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Wedding Ceremony Processional Order Ideas

  • Kathy Vass
  • 7 days ago
  • 8 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

How to Build a Meaningful, Organized, and Stress-Free Entrance

One of the most memorable parts of any wedding ceremony is the entrance. The wedding ceremony processional order sets the tone for everything that follows—it signals the beginning of the celebration, brings emotion into the space, and helps guests understand the flow of the ceremony.

In a wedding ceremony, a groomsmen hugs the groom after he's walked down the aisle in the processional
Each groomsmen greets the groom as they walk down the aisle and take their place at his side.

Professional Officiants Shelley Armatino and Kathy Vass from Connecticut have over 20 years of wedding ceremony experience and have helped every couple they've worked with figure out their processional order logistics.


While there is a traditional structure, modern weddings are increasingly personalized. Couples are mixing tradition with creativity, cultural heritage, family dynamics, and even including their pets or children in ways that make the moment uniquely theirs.


Below is a practical and creative guide to planning a processional that feels organized, inclusive, and true to the couple. Whether you're planning your own ceremony or you're an officiant guiding your couple through the process, Shelley and Kathy hope this info will be helpful to you. If you have more questions, you can reach out to them at www.cantwait2officiate.com


CONTENTS:


The Traditional Wedding Ceremony Processional Order

A classic Western-style processional often follows this structure:

  • Groom

  • Groomsmen (either walking individually or paired with bridesmaids)

  • Bridesmaids

  • Ring bearer(s)

  • Flower girl(s)

  • Bride and escort (or both partners entering separately in modern ceremonies)

This format is still widely used because it’s simple, balanced, and easy for guests to follow.

But it’s also just a starting point. Sometimes the officiant is in the processional but Shelley and Kathy recommend they walk in before the music begins to deliver any opening announcements . This is especially helpful if the couple is having an uplugged ceremony or the guests are milling about and need to be told to take their seats.


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Officiant Kathy Vass leads a wedding ceremony at Great River Golf Club, Milford, CT
photo credit: @elizabethgrantphotography Venue: Great River Golf Club, Milford, CT

Expanding the Processional: Including Family and Special People

Modern ceremonies often expand the wedding ceremony processional order to include meaningful people beyond the wedding party.


Some thoughtful additions include:

  • Parents of the couple

  • Grandparents or Godparents

  • Step-parents or blended family members

  • Siblings not in the wedding party

  • Readers or Unity Ceremony participants


These individuals can:

  • Walk in before the wedding party

  • Be paired with someone special

  • Be seated first and recognized during the ceremony


Including them can create powerful emotional moments without overcrowding the main wedding party line-up. When deciding on who should walk in the processional, considering the terrain and physical condition of the individual is a considerate. While you may want to honor your grandmother in this way, it might be better to have her seated than asking her to walk a long aisle on a grassy lawn.


A dog sitter handle the newlyweds dog for them right after their wedding ceremony.
Bernese Mountain Dog, Tucker, walked in with the groom and behaved perfectly throughout the ceremony. However, since it was such a hot day, he stayed inside with the couple's dog sitter until ceremony time and left with her after cocktail hour. Venue: Smith Farm Gardens, East Haddam, CT

When Pets Join the Processional

Dogs are frequent guests of honor in modern weddings—but they require real planning.


If a couple is including a pet:

  • Is the dog trained enough to walk on a leash for the full processional and remain calm throughout the ceremony?

  • Can the dog stay for the entire ceremony or should they simply walk down the aisle and immediately exit with a trainer or pet sitter?

  • Considering the animal's comfort, anxiety and the weather is key.


A common and successful approach is:

  • Dog walks down the aisle once for the moment, pictures and the reaction of the guests

  • Handler escorts them out immediately after

This avoids stressing the animal and keeps the ceremony flowing smoothly.


Kathy says "I once had a couple with four cats. Having them in the ceremony wasn't possible so they made large pictures of them on sticks and a groomsmen walked in carrying them. The kitties were with us in spirit!"


A ring bearer opens a box labeled Ring Security and hands off the rings to a best man after the ceremony procession.
In this ceremony, the Ring Bearer entered as security guard and presented a locked case to the Best Man who took the rings to keep them safe for the ceremony. Photo Credit: evermoreimaging Venue: The Waterview, Monroe, CT

Babies, Toddlers, and Small Children in the Processional

There are plenty of creative and practical ways to include small children in the processional

  • Decorative wagons, small strollers or even remote control cars for non-walking kids

  • Flower girls can sprinkle petals along the aisle

  • Ring Bearers can hold signs like “Here Comes the Bride” or other fun messages


Important tips: Always have a back-up plan

  • Consider pairing kids up with their sibling, a parent or other wedding party member.

  • Very small kids should not carry the real rings.

    • Have the real rings held securely by the officiant or best person

  • If a child is walking down the aisle, an adult escort is highly recommended for reassurance and safety.

    • For children ages 3–6, one of the best strategies is placing a familiar adult—such as a grandparent or non-wedding-party parent—on the aisle. This gives the child a clear “target” to walk toward and reduces anxiety or hesitation.

    • This also creates a discreet exit option if a child becomes overwhelmed or a baby needs to be removed quietly during the ceremony.


Female couple stands in their ceremony with their men of honor at their side.
Lisa and Julia chose to be escorted by their fathers and their brothers stood at their side as their Men of Honor. Photo credit: @catebarryphotography Venue: The Lake House, Wolcott, CT

Inclusive and Non-Traditional Processional Ideas

The wedding ceremony processional order does not have to follow gendered or traditional roles. For LGBTQ+ couples, common approaches include:

  • Both partners entering separately with parents or escorts

  • One partner entering first, followed by the other

  • Partners walking in together

  • A “reverse processional” where the couple is already at the front and the wedding party enters afterward


Wedding party roles can also be:

  • Mixed across genders on each of the couple

  • Entering in any order that feels balanced or meaningful

  • Feature a Person of Honor or a Best Woman/Person

There is no required structure—only what feels right for the couple.


Hindu wedding procession features the groom in elaborate costume and escorted in a parade with live music.
photo credit via Pexels.com: Chand Naliyadhara

Cultural Influences on the Processional

Many couples choose to honor heritage by adapting cultural traditions into their processional.

Examples include:

  • In some Jewish traditions, both partners may be escorted by parents

  • In Indian weddings, processions (baraat) may include music, dancing, and the groom’s entrance as a full celebration

  • In Filipino ceremonies, sponsors (principal sponsors or “ninongs and ninangs”) may enter as honored witnesses

  • In Latin traditions, arras and lazo participants may be included in the entrance or seated prominently

Couples can borrow inspiration from their backgrounds—or blend traditions—to create something deeply personal.


Wedding Officiant Shelley Armatino leads a wedding ceremony on the beach at Anthony's Oceanview in New Haven CT
Shelley Armatino leads the ceremony at Anthony's Oceanview, New Haven, CT Photo Credit: Ashley Abel

What the Officiant Does During the Processional

The officiant plays an important role by guiding the experience before the first person even walks down the aisle.


An officiant can help:

  • Build the processional order

  • Coordinate timing with musicians or the DJ

  • Decide whether the officiant is part of the entrance (often they are not)

  • Manage ceremony flow and cues

  • Deliver pre-ceremony announcements (like unplugged ceremony reminders)


Professional Wedding Officiant, Shelley Armatino explains:

“I do not walk in the processional. I prefer to be upfront to do the opening announcements before the ceremony music starts. This sets the tone and gets all the guests ready for the ceremony to begin.”

That moment is also when the officiant typically reminds guests to silence phones and be fully present.


Justice of the Peace Shelley Armatino leads a wedding ceremony at Aria's Chapel in Prospect, CT
Shelley Armatino leads a wedding ceremony at Aria, Prospect, CT

Where Does the Wedding Party Go After They Walk In?

This is the second major decision in planning the wedding ceremony processional order: what happens once everyone arrives.


Options include:

1. Standing at the front

  • Wedding party lines up on either side of the couple and officiant

  • Traditional, formal, and visually structured


2. Seated during the ceremony

  • Wedding party is seated in reserved rows, often the 2nd row behind the parents and other important family VIPs

  • Keeps the focus on the couple

  • Helpful for tight spaces or intimate venues


Kathy Vass, a Justice of the Peace from Connecticut, noticed a rising trend:

“Lately, couples want the wedding party to sit during the ceremony because they are either short on space, they want to the focus on them, or they want to see their party in the audience and connect with them.”

Kathy also recommends that if you are seating your wedding party, allow at least the Maid of Honor and Best Man (or two attendants) to stand until the opening music is over. This way, someone is present to assist with adjusting a train or veil before the ceremony begins. After that, the attendants can take their seats.


Connecticut wedding officiant Kathy Vass leads a wedding ceremony at Tyde at Walnut beach in Milford, CT
Kathy Vass leads a ceremony at Tyde at Walnut Beach, Milford, CT.

How Wedding Party Order Is Decided

There is no single “correct” order—just different organizing strategies:

  • By height (for visual symmetry in photos)

  • By relationship closeness: Sisters and brothers or Maids/Matrons and Best Man/Person closest to the couple

  • By paired partners (friends or spouses walking together)

  • Mixed or alternating sides for balance


Entrance style options:

Sample Processional Line-Ups

Here are a few example formats couples can adapt:


Traditional Layout

  • Officiant at the front

  • Groom

  • Groomsmen

  • Bridesmaids

  • Flower girls / ring bearers

  • Bride and escort


Family-Inclusive Processional

  • Grandparents

  • Parents of Groom

  • Parents of Bride

  • Wedding party (mixed order or paired)

  • Flower girls / ring bearers

  • Couple entrances (separately or together)


Modern Mixed Wedding Party (Seated After Entrance)

  • Groom enters

  • Partner enters

  • Wedding party enters in any order or pairs

  • All wedding party members are seated immediately afterward


LGBTQ+ Inclusive Processional Example

  • Both partners’ parents or chosen escorts

  • Partner A enters

  • Partner B enters

  • Wedding party (gender-neutral pairing or friendship-based order)

  • Children / pets / symbolic participants


Child- and Pet-Friendly Processional

  • Parents and grandparents

  • Wedding party

  • Dog with handler (quick entrance + exit)

  • Flower children (with escort or wagon)

  • Couple entrances last


The wedding ceremony processional order is more than a lineup!

It’s the first emotional chapter of the ceremony. Whether it’s traditional, modern, cultural, playful, or deeply symbolic, the best processional is the one that feels organized and meaningful for the couple.


If you're planning a ceremony—or learning how to officiate one—having the right structure makes all the difference.


Can’t Wait 2 Officiate helps officiants and couples confidently design ceremonies from the processional up to party time.


Explore resources, training, and guidance at www.cantwait2officiate.com

Because when the ceremony starts strong, everything that follows falls beautifully into place.

Can't Wait 2 Officiate founders, Shelley Armatino and Kathy Vass
photo credit: @capture_photography

Can't Wait 2 Officiate offers wedding officiant training to anyone preparing for their first ceremony, like friends or relatives of the couple, and for new professionals beginning their wedding officiant business.

Created by:

Shelley Armatino & Kathy Vass



 
 
 

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