Going down the aisle...

There isn't a rule about who should go first, second, third etc it's entirely up to you what you want to do.

In your case I would personally do page boy & flower girls, you and your Dad and then your MOH.

I'm doing pageboy, bridesmaids, me and my Dad and then my MOH!

Do it how you want!

Just to say, that's not strictly true - some churches are quite strict about doing it the traditional, English way which is Bride first.

I think flower girls traditionally go first (to scatter the petals).

Ahhh I did not know this. I stand corrected ?

Yeah, it's not all but I have heard it a few times. A good friend certainly wasn't allowed her BM first.

I had my BMs first - it's one of the few american traditions I really like.

Yep, I wanted BMs to go first but vicar is not keen at all.

I don't want to sound like bridezilla ?

But my dress has a lot of detail at the bottom and I almost don't want anyone infront of it (blocking it) - not even the lovely kids involved in my bridal party (so ashamed to say this!)

Based on that would it be really mean to put them first behind me? Its that or they go up the aisle (and out of the way) before I come down it.

Really I'd like me & dad, MOH, page boy and flower girl, rest of BMs.

I think that would be fine! Would the page boy and flower girls be walking accompanied by the MOH/BMs?

I was planning on pairing them up. They know each other well and I don't think it would be a problem having them walk together.

The people behind them they know very well too (BMs).

Worse come to worse they could pair up with the BMs, I'm not too fussed.

So me and dad, my MOH, the 2 children, then the other 4 BMs.

Ahh it feels so mean as they are so short and the adults are so much taller than them!

Or you could send them first and wait until they're at the front before you come down with your dad, followed by your MOH and BMs?

The traditional English/British way is for the Bride and her father to go first then everyone else. Sometimes a flower girl can go in front to distribute petals.

My stepdaughter went first with her father, then the pageboy inbetween two of the bridesmaids. That way the little one was looked after by the bridesmaids.

As I recall they stood for a while behind the bride then at some point (can't remember exactly when) they all sat down and the bride and groom were alone with the vicar at the front.

The whole bridesmaids first is an American tradition and you usually see them lined up at the front complemented by an equal number of ushers (groomsmen). I would guess that most English churches wouldn't have room to do this.

Personally I think the bride's entrance is more dramatic if she's the first thing you see - those behind are secondary! But I guess things change and traditions are lost - that's just the way of things!

Kharv I like that idea but its my vicar.

I'm not sure what she was talking about but she said she comes in first and she likes me to be right behind her!

I wanted them all down the aisle and out of the way before I come down but she said she would really rather I didn't do it that way for many reasons.

Marmarlade - Yep, its the space at the top that my vicar has a problem with (I thought they'd just go up and sit down!).

She has them standing behind the bride until the first hymn is finished.

Ahhh. I would have thought she'd let the Flower girls go first. Shame.

I think you're probably going to have to go with your initial plan then.

I don't think I've been to a wedding where the BMs stay standing behind the bride until after the first hymn - do you mean in the aisle?

My kids have to go first... they have signs announcing my arrival!

Sometime after the first hymn sounds about right as I recall.

If no-one sits for a while then it makes sense for the bride to go first to be with the groom at the front otherwise she's stuck half way down the aisle behind the bridesmaids! I haven't got an order of service to hand but I think the entrance is followed by either a hymn or welcome then hymn so the bride needs to be at the front as no-one sits immediately.

When my sister said she wanted to have BMs go first, her vicar turned up her nose and said "Oh, the American way". She wasn't impressed, but let her do it.

I got married in Australia, where it's also their tradition for BMs to go first, which I prefer. The BMs stood to the side of us until we were asked to sit down (our church was quite wide at the front).

For our home blessing, we had flowergirls (who then went to sit with their parents in the front few pews), followed by BMs. They went straight into their seats in the front pew that time.

I've been to a couple of weddings where the BMs end up standing behind the bride in the aisle because there's not enough room to the side. Obscured my view of the couple!

In used to this but I'm sure in the church weddings I've been to the BMs follow the bride in then just stand in front of their own pew. I could be remembering wrong though!

I guess it depends upon the set up in each church - some have a lot more room than others!

Our problems with the space at the front of the church. Not sure I understand why they have to stand at all, and why they can't just sit down as soon as they get to the front of the aisle then I come in! But heyho.

We will finalise this once we are at the rehearsal in a fortnight but at the moment, we are hoping to send our 4yo first, followed by our 15yo and then our 19yo (my MOH) .

Once they are all in place, Dad and I will enter to different music.

I suppose it depends how the wee one copes at the rehearsal, but this is the intended line up.

Hope this helps

I'm having my 2 bms my page boy then my little girl who is a flower girl then me and my dad, each to their own I suppose doesn't really matter what order people walk down the aisle in

Hi where did u get the signs from that announce out arrival is like my little girl to have one too

thanks xx

Despite tradition, my vicar has recomended the US bridesmaids first. To make the most of a strtch of time that will fly by.