone responsible to pass that on to who can keep it somewhere safe for you.
Jai Mala Garland Exchange
“The bride and groom perform a garland exchange under a mandap or a beautifully decorated, raised canopy-like platform,” says Miller. It symbolizes welcoming each other into their families. The bride’s parents will join the couple’s hands, as a symbol of giving their daughter away. The ceremony begins and the priest begins prayers in Sanskrit.
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Important: Sign The Marriage License
One of the most important post-ceremony aspects of the day is to have the officiant and witnesses sign the marriage license. The marriage will not be valid unless the document is signed. The marriage license must be signed by the bride and groom, officiant, and the witness, generally two. Thereafter, at least in the state of California, the license must be returned within 10 days to the issuing authority.
Witnesses are required to put their legal name, address, and to sign the license. The officiant is required to fill out the following:
- Date of Marriage
- Signature of Person Solemnizing the Marriage
- Religious Denomination
- Name of Person Solemnizing the Marriage
- Address, City, State, Country, Zip Code
Most wedding ceremonies take the same format but will vary based on traditions, culture, religion, and preferences.
How Can A Couple Make The Processional Their Own
Not all wedding parties may have everyone included in the traditional order described above, and thats totally fine! Some bridal parties might also include the growing trend of bridesmen or groomswomen having the opposite sex in the bridal party. The traditional order also might just not be a good fit for you as a couple. Good thing theres plenty of room for customization to make it your own!
Ways to switch up the traditional processional order:
- Have the officiant walk down the aisle first
- Have the officiant already be waiting at the end of the aisle
- Add grandparents into the processional order
- Have the grooms mother walk him down the aisle
- Mix the wedding party up, alternating bridesmaid and groomsmen as they walk down the aisle
- For a blended family on the brides side, have the stepmother walk in behind your mother at the start of the ceremony
- Have all of your close family walk down the aisle before the traditional processional of bridesmaids, groomsmen and the bride and father of the bride
- Send in the groom right before the ring bearer and flower girl in the traditional order
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Exceptions To Traditional Wedding Procession Order
Depending on you and your partners religious beliefs, the order of the processional order may vary. For example, Jewish brides are typically escorted down the aisle with both their mother and father. This is different from the traditional giving away of the bride that happens when the father walks his daughter down the aisle.
Other religions, such as Hinduism, make the procession much different by letting the groom enter the ceremony on a white horse while everyone else dances around him.
While differing cultures may affect your wedding procession, there are really no exact rules for weddings, and you should do what you feel is best for you and your partner.
What To Do If Your Wedding Party Is Uneven
Its much better to have an uneven wedding party than to cut a friend who is important to you. Its also not much better to ask a friend to be in the wedding party who isnt that close to you. Its a huge honor, and youre asking them for a big commitment of time and money.
Oftentimes, this may mean your bridal party is uneven. For this reason, you may decide to have groomsmen and bridesmaids walk separately. Or, there are many other clever workarounds. Here are some examples:
- Have a groomsmen escort the mother of the bride.
- Have two groomsmen escort a bridesmaid.
- Have two bridesmaids on each arm of one groomsmen.
- Have a bridesmaid or groomsman walk with the flower girl or ring bearer.
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What You Need To Know About The Order Of A Wedding Processional
Dont have a clue who walks when at your wedding ceremony? Heres your essential guide to the order of a wedding processional.
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Before your big day arrives, youll want to get well acquainted with your wedding ceremony structure. From the order of a wedding processional to the closing remarks and recessional, you should be familiar with it all. For now, lets focus on the first part. The wedding processional, your grand entrance, as youll want to start things off on the right foot.
Arriving At The Church
When the bride arrives, there will be a few moments before she enters the church. Bridesmaids may lead the way or follow the bride, and as the bridal party enters, the entrance music will begin to play. The bride may walk into the church by herself or be accompanied. When the bride arrives at the altar, she takes her place beside the groom.
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