Tips for the Best Wedding Processional Order

“Here comes the bride…”

Well before she can make her walk, there is a whole event that takes place before she ever takes the first step down the aisle. We have to first sit and watch the adorable 5 year old ring bearer in his bowtie and suspenders walk alongside the 7 year old shy yet smiley flower girl. Once they get a candy for doing this job, the groomsmen and bridesmaids begin to make their walk, so we sit and admire how pretty they all look. One more walk takes place before the bride. Her maid-of-honor. We stare at the closest friend of the bride in anticipation for the bride to make her appearance.  This dramatically beautiful event is called the processional aka the wedding march. A highly anticipated choreographed ceremony of the bridal party walking down the aisle before the bride.

The purpose of a processional is to demonstrate the graceful transition of two lives merging into one. Two sides of friends and family now being united and becoming one family.. How neat is that. Sometimes the significance of this event can be overlooked and not given much attention and can show in portraits. However when it is done right, you’ll receive the most excellent portraits of your closet family members and friends from the processional.

There are a few best ways to organize the best processional order. These will guarantee you the opportunity to have wedding portraits you always dreamed of! Below are a couple tips for the best wedding processional order you can have for your wedding day.

PROCESSIONAL TIP #1

This tip is a simple yet profound choice when it comes to how your portraits turn out. Simply pair your groomsmen with your bridesmaids to walk down the aisle together. One groomsmen to one bridesmaid. The best way to coordinate the timing of walking down is to have your venue or day-of coordinator cue each pair. And the best time for them to walk is when the other groomsman and bridesmaid reach the beginning of the altar. By having your groomsmen and bridesmaids walk down together, there are a lot of interactions and terrific smiles happening from the both of them. See photos below for an example.

 

 

Venue: Villa Siena  | Photographer: APRIL MAURA PHOTOGRAPHY | Second Photographed with Monique Hessler

Venue: Windmill Winery | Photographer: APRIL MAURA PHOTOGRAPHY

Venue: Chateau De Vie | Photographer: APRIL MAURA PHOTOGRAPHY

PROCESSIONAL TIP #2

If you do not want your groomsmen and bridesmaids to walk down in pairs then take this tip to heart. Make your groom and groomsmen walk down the aisle all together or you could even have them off to the side in a lined order. While the groomsmen are already down the aisle, the bridesmaids walk individually down.

The only issue with this processional style is that the groomsmen are not guaranteed to have an optimal photo opportunity because they could be covered by the person in front of them. See photos below of processionals without the bridal party pairing.

Venue: Desert Foothills Events | Photographer: APRIL MAURA PHOTOGRAPHY | Second Photographed with Pinkerton Photography

Venue:  ENCANTERRA COUNTRY CLUB | Photographer: APRIL MAURA PHOTOGRAPHY

 Venue: Arizona Grand Resort and Spa | Photographer: APRIL MAURA PHOTOGRAPHY | Second Photographed with Drew Brashler

Venue:  ENCANTERRA COUNTRY CLUB | Photographer: APRIL MAURA PHOTOGRAPHY

PROCESSIONAL TIP #3

For the last and final Processional order tip, we suggest you inform your bridal party members to exit the ceremony with a style of dancing. This is a easy way for them celebrate your new marriage while photos turn out so natural and fun. During the exit, it is important to communicate to your bridal party. They need to wait until the other groomsman and bridesmaid exit the aisle before they can proceed with their ceremony exit celebration.

 Venue: Chandler Private Estates Wedding | Photographer: APRIL MAURA PHOTOGRAPHY | Second Photographed with Karlee K

If you are wanting to achieve some of the best bridal party portraits, you will love what these ceremony processional and recessional tips will do for you! Not only are you getting authentic and raw emotions caught on film, but you’ll get the best lighting of the day to show off all of your wedding day beauty!