How common is it for BMs to go down the aisle first these days?

I've only ever heard of & seen BM's go first.
My BM wil be going first too

Although BMs walking first originated in America it seems to be the norm nowadays in the UK.

In fact, I don't think I've been to a wedding where they came after the bride.

I've never been to a wedding where bride walked first... Even 20+ years ago as a flower girl at a wedding we went before the bride!

i only discovered this wasn't the 'normal' way on these forums!

Almost everyone I know sent their BM's down first - I did - in fact, it wasn't even suggested by anyone to do it any other way.

Think of your pics - our TOG got lovely pics of the 2 BM's walking down on their own with the focus just on them and then me & my bro.

As everyone is waiting for the brides entrance, the bridesmaids make a nice starter/entree to the main course.......just wait long enough until the last bridesmaid has got to the front before making your entrance and don't walk too fast(helps the tog) Also, if the maids stand at the front, ensure at rehearsal that this will not impede any entrance shots by the photographer(who may not be allowed to move on the day)

Bridesmaids last is a missed event and nobody gets to really see them at this stage.....

Peter

Matthews mummy/pugsley - are you having BMs first?

Thanks all - I can't remember what order it went in for some of the weddings I've been to but the only two I do remember BMs went last. Didn't realise how popular the other way was!

I am having BMs going first. I didn't realise if was an American thing as I've only ever seen it done that way. I figured that I've spent so much money and effort on the BMs outfits that I want people to see them! Also feel more comfortable going second too.

Bridesmaids first can always pave the way....

I'm another one with BMs going first. When I was a bridesmaid when young we did the traditional 'follow the bride' but I prefer the American way, I think it's more of a wow factor. Still in negotiations with my 7 year old BM to go first though, she has gone all shy about it!

I'm having my BMs go first. In prefer it that way as then there will be no distractions as I'm walking down the aisle

I was a BM last year though and followed the bride

Screw what everyone else thinks and have it whichever way you want

Horace...as similar to the image I posted...ask her to put petals down to show you the way.....

Peter

btw, thanks to a member here who is related to that flower girl......

Some ministers/churches 'insist' bridesmaids follow the bride - check with Trev The Rev just in case. Bridesmaids traditionally follow the bride to carry the brides train

Yes, I'll have my page boy then two bridesmaids walk first.

Then I'll walk down the isle with my father.

My BMs and FGs are walking down first - let them have their moment then I shall be last with my dad.

Out of all the weddings I have been to, the only time I have see then bride go first is in a church. Not sure if this was by choice.

It's been about 50/50 at the weddings I've been to in the last few years. Personally I still prefer bride first, and that's what I did, but each to their own!

It is apparently an American thing and 'tradition' here is for the bride to go first. I've heard of churches that won't allow BM's to go first too. It's up to you though. My BM's went first & I feel it let them have their moment properly

I was a bridesmaid at my brothers wedding and we walked in behind the bride. however at most weddings I have been to they have gone ahead of the bride. I think it is just personal preference (although my brothers wedding was ina church wheras the rest have been civil ceremonies so maybe that does have something to do with it).

All church weddings I've been to Methodist, c of e, Catholic, pentecostal the bridesmaid went first I think it's ridiculous that ministers can dictate what order the bridal party enter and would love to know the reason this is!

I don't think I've ever seen the bridesmaids go after the bride either, and I've been to a mix of Church / Civil ceremonies. Mine will definitely be going first, I just don't see the logic in them going after the bride!

Offhand I can only think of 3 weddings we've shot over the last couple of years where the bridesmaids have gone second- all were church ceremonies.

The vast majority have bridesmaids going first these days in our experience ?

I'm not having any BMs, but if I was, they'd be going first too. I'd want them to be able to make their own entrance and have some nice photos of them coming down the aisle. That's a bit more tricky when you've got a bride and groom potentially blocking the "view" Plus, i'd not want to be hanging about at the front whilst they come in.

I've never been to a wedding where the BMs went first. I think the royal wedding showed that the British way is bride first. I went first; if it's good enough for Kate Middleton, it's good enough for me!

IIRC, bridesmaids going second was nothing to do with the train, but was to protect the bride from 'evil spirits' coming after her, as the veil is meant to deter evil spirits in front of her! So that's the tradition, it's got nothing to do with being British. In fact in some US ceremonies the bridesmaids come second too. It's what you like/ believe that suggests who goes first. If you don't care about evil spirits I reckon you can do what you want.

I had my bridesmaids go first in a Catholic church, and our priest couldn't have cared less about that sort of thing. Our wedding, our choice. I suppose not all priests are like that, but I can't imagine that in a civil ceremony they could dictate, after all, surely 'evil spirits' aren't allowed if it's not religious

Anyway my point is, do what works for you!

I've been a BM 3 times and always walked in after the bride BUT this was over 20 years ago.

BM's first is an American thing and relatively new in the UK.

Hi,

My bridesmaids will be going down the isle first. Mainly because I want them to take the heat off of me and make me feel less nervous. I also want them to have their moment.

x

Thanks everyone - still wasn't sure what to do but was just intrigued by the amount of people saying BMs were going first on other threads when someone had told me it was traditional the other way.

Do page boys go first then?

From what I've seen it's page boys & flower girls first, then BM's then bride, but I think its just personal preference

My mum thinks the BM should go second but as we are in a hotel with a small aisle i dont want her having to step over my dress to get to her place at the front. I think its nice for them to go first and then the bride second as they are in place and like people say give a chance for some good entrance snaps of all the bridal party!

I went first and then my BMs walked side by side behind me and my dad. The vicar preferred it that way, and I kind of did too. It meant that when I got to the end of the aisle and needed my veil sorting and what not, it was easier for them to do it. Also they weren't seated at the front pew, so it made the logistics of it all easier.

Totally disagree that having them last is a 'non-event though', there was enough of a gap that people still got to see them in all their gorgeous glory.

I didn't have a clue how it worked because I don't have a lot of wedding experience. In conversation recently my bridesmaid said something (about her being a blubbering wreck while she walks up the aisle and my OH laughing at her) that made me think she goes first, which is fine by me because I might need someone to lead the way as I'll be too nervous to walk out first ?.

My sister got married 4 years ago and the registrar was absolutely insistent that she should go first. She was married in a stately home at the bottom of a huge flight of stairs and was soo nervous at having to walk down the stairs to make her entrance. She agreed without questioning the registrar but as I knew how she felt I spoke up for her and after much to-ing and fro-ing and insisting that the bride ALWAYS walks first, she reluctantly agreed that We bridesmaids would walk down first. I'm getting married in August and I've made a huge fuss over my bridesmaids and want them to feel as important as they are....they deserve their moment to shine! We're getting married in a chapel and on a previous thread on here someone had mentioned the most priests prefer the bride to walk first....but will wait and see when have a proper chat with him xxxx

Our page boy diddnt walk down the aisle- he diddnt want too.

we did bridesmaids first, the last wedding I went to that was bride first there was a bit of a squash at the end of the aisle, the fob was kissing the bride and the bm's had to hover awkwardly behind. That was a church.