Six Top Tips for Making a Stunning Entrance

A Wedding Celebrant's Perspective
The Somerset Celebrant - Six Top Tips for Writing Your Wedding Vows
The Somerset Celebrant - Making a stunning eNTRANCE

Louise and Ian very much wanted their two boys to be involved in their ceremony from start to finish.

The Vintage Wedding Photographer 

The Somerset Celebrant - Millie and Ben saying their vows

My daughter Millie being escorted to the ceremony space and up the aisle by her father, with my other daughter, Sophie one of the bridesmaids, following behind.

Venue Dairy House on Dillington House Estate.

Pics Who is Benjamin Photography

The Somerset Celebrant - Millie and ben saying their vows

Watching your daughter walking up the aisle was a very tender moment in my life as her mother and her celebrant. And, yes I nearly did cry.

Venue Dairy House on Dillington House Estate.

Pics Who is Benjamin Photography

Six Top Tips for Making a Stunning Entrance

In my last 2 Six Top Tips posts, I looked at writing your wedding vows and saying your wedding vows.

One of the grandest parts of any wedding ceremony is the entrance of the wedding party. Whether it’s just the two of you, walking up together hand in hand, or a huge processional with an entourage of family and friends, a lot of careful planning and thought needs to go into it to ensure It is perfect, amazing, jaw dropping and reflects who you are, as a couple.

As a wedding celebrant, I work closely with my couples to help them to create the wedding entrance which is personal and significant to them.

The lead up to this moment is one of my most favourite parts of the day. The air is full of anticipation, calming nerves, the bride is arriving – everyone straining for that first glimpse – then all standing to welcome the wedding party as they make their way to the ceremony space.

Having a wedding celebrant gives you the freedom to have your wedding ceremony exactly as you wish it to be. The Processional is no different. In fact, no two wedding entrances at any of the many wedding ceremonies I have led, have been the same.

Hannah arrived on her white horse. She looked like a Disney Princess as we caught glimpses of her, riding through the trees, with her beautiful dress draped over her horse’s back.

Louise and Ian very much wanted their two boys to be involved in their ceremony from start to finish. Ian waited with me until Louise arrived, so he could turn around for that ‘first look,’ then he walked down the aisle to greet her and the boys, and swept the boys up in each arm, and they all walked up the aisle together.

They also wanted Dolly, their little Maltese Terrier, to join their wedding entrance, but in the end decided trying to hold her as well and not trip over, would just be be too much!

It was lovely to see how, at the end of the ceremony, they walked back down to greet their guests holding one boy each!

Another bride, along with her mum and bridesmaids, rattled down the farm track in a tractor and trailer. Everyone strained for a quick glimpse of her, but she was hidden from sight by her bridesmaids.

In another wedding ceremony, the two brides walked together holding hands through the woodland after being taken, blindfolded, to the start of the rose strewn path for a ‘first look’ or ‘reveal’. Here they spent a few precious moments with each other, before continuing their walk to the ceremony space.

My daughter, Millie, wanted a traditional entrance and was walked up the aisle by her father. She had a flower girl leading the way, followed by two bridesmaids.

The country had just come out of Lockdown and due to travel restrictions etc, she had a small and intimate wedding.

We still practised the Processional many many times, deciding on best the route into the garden, placing the chairs in the aisle pefectly, timing the music, pacing the bridesmaids until it was perfect.

As your celebrant, I always recommend wherever possible, we have a walk through the day before, to be assured of making a stunning entrance on the day.

Whether you’re going for a traditional look or want something really different, these top tips will ensure your entrance is absolutely stunning.

Six Top Tips for Making a Stunning Entrance
Tip 1 There is no set way to make an entrance.

It can be as original and imaginative, as you want it to be.

Six Top Tips for Making a Stunning Entrance

Tip 2 Know the traditional structure of the line up

Knowing the traditional line up enables you to play with its structure, but keep a smooth processional flow when you arrive at the ceremony space.

Tradition has it that your partner will be waiting for you on your right-hand side. This custom goes back to days of chivalry, when they needed to keep their right hand free to defend you with their sword, should the need arise.

Any best man, or best woman, grooms people, or supporters of the waiting partner should be on his or her right, when facing the front and the wedding celebrant.

This means that when you proceed up the aisle, anyone accompanying you should be on your left, ensuring you naturally find your partner’s side on your right when you arrive at the ceremony space.

All your bridesmaids, pageboys, flower girls should be on your left.

Six Top Tips for Making a Stunning Entrance

Tip 3 Timing is all important.

As the celebrant, I always ensure that I have a pre-arranged signal from the event manager that the bridal procession is ready to begin. This enables me to invite all the guests to be standing to welcome the bridal party, and it’s the signal for the processional music to begin. A well-rehearsed, perfectly orchestrated procession really ensures split second timing and creates a stunning start.

 Somerset Celebrant - Greg waiting for his bride

Greg excitedly anticipating to arrival of his beautiful bride, Jennie, at Woodford Farm Weddings. Photo Elizabeth Barrett Photography

 Somerset Celebrant - Chris's 'first look"

Chris has just turned for his ‘first look.’ The love and happiness on Chris’s face  as he turns to see his beautiful bride, Ellie, walking towards him, has been captured by Shooting Pixels at Penny Square Barn.

Songbird

For you, there’ll be no more crying
For you, the sun will be shining
And I feel that when I’m with you
It’s alright, I know it’s right
To you, I’ll give the world
To you, I’ll never be cold
‘Cause I feel that when I’m with you
It’s alright, I know it’s right
And the songbirds are singing,
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before
And I wish you all the love in the world
But most of all, I wish it from myself
And the songbirds keep singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before, like never before,
Like never before

Somerset Wedding Celebrant -  Gemma and Sam reading their wedding vows

Charlotte and Pat’s beautiful wedding at Anran Farm

 

 

The Somerset Celebrant - Reading their wedding Vows

Chris turning around to welcome their dog, Macie at his and Sophie’s Wedfest Wedding at Tipi Events

Pics Steal The Day Photography

 

Somerset Wedding Celebrant - Laura and Karl saying wedding vows to their children

My son, Stewart, escorting me down the aisle just before the start of my daughter, Sophie and Chris’s wedding ceremony at Tipi Events, Chew Valley Lake

Pics Steal the Day Photography

Six Top Tips For Making a Stunning Entrance

Tip 4  Consider the order of your procession and make it individual to you.

Are you having bridesmaids? How many?Will it be an odd or even number? Will they walk in pairs or in single file? Think about their height and size, how do they pair up well together or form a smooth line. Think about how far they will walk and how far apart they will be spaced.

Try to make sure they all start on the same leg and keep in step at the correct pace. Rehearsing the processional with your entrance music during the run through will ensure the timing is perfect.
Will your bridesmaid walk in front of you or behind? When the bridesmaids proceed in front of the bride, I find it can creates more excitement and anticipation for the bride’s arrival. However, If you have a long train or veil that will need to be spread out neatly, you may choose to have your bridesmaids follow you. Its completely your choice.
Charlotte and Pat had a lot of very young flower girls & page boys. They led the processional so their parents could see what they were up to and caught a one or two trying to make a dash for it 🤍
Remember to give your guests time to get over their cuteness before you start your entrance. This will make sure all eyes are on you and it’s not the little darlings who are grabbing the attention.
And don’t forget to make sure all members of the processional know exactly where they need to go once they get to the top, and where they will be sitting or standing during the ceremony.

Six Top Tips For Making a Stunning Entrance

Tip 5 Including your Dog in the Processon

Many couples want to include their furry friend in their wedding processional.

A big day with lots of people can be intimidating for dogs, make sure it suits their temperament, so they enjoy your special day too.

At my daughter, Sophie’s wedding, their dog, Macie, travelled with the bridesmaids to the ceremony.  Once we arrived, she was let loose, and, jumping straight out of the car, went barking and scampering through a field and trees to the ceremony space to find Chris – it was the sign that the ceremony was about to start.

Chris’s dad was waiting in the front row with her lead and water and was responsible for looking after her at the wedding.

Six Top Tips For Making a Stunning Entrance

Tip 6  Consider The Mother of the Bride.

I have conducted many wedding ceremonies that have completely moved away from many of the traditional aspects of a wedding, and this too is reflected in the wedding entrance.

Traditionally, the arrival of the mother of the bride is the signal that the bride is on her way and the wedding ceremony is about to start. Will she be walked down the aisle and shown to her seat or would she prefer to make her own way there?

Having recently had the privilege of being the mother of the bride at my daughter’s wedding, I always share in the pride that they have on this special day.

There are no hard or fast rules and parental roles are changing.

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