In front of witnesses, the groom agrees to the bride’s mahr, or dowry, and the wedding contract is signed. If tradition is followed, men and women sit separately, in this case the bride’s wali, or guardian, acts on her behalf.
What side does the bride stand on during the wedding ceremony?
During the ceremony, the bride stands on the left (if you are looking toward the altar from where guests are seated) and the groom stands on the right, both facing the officiant.
Who stands behind the bride and groom at a wedding?
The bridal couple face their marriage officiant, who stands behind the altar, and they have their backs to their guests. To the bride’s left is her maid of honour – within easy reach as she has to hold the bride’s bouquet and she’s the supplier of tissues – and then the other bridesmaids further left.
What side does the best man stand on at a wedding?
The best man stands beside the groom, with the ring bearer and ushers to his right. The maid of honor stands beside the bride, with the flower girl and bridesmaids to her left.
What side does the father of the bride stand on?
The bride and father of the bride The bride walks on her father’s right side. During the ceremony, the bride stands on the left (if you are looking toward the altar from where guests are seated) and the groom stands on the right, both facing the officiant.
Who sits in the front at a wedding?
Anyone walking down the aisle—parents, grandparents, etc. —should have a reserved seat at the front of the ceremony, as should anyone who is doing a reading during the ceremony. (Readers should be seated on the aisle.) The dates of these guests should also be given a reserved spot next to them.
What do you stand in front of at a wedding?
The Parents of the Bride and the Bride: The parents of the bride escort them down the aisle with the father on the bride's left arm and her mother on the right. Parents of both the bride and groom can stand under the chuppah with the couple if they wish.
Who walks in front of the bride?
Bridesmaids and ushers walk in pairs (if there are uneven numbers, the odd person can walk alone, or two maids or groomsmen can walk together). The maid or matron of honor walks alone. The ring bearer walks alone, followed by the flower girl, or the children can walk together.
Who walks in first at a wedding?
1. Officiant. Your officiant is generally the first person to walk toward the altar, signifying the ceremony is about to commence.
Who walks mother of the groom down the aisle?
groomsmanAs the wedding begins, the groom's mother will be escorted down the aisle, to the first pew, right-hand side, by the head usher or a groomsman who is a family member. A nice touch includes the groom escorting his mother down the aisle. As the groom's mother is escorted to her seat, her husband will follow along behind.
Who walks the mother of the bride?
The mother of the bride is the last person seated before the officiant, groom and best man take their places at the altar. She can walk alone or be escorted by her son, son-in-law or another relative.
What is the order of a wedding?
In a traditional Christian processional order, the parents-of-the-groom follow the officiant, then the mother-of-the-bride, the groom, the best man and maid of honor (walking together), groomsmen and bridesmaids (escorting each other), ring bearer, flower girl and the bride and father-of-the-bride walk down the aisle.
Who seats the mother of the groom at a wedding?
5 minutes prior to ceremony: The groom's mother is escorted to her seat by the head usher, a son, or the groom. The groom's father follows and sits next to her.
Does the mother of the groom get ready with the bride?
She can spend a little time with both the bride and groom. If that's the case, she may want to start her morning with the bride and her group, then leave once she has her hair and makeup done. After, she can head to the groom's getting-ready area to help him prepare for his walk down the aisle.
Does the maid of honor walk alone?
The maid of honor walks alone since the best man is already at the altar. Both the ring bearer and flower girl walk alone, and in that order. Optionally, they can walk together if you prefer. The bride walks down the aisle accompanied by her father on her right arm.
What does the mother of the groom do?
Plan and Host the Rehearsal Dinner. Traditionally, the groom's mother and his father (usually) host the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. Planning the rehearsal dinner is one of the most important tasks for the mother of the groom to take on.
Who walks with the maid of honor?
Typically, the maid of honor walks down the aisle with the best man. If you have two MOHs but only one best man, you could either have him escort both MOHs down the aisle or tap another VIP (such as one of your brothers) to serve as a second escort.
How do you stand at a wedding?
Face to face I would say the most common way for couples to stand is so that they are facing each other, so that they are side on to their wedding guests and to their celebrant. This is such a warmer and more inclusive way of standing.
How do you stand at the altar?
When at the altar, HOLD HANDS. So, when you're standing at the altar, you really need to hold each other''s hands the entire time. It may feel weird, your hands will definitely sweat BUT it will look so much better from a guests perspective and in photos.
Where does the celebrant stand?
So when it comes to where I'll be standing for your ceremony it'll depend largely on how big the wedding party is and what the vibe of the day is like. If you have a wedding party of 4 (bride, groom, maid of honor and a bestman for instance) then I'll generally stand on the outside of the group, next to the bestman.
Do you stand for the groom?
It is traditional for the bride to stand on the left side of the altar (if you're facing it), and the groom on the right. But it's actually the opposite for Jewish weddings, where the bride stands on the right (and her family is on the right side) and the groom on the left.
What is the highest honor in the wedding party?
It’s the highest honor in the wedding party and comes with a fair share of responsibilities. The maid/matron or man of honor helps the bride with all aspects of the wedding from planning to selecting the bridesmaids’ dresses.
Who should be in your wedding party?
To keep things simple, those in your wedding party should be your best friends, siblings, and perhaps a close family member or two.
What are bridesmaids supposed to do?
This group takes an active role in the planning of the wedding. They are also expected to help the maid of honor plan the bridal shower and, in some circumstances, split the cost of this event. On the wedding day, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle ahead of the bride. Bridesmaids often take on other responsibilities during the wedding as well. For instance, they may show guests to their seats or hand out favors.
What is the role of a maid of honor?
If the bride's best bud and confidante is male, whether a friend or a sibling, she may choose to have a man of honor . It’s the highest honor in the wedding party and comes with a fair share of responsibilities. The maid/matron or man of honor helps the bride with all aspects of the wedding from planning to selecting the bridesmaids’ dresses. In the lead-up to the special event, they are responsible for things like attending dress fittings and planning the bachelorette party. During the day itself, they are there to offer emotional support to the bride as well as provide hands-on help with things like bustling the gown or affixing the veil.
What is the name of the male counterpart of the bridesmaid?
Groomsmen. The groomsmen are the male counterparts to the bridesmaids and, as such, they take on many of the same duties. They are usually close friends or relatives of the groom and will be involved in many of the events in the lead-up to the wedding, such as the bachelor party.
What do groomsmen do at a wedding?
Traditionally, groomsmen stand next to the groom during the wedding ceremony. They may also take on fun tasks such as decorating the getaway car.
What is the role of a best man?
This person will stand by the groom’s side during the wedding and will also offer any support that’s needed throughout the day. The best man has a couple of core duties: plan the bachelor party, write a speech for the reception, help make wedding arrangements and, in some cases, hold onto the rings until the wedding ceremony.
What is the order of the wedding ceremony?
Order in a Christian wedding ceremony is: Officiant stands at the altar. Groom and best man enter from a side door and stand at the altar. Bridesmaids and ushers walk in pairs ( if there are uneven numbers, the odd person can walk alone, or two maids or groomsmen can walk together). The maid or matron of honor walks alone.
Where is the bride at the altar?
At the altar, the bride stands on the left, the groom on the right, facing the officiant. The best man stands beside the groom, with the ring bearer and ushers to his right. The maid of honor stands beside the bride, with the flower girl and bridesmaids to her left.
What are the Jewish weddings?
Jewish wedding processionals and recessionals will vary with religious sects and local practices, but still follow a basic order: 1 Rabbi and cantor stand at the altar 2 Bride's grandparents proceed 3 Groom's grandparents proceed 4 Ushers proceed in pairs 5 Best man walks alone, after the ushers 6 The groom proceeds with his parents (father on his left arm, mother on his right) 7 Bridesmaids proceed in pairs 8 Maid or matron of honor walks alone, after the bridesmaids 9 Ring bearer walks 10 Flower girl walks 11 Finally, the bride proceeds with her parents (father on her left arm, mother on her right)
Who walks alone after the ushers?
Best man walks alone, after the ushers. The groom proceeds with his parents (father on his left arm, mother on his right) Bridesmaids proceed in pairs. Maid or matron of honor walks alone, after the bridesmaids. Ring bearer walks.
Can military weddings be civil?
Since military weddings can be civil or religious ceremonies, their orders will vary. The only other difference will be during the recessional, when the just-married couple retreats under the majestic arch of drawn swords.
Is there a set order for a civil ceremony?
While there is no set order for a civil ceremony, a couple might borrow procedures from a religious ceremony, or create their own. What's most important is that the ceremony feels right to the bride and groom.
Who should reserve the first row of a wedding?
Your wedding coordinator, planner, or church/temple/venue director should reserve the first few rows on both sides for your closest family members (as well as your wedding party if they are not standing up with you). While they might be roped off, you can also choose to add seating cards to each reserved seat if you want to make sure there is no confusion once it’s time for guests to come in.
Where do you sit at a Jewish wedding?
Seating starts with the groom’s side. Seat elderly guests and those with disabilities towards the front and/or at the end of their aisle for easy access. In Jewish weddings, parents don’t sit. They typically stand under the chuppah with the couple.
How long before a wedding do you have to walk down the aisle?
10 minutes prior to the ceremony: The groom’s grandparents walk together or are escorted down the aisle, followed by the bride’s. 5 minutes prior to ceremony: The groom’s mother is escorted to her seat by the head usher, a son, or the groom. The groom’s father follows and sits next to her. The wedding processional follows.
Where are the parents seated at a Jewish wedding?
In traditional Christian ceremonies, the bride’s parents are seated in the left first row (if you’re facing the altar), and the groom’s parents are in the right first row. In Jewish weddings, however, that is reversed. Here’s a quick chart using the traditional Christian model.
Can a divorced parent sit in the same row?
You would seat the divorced mom in the front row with her new spouse, if remarried, and her immediate family would sit in the first one or two rows behind her. The father would sit behind those family members after walking his daughter down the aisle. The same seating situation would go for the bride OR groom’s divorced parents.
Which side does the bride walk on?
The bride walks on her father’s right side. During the ceremony, the bride stands on the left (if you are looking toward the altar from where guests are seated) and the groom stands on the right, both facing the officiant.
Who enters before the wedding party and awaits the couple at the altar?
The officiant enters before the wedding party and awaits the couple at the altar.
What is a wedding ceremony processional?
The wedding processional refers to the moment when you and your partner walk to the altar at the start of your wedding ceremony. It takes place after all of your guests have arrived and are seated. In addition to you and your partner, your wedding party and close family members—most importantly, your parents or parent-figures—will take part in the processional, along with your wedding officiant. The wedding processional is often accompanied by music, either a traditional instrumental song (like "Canon in D" or the "Wedding March") or another wedding processional song that holds personal significance.
What are the options for Jewish weddings?
Wedding party. A Jewish ceremony has two options for bridesmaids and groomsmen. Groomsmen can follow the groom’s grandparents and precede the best man. Next, the bridesmaids follow the groom and his parents.
What is the processional order for a Christian wedding?
The following wedding ceremony order can be used for Christian denominations: 1. Groom’s parents. It’s optional to honor the groom’s parents by having them walk down the aisle. They can be seated after all of the guests and before the mother of the bride. 2.
What is the Jewish wedding processional order?
Depending on the religious service of your wedding ceremony, a Jewish wedding processional order may vary slightly from the following: 1. Rabbi and cantor. They can either walk down the aisle before the wedding party or enter the room from the side and stand at the altar. 2.
What side is the mother of the bride on?
She can walk alone or be escorted by her son, son-in-law or another relative. She is seated on the left side in the first row.
Where is the bride on the right at a Jewish wedding?
That’s the norm at a Christian wedding, but if you go to a Jewish wedding you can expect the exact opposite: the bride is on the right of the groom, under the Chu ppah – an open canopy supported by four poles. Both sets of parents walk their son or daughter down the aisle, and then stand alongside them. The bridesmaids and best men stand behind the parents, on their respective sides, in order from tallest to shortest.
What is the most important event in Islamic marriage?
Islamic weddings can vary significantly but the most important event is the nikah ceremony. It’s a simply, quick service performed by an imam, that legally binds the bride and groom as husband and wife. In front of witnesses, the groom agrees to the bride’s mahr, or dowry, and the wedding contract is signed. If tradition is followed, men and women sit separately, in this case the bride’s wali, or guardian, acts on her behalf. The groom and his family will later host a walima, a lunch or dinner, to officially declare the marriage to friends and family.
Who stands on either side of the bride and groom?
Credit: Feather and Stone. If you've ever seen a wedding ceremony on television, in a movie, or, better yet, in real life, you know that bridesmaids and groomsmen generally stand on either side of the bride and groom while they swap vows.
What happens when your wedding party is standing at your side?
When your attendants are standing at your sides, they arguably have the worst ceremony view of all; seated, they'll be able to see both you and your new husband or wife as you recite your vows.
Do you have to have a bridal party stand?
Like most things wedding-related, if you're not excited about the idea of having your wedding party stand throughout the ceremony, they really don't have to. Although having the bridal party stand is viewed as a traditional part of most weddings, it's not always so.
What side do brides stand on at weddings?
While "marriage by capture" is (thankfully) no longer practiced, brides still often choose to stand on the left side at the ceremony-a widely recognized, ...
Which side should a bride stand for a Jewish wedding?
Follow tradition. While brides usually stand on the left for Christian ceremonies, the opposite actually rings true for Jewish ones. The bride may also be positioned on the right for military and police weddings. Ask your officiant about the guidelines for your specific ceremony so there's no confusion on the big day.
Can you stand on the left side of the altar?
You don't want to stand on the left of the altar if your hair will cascade down your right-hand side; otherwise, guests won't be able to properly see you during the nuptials. Talk to your stylist in advance to make sure your hair won't block anyone's view.
Do We Have to Pick sides?
Is There Reserved Seating?
- Your wedding coordinator, planner, or church/temple/venue director should reserve the first few rows on both sides for your closest family members (as well as your wedding party if they are not standing up with you). While they might be roped off, you can also choose to add seating cards to each reserved seat if you want to make sure there is no confusion once it’s time for guests to co…
When Should They Be seated?
- Immediate family (meaning the reserved seats in the first few rows on both sides) are seated first, except for the family members who are being escorted down the aisle during the wedding processional. Here is a sample timeline: 1. 30 minutes before the wedding invitation start time: Prelude music begins and guests are ushered to their seats, starting with the reserved rows. 2. 1…
Do We Need Ushers?
- If you are having a large wedding you can ask a few of the groomsmen to double as ushers (the rule of thumb is 1 usher for every 50 guests). Just make sure they are aware of who sits where and of any complicated situations (see above). Alternatively your wedding planner or coordinator might also be able to handle this on their own or alongside another staff member if they have on…
Other Wedding Ceremony Seating Tips to Remember!
- Seating starts with the groom’s side.
- Seat elderly guests and those with disabilities towards the front and/or at the end of their aisle for easy access.
- In Jewish weddings, parents don’t sit. They typically stand under the chuppah with the couple.