By Lei Lydle, Founder and Editor Last Updated: 5/9/2008 9:01:06 AM

The Minister, The Groom, & The Best Man

After the bride's mother is seated and the wedding procession is formed in the vestibule, the minister, the groom and the best man enter the church from the front right and take their places at the right side of the aisle. The best man stands slightly behind the groom and to his left. They both face the congregation and wait for the procession to begin.

First let me say that all of the attendants should walk slowly but no hesitation step is necessary. That trend is definitely out of style.

The ushers go first walking two by two (or sometimes alone), with the shortest man first. At the front of the church they should line up tallest to shortest on the right side with the shortest man being farthest from the groom.

The bridesmaids follow - either walking in pairs or alone - shortest woman first. At the front of the church they should line up tallest to shortest on the left side with the shortest woman farthest from the bride.

Next is the maid or matron of honor. If there are both, the matron of honor goes first and then the maid of honor - so that the maid of honor stands closest to the bride.

After the maid of honor comes the flower girl who takes her place on the left side of the church next to the maid of honor.

And next to last is the ring bearer. This little guy will take his place on the right side of the church next to the best man.

The Bride

Okay - last but not least...the bride! The organist will play the music that the bride has chosen to walk to whether it be "Here's Comes The Bride" or something else. At this point the congregation should stand and turn towards the back of the church. (Tip: Brides, if you are having programs for your wedding, please indicate the places where the guests should stand and sit. So many weddings are different and it is hard for the guests to know exactly what to do. Make it easy for them - spell it out!!)

When the congregation stands, the bride and her father begin their walk down the aisle. In Christian ceremonies the bride should walk on her father's left. When she reaches the groom's side, her father lets go of her arm and gives her hand to the groom.

The congregation remains standing until the father sits down.

Photo Source: © Swing Studio, Atlanta, Georgia

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Comments (23)

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Posted by: Nicki from New Bern, NC on 5/2/2008 10:32:44 AM

My neighbor is also having a flower girl and ringbearer as well as a miniature bride and groom, and we cannot find any information on what order they should walk down the isle. The wedding is tommorrow if anyone can help with this information please let us know. Wedding Date: 05/03/08

Posted by: Joy Bolick from Roswell, GA on 2/26/2008 10:56:39 PM

To CB, I fully agree with your comments and am well aware of the bride "traditionally" being on the father's right hand side as in the weddings of Princess Di and Fergie, but when I used the word "traditional" in my earlier comments, I meant that in today's usual bridal procession most wedding directors think it is correct and "traditional" to put the bride on the left hand side of the father as they proceed down the aisle, since the male attendants are usually all on the right and the left hand side of the church, etc. is reserved for the bride's family. For example, just look at the above picture of the bride and her father for this article. In most weddings today, this is the way it is done, but I prefer the way of the older "traditional" as compared to the newer "traditional. I like the way the "Royals" do it for "tradition" as well as the "logistics" for today's weddings and prefer the entrance of the bride coming down the aisle on her father's right arm as opposed to his left. Viva la tradition.

Posted by: C.B. from Texas on 9/22/2005 1:59:20 AM

I disagree about the bride being escorted on the father's left being "traditional." If you consult an etiquette book from the first half of the twentieth century (try one from 1920's or 1930's) you will see that the only women who were ever escorted on a man's left side were women of "ill-repute", i.e. prostitutes. Women of "good character" were always escorted on a man's right side, with the only exception being when a man had to be on the lady's right to protect her getting splashed from puddles, etc., when they were walking down a sidewalk or street. I think the current trend of the bride being on the left of the father comes from confusion caused by the left side of the church being the bride's side. Check out Fergie and Princess Diana's wedding videos. They are on the RIGHT side of their fathers. Who knows better than royalty what is proper protocal for a wedding?

Posted by: Steve from Ct. on 9/15/2005 6:01:11 PM

As sexton of a large Congregational Church in Hartford I have help direct many weddings. Formal seating is as followed. Grandparents of the groom; then grandparents of the bride. Parents of the groom and then mother of the bride. Bride on the left of person walking her down the aisle.

Posted by: Tami from Newark, CA on 9/1/2005 12:42:02 PM

We are having a family ceremony. Our kids are in the wedding only. I have three sons and the groom has 2 daughters and a son. Is there a certain way in which I should have them walk down the aisle? We were going to have them walk with two boys then a girl, two boys then a girl with the oldest son and daughter last. (mine and his oldest). We do not have a best man or maid of honor. Any suggestion would be helpful. Wedding Date: Oct 1, 2005

Posted by: Ralph from Wallingford Conn on 8/27/2005 6:17:08 PM

Do the brides maids and ushers sit durring the ceremony or stand? Wedding Date: Sept 11 2005

Posted by: Carolyn from Franklinton, LA on 8/19/2005 1:38:57 PM

You have told us the ringbearer and flower girl can walk in together, but my niece is also having a miniature bride and groom, when should they come in? Do they come in before the ringbearer and flower girl? I have sometimes seen them come in before the maid of honor. Is this correct? Wedding Date: August 20, 2005

Posted by: bko from Louisiana on 7/3/2005 12:16:35 PM

If you're having a maid and matron of honor in your wedding, does the maid of honor walk with the best man and if so does the matron of honor walk alone or should she have a male partner? Wedding Date: N/A

Posted by: Lei Lydle, Editor from on 5/6/2005 6:31:51 PM

Dear Ida, Thank you for your question. I double-checked on this for you from 2 reliable sources: my Association of Bridal Consultants Textbook on Wedding Planning & Etiquette and Emily Post's Book of Wedding Etiquette. The processional instruction in my original article above is correct - the flower girl walks down the aisle before the ring bearer. The ring bearer, if you have one, is the last one out before the bride and her escort. In a more formal wedding, the bride is followed by the trainbearer(s) and page(s). It is also quite common to see the flower girl and the ring bearer walking together down the aisle, sometimes holding hands when they are very small children. I hope this helps! Thanks for writing in! ~Lei

Posted by: Ida from Sumter, SC on 5/5/2005 11:39:57 PM

Question: The article says the ring bearer is last, I have always seen the flower girl last, as she drops the rose pedals in front of the bride. I have an old "Bride's Magazine Book of Etiquette" and it says the flower girl comes in just before the bride. Which is correct? Wedding Date: 05/14/2005

Posted by: Gwen from Maryland on 5/1/2005 10:40:31 PM

QUESTION? iF THERE IS A MOTHER OR A GRANDMOTHER OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM TO BE ESCORTED IN WITH THE BRIDAL PARTY, IN WHAT ORDER SHOULD THEY PROCEED IN THE SANCTUARY? Wedding Date: JUNE 2006

Posted by: Denise from Dublin, Ca on 4/15/2005 12:40:26 PM

We are having our wedding in our backyard, so it won't be as formal as a church wedding. So, I was wondering if it matters where I stand during the ceremony? Do I have to be on the left or the right? Wedding Date: 6/4/05

Posted by: Bree from Atlanta, Georgia on 3/9/2005 2:22:19 PM

I'm having difficulties deciding who should "give" me away. I've decided my father isn't an option, and would feel strange having my mother do it for various reasons. She thinks my uncle should, but I feel like that would be dishonest because we aren't that close. I then thought about having groom meet me midway down the asile or not even doing an isle. What is the best avenue for this wedding. I would walk by myself, but I think I would pass out! Wedding Date: August 2005

Posted by: jennifer from ohio on 9/2/2004 5:12:41 AM

Hi, I am having my brother-in-law walk me down the aisle. Does this make him an usher or groomsman for program purposes? Or should I list him as something else? Thanks! Wedding Date: 01-15-05

Posted by: R Layson from Tuscaloosa, Al on 8/6/2004 2:44:45 PM

My comments are on the escorting of the bride. We always place the bride to the fathers left, because this is closest to his heart. Everyone else is escorted on the right of the person. Wedding Date: 8/7/04

Posted by: patricia from georgia on 7/21/2004 6:35:42 PM

I am directing my daughter's wedding. She would like for her father and I both to give her away and both walk her down the aisle. Could you give me some direction as to how to handle this? Wedding Date: 8/2004

Posted by: Lei Lydle, Editor from this Site on 7/10/2004 12:32:22 PM

Dear Kristina, I agree that etiquette and tradition should be followed in the procession and I think most wedding coordinators agree. However, if some want to change it for logistics purposes I think it is fine as long as the bride knows and gives her okay. Thanks for your comments! ~Lei

Posted by: Kristina Thibeault from Westlake Village, CA on 7/8/2004

Dear Lei, I am a church wedding director and I always have the bride walk to the left of the person escorting her down the aisle (presumably her father). When the bride and her father reach the groom the father of the bride then lifts her veil and offers a kiss on her cheek. He then shakes hands with the groom and places the brides right hand (which he used to escort her) on top of the grooms hand, uniting them, and steps back. He will then need to wait until the groom has taken up his bride to avoid stepping on her gown and at the same time honors the new couple. It may be more convenient to have the bride on the right but I believe etiquette and respect should come before logistics, after all, such a special day deserves a little extra effort and inconvenience, doesn't it?

Posted by: Liz from Canada on 6/14/2004

I need to know if the father is not around, can my mother give me away? or does it have to be a man to give me away? Wedding Date: july 4/04

Posted by: Lei Lydle, Editor from this Site on 6/14/2004

Liz - you can ask anyone you want to give you away. It does not have to be the father or even a man for that matter. If you are very close with your mother, I am sure she would feel honored if you ask her. Good luck! ~ Lei

Posted by: Joy Bolick from Roswell, GA on 5/24/2004

I have directed many weddings and I always put the father on the left with the bride on the right (unless the bride insists otherwise, of course) because of the logistics, not the tradition (maybe he won't have to have his right hand ready to draw his sword). The bride's father is then not in the middle of the bride and groom when they get to the altar; the groom is standing on the right when they meet at the altar and the bride in the middle with the dad on the left. The father can then step back to return to his seat after he gives his daughter away without the possibility of stepping on her train or dress, and ripping, etc. etc. and causing any problems . This is just a suggestion that has worked of me.

Posted by: barb from arlington heights, ill. on 1/28/2004

What's the deal? You say that the bride should walk down the aisle on her father's right arm. Your picture shows the bride on her father's left arm. So what is correct?

Posted by: Lei Lydle, Editor from this Site on 1/28/2004

Dear Barb, You are so right! This was a typographical error that we did not catch. In a Christian ceremony such as the one described in the article, the bride walks on her father's LEFT. In a Jewish ceremony, which is not described in this article, the bride walks on her father's right. Sorry for the confusion. I am going to make the correction in the article. Thanks for pointing it out! Lei