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Wedding Etiquette

The following information is the ‘traditional’ format of a wedding, but it’s your wedding day and you can plan it just as you wish.

“Sides”

Traditionally, the bride’s family and guests will sit on the left side while the groom’s family and guests sit on the right. If the two sides are going to be uneven you may care to dispense with this practice. Parents of the bride and groom will sit at the front.

Order of the Processional

The groom and best man will be already in position close to the celebrant
The procession will be led by the bridesmaids, then the maid of honour, then the flower girl and the ring bearer
The bride is escorted, usually by her father, or she can walk in by herself

If escorted, the bride traditionally walks on the left side. After the escort indicates that he /she is the person ‘giving away’ the bride, he / she will move behind the bride (allowing the bride to move closer to the groom) and take a seat on the left hand side.

Order of the Recessional

Bride and Groom first
Flower girl and ring bearer next
Maid of honour and best man
Bridesmaids
Family members – bride’s mother and groom's father, then Bride’s father and groom’s mother, then other family members, then guests

What do with your engagement ring

Generally, before the ceremony, you will put your engagement ring on your right hand. Afterwards, you will place your engagement ring next to your wedding ring.

Giving the bouquet to the maid of honour

The bride will hold her bouquet until just before the exchange of vows. It can then be handed to the maid of honour. The bride will take back her bouquet when she, the groom and the witnesses move to sign the marriage register

Order of a receiving line

If you are having a receiving line at your reception location, the order generally would be –

Bride's parents
Groom's parents
The bride
The groom