Six Top Tips for Making a Stunning Entrance

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.