The bride's walk down the aisle is always one of the most memorable moments of a wedding ceremony, but what about the order of people before the girl in white makes her entrance? Let’s break it down:
First to walk down:
The bride’s mother. The mother of the bride's entrance signals that the processional is about to begin. Once she reaches the end of the aisle, she takes her seat to the left of the aisle in the first row. In some cases, the bride’s mother is the one who walks the bride down the aisle.
Followed by:
The groom. After the mother of the bride takes her seat, the groom traditionally takes his place at the head of the altar, coming in from the side of the venue.
Who is soon joined by:
The best man. Like the groom, he usually walks in from the side and takes his place at the altar next to him.
After that you’ll see:
The groomsmen, who will take their place by the best man on the altar or walk down the aisle one by one. Some couples also choose to have the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk in together arm-in-arm, but this is more of an American tradition and is not commonly seen in Maltese weddings.
Then come:
The bridesmaids, who walk down the aisle one-by-one before the maid or matron (if she is married) of honour.
Trailed by:
The maid of honour, who assists the bride with her dress, veil, and train, making sure everything looks perfect before she walks down the aisle. She then stands by the bride's side at the altar and holds her bouquet.
Just before last, enter:
The ring bearer and flower girl/s, who precede the bride down the aisle. Traditionally, the ring bearer carries the wedding rings tied to a small pillow or in a small box, which he then gives to the best man. Fake rings may be used if he’s too young to be trusted not to lose them, and the best man can hold on to the real thing from the beginning. The flower girl may carry a basket of little flowers or petals, which she scatters as she walks. After the procession is over, the children take their seats with their parents.
Last but definitely not least:
The bride and her father. The bride's father traditionally escorts his daughter down the aisle, standing to her right, but a mother or a parent-figure is becoming increasingly common if the dad’s not around for whatever reason. After he "gives her away" to the groom, he lifts her veil and kisses her, signifying his blessing, then takes his seat beside the bride's mother.