Wedding Ceremony Etiquette Guidelines

Weddings are the one occasion where most people still want to follow traditional rules, especially when it comes to wedding ceremony etiquette.

At Christian weddings the left side of the church is where the bride’s family and friends are seated and the groom’s relatives have the right side. A Jewish wedding is the opposite. The groom’s family is on the left and the bride’s on the right.

After the bride’s mother is seated, the wedding party proceeds down the aisle. The groom and best man are already in the sanctuary (altar). Traditionally the groomsmen (ushers) go down the aisle first, followed by the bridesmaids. However it has become the custom for the groomsmen and bridesmaids to walk, side by side.

The maid of honor is next, followed by the flower girls, ring bearer and finally the bride with her father or other escort. Again the bride customarily walks on her dad’s left, which leaves him having to step over her train to get to his seat.

If the bride has decided to wear the veil over her face, her dad lifts it at this point and kisses her, then takes his seat. The maid of honor rearranges the bride’s veil and then the bride hands her bouquet to the maid of honor.

Before entering the church or synagogue the bride should have put her engagement ring on her right hand. Once the groom has placed the wedding ring on her left ring finger the bride can then return the engagement ring to the left ring finger. The wedding ring should always be worn closest to the heart.

If there are step parents and you are close to them, ask both your father and step father to walk you down the aisle. Even though some etiquette mavens discourage this, it is your wedding do what you want. However if they don’t get along, your birth father should have the honor unless your step father has raised you and you feel he is your dad.. Wedding ceremony etiquette guidelines are just that, not written in stone.

Download and Print Free Wedding Invitations

Go from Wedding Ceremony Etiquette to Home of Homemade Free Unique Wedding Invitations