The priest and the ministers walk to the altar first. Only then do the rest of the members of the processional enter, in the following order: groom, best man, groomsmen, maids of honor, bridesmaids, ring bearer, flower girl, and the bride and her father.
By law, in accordance with the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961, on the day of the wedding the authorised marriage celebrant must be present to conduct the marriage ceremony where vows are exchanged in the presence of two witnesses over the age of 18 years and other guests.
According to a recent survey by The Knot, on average, parents contribute to 51% of the wedding budget, while couples cover the remaining 49% percent. Meanwhile, Zola found that one third of couples are covering all of their wedding costs on their own.
Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the wedding, but that custom is rapidly changing. Couples are increasingly choosing to handle at least half of the wedding expenses on their own. Early planning and a written budget can help avoid miscommunication when deciding who pays for what.
From walking down the aisle first to last, the traditional order is: Mother of Bride, Mother of Groom, Grandparents of Bride, Grandparents of Groom, Groom, Officiant, the Wedding Party, Maid of Honor and Best Man, Ring Bearer, Flower Girl and lastly the Bride and her Father.
Stick With Tradition
For some heterosexual couples, the traditional “groom goes first” is exactly right for them and their ceremony.
The bride and groom sit in the middle, with the groom on the left as you're facing the table. Next to the bride are her father, the groom's mother, and finally the best man at the end. If you're not adverse to breaking tradition, you can organise the top table in a different way.
The mother of the bride is traditionally escorted by her son if she has one. Otherwise, any close male relative, the best man, or a groomsman walks with the mother of the bride during the procession.
Some brides choose to stay in a hotel with the maid of honor and other bridesmaids before their wedding day. But, if you'd rather cuddle with your fiancé at home or spend some time alone, there's nothing wrong with that, either. Wherever you stay, aim to get a good night's rest.
The groom's parents precede the bride's mother during the processional. Here's a rundown: After the ushers have seated all of the guests, the grandparents start up the aisle, followed by the groom's parents. Then the bride's mother takes her turn. She is the last to be seated before the bridal party procession begins.
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.
What is the Order of Speeches at a Wedding? The traditional wedding speech order goes father of the bride, groom, best man and other toasts. "In same-sex weddings, it is also common for both partners to speak but sometimes only one does," explains Marc.
Traditionally, the groom says his vows first followed in turn by the bride. That said, some couples may choose to say them in unison to each other, and if you'd rather the bride go first, speak to your registrar or celebrant well in advance to see if it's something that can be arranged.
The wedding vows are exchanged first. The vows are the promises of love and devotion you and your partner make to each other, surrounded by friends, family and loved ones. The exchange of wedding rings comes after you've each said your vows.
According to the standard rules, the couple's parents get a front row seat for this main event. Close family also shares the front row, which might include brothers and sisters who are not participating in the ceremony. A large family might fill the first couple of rows.
Traditionally, the groom's mother will take care of the rehearsal dinner arrangements and help prepare the guest list for the groom's side of the family.
Where should parents and grandparents of the bride and groom sit? Depending on the size and shape of tables you have, it's common to have a family table where the bride and groom's parents and grandparents sit together. Or, each set of parents can host their own table and be seated with close family and friends.
Traditionally, the groom's mother stays with her son on the morning of the wedding, and there's nothing wrong with maintaining the custom.
So, the order would be groom's stepmother (escorted by groom's father or an usher), groom's mother (escorted by new spouse or usher), bride's stepmother (escorted by an usher), and finally the bride's mother (escorted by her new spouse or an usher).
When it's time to get dressed on the big day, it's traditional for the mother of the bride to be there to help. You'll hang out in the room with the bride and grab things she might need or help her fasten her dress. You might even help her with her hair or veil if she's not having her hair done professionally.
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.