Order going down the aisle

My bridesmaids will be going first I think and then me. They'll fix my train when I get there

I prefer the bride going last. I think behind the bride bridesmaids are more hidden and overlooked so as you say they get their moment going first. Also you get to play more of your entrance music and lastly as it builds up your moment. and of course noone steps on your train or veil. Oh yes.. and your guests get a good view of both the front and the back of your dress close up as you pass.?

Not being one who's overly held up on tradition, I mixed it up and went right in the middle! I hadn't made a decision prior to the day, and as we were standing outside the door about to go in, we quickly shuffled into that order. My sister went first with her daughter (maid of honour and flower girl), so she could get littl'un up the front quikly, and also everyone had a little 'ah' moment when they saw her.

Then I followed with my dad, and then my other two bridesmaids and my nephew (page boy) were behind me, making sure my long veil didn't get caught on my belt at the back!

It actually worked really nicely.

My bridesmaids are entering first, followed by me with my dad. I couldn't imagine doing it the other way round!

Thanks Jayne E, that's exactly how I feel too. I was a bridesmaid at my uncles wedding a few years ago and they did it the other way round which just felt odd.

I prefer the bride last idea too, but unfortunately I can't do it because my church aisle has a 90 degree turn halfway down, so I need my bridesmaid behind me to be on train watch in case it bunches as I turn!

I'll probably go last - in fact I've been BM 5 times now & have always gone before the bride!

Bridesmaids first is the American way and bride first is the English way, I believe.

That being said I was a church bride and my vicar had no issue with me going last so I don't think it matters either way. I was bridesmaid a few years ago and went after the bride, but personally I prefer letting the bridesmaids go down first.

Our order was this:

Before the music started, we had two ushers, one walked my mum down and one walked my nan down. Then..
Page boys (twins - they had a 'here comes the bride' sign between them)
Flower girl
Bridesmaid x2
Bridesmaid x2
Me + Dad

I'm going to go last after my bridesmaids and flower girls.

My sister got married in a church a about 18 months ago and wanted her bridesmaids first then my 2 children (her flower girl and pageboy) then her with our dad but the vicar kicked right off about it at the rehearsal. He was very rude and made my sister really upset. He told her she 'wasn't in the movies and that it was his church so his rules'. He ended up really ruining her experience of it. In the end he allowed my 2 to go before her but the rest of the bridesmaids had to go after.

I have three bridesmaids and I think I'll be having two go before me then my MoH behind me in order to assist with my veil, as it's going to be long and delicate, and I have to turn a corner before going down the aisle (the church used to be two separate churches but the center wall was removed and a glass partition put in. There is a partition I can stand behind so I'm not seen before I'm walking, but means I have to move round the corner which may cause my veil to twist, so I want it held.

At my sisters wedding (civil ceremony) she wanted us to go last but we got made to go before her. It was awkward as we were literally grabbed and moved in front just as we were about to go down the aisle. Then we didn't know how fast she was going, so we were at the front and sat down and she had only just got to the 2nd step.

After photographing 100s of weddings I can say that almost every civil ceremony the bridesmaids went down first. If it is a Church wedding then 80 % of the time the Bride will go down 1st. But a lot of the time in a Church wedding you may not have a choice as it will be up to the priest.

I haven't decided on mine yet, I like traditional but I also like the idea of BM going first then I can see them too, but is there room for them to 'faff' with my train when we get there? I guess the question is does the bride and groom face each other for the ceremony or stand with backs to the church?

Also how long did you leave it in between groups of people? Did you wait until the ushers sat down, then the page boys went, then when they sat down the flower girl went etc?

I hope our vicar isn't picky, according to other posts here it seems they can be. I can't ask either because the current vicar is retiring soon and the new one may have different views....

I dont think it will work in a Church because they will need to split off left and right so that you can get to the top and therefore you wont be able to see them there at the top, also not that you will have any chance to see them anyway because yours eyes will be all over the place and if anywhere you will be looking at your groom - who would not have a good view of you if the bridesmaids were waiting at the top for you to see them.

You will of been with the bridesmaids all morning and will be together at the Church door just before you go in.

What normally happens is that the ushers are already in the Church with the groom and best man, you go down first with whoever is escorting you then the bridesmaids and page boy go down. The page boy will then take his place at his seat and the bridesmaids will usually stay standing behind you for the 1st hymn which is usually straight away, then the priest will say everyone please sit at which point the bridesmaids can give your dress a good flick out and take their seats.

There will be times when you are looking at the priest and have your back to everyone and there will be times when you exchange rings that you can only really do that by facing each other.

Its good to get a bridesmaid to flick out the dress but also remember that at some point you will both sit down while the priest does his "bit to congregation" you will then get back up for the rest of the service so you may want to flick the dress out again, if only so that it looks good on the photos from the back.

I see that some Catholic Churches lend themselves better to the bridesmaids going down first as they seem to have more room at the top than most C of E Churches which means they can slip off to the side like they can at a civil ceremony

I am also assuming that in a church the flower girls go down first in front of the bride. I am slightly worried about this as m flower girls are my nieves, their mum (my sil) is a bridesmaid and my brother is giving me away so they would have nobody to walk to and sit with if the bridesmaids are to stand behind me. Think I need to ask my reverend about this!

I would suggest that they go down with their Mum - this is quite common way to do it if they are very young as the first thing they do when faced with a whole Church is turn around and arms up to be picked up by Mum.

Ive seen page boys with the ring cushion drop it on the floor and run straight back out !

Oh, I wouldn't trust my son with the rings! That must have been horrifying! lol. Thanks, my niece ran down the aisle at their wedding but she was running to her daddy so slightly different. I will have them with their mum I think and their big sister.