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Wedding Party Responsibilities

Wedding Formations

PROCESSIONAL:
The Processional is the entrance of the Wedding Party, Officiant, Groom, and Bride and her Father/Escort. In a Christian, or Civil, Ceremony, the Bride's Attendants are on the left side of the Ceremony area, and the Groom's Attendants are on the right side. For a Jewish wedding, it is reversed. Also, the Processional order is different in a Jewish wedding. Please ask your Rabbi.

Everyone in the Processional should do a slow, natural walk, right foot first. Each attendant, or couple, does not start walking the aisle until the one in front of them has almost reached the altar area, to allow for pictures.
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
(Begin with the ones who will be the farthest from the Officiant, and build in to the center. In most cases the Groomsmen will enter with the Officiant, Groom and Best Man)
Maid/Matron of Honor
Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
(Be sure to have the parents of the children seated on the aisle-side of the second or third row, opposite where their child will be standing.)
Bride and Father or Escort

RECESSIONAL:
(quicker natural walk, following about 6 feet behind couple in front of them)
Bride and Groom
(The Bride and Groom walk the aisle alone. No one starts walking until they have reached the end of the aisle.)
Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
(Do not start them until after Bride and Groom have reached the other end of the aisle)
Maid/Matron of Honor and Best Man
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
Parents of the Bride
Parents of the Groom
Grandparents of the Bride
Grandparents of the Groom
Other Guests

HONOR SEATING:
This is done before the wedding party enters, and is different for Christian, Jewish, and other ethnic backgrounds, but you can use it as a guideline.
Honor Seating: (Ladies escorted by Groomsmen or Ushers)
Grandparents of the Groom (2nd row right side)
Grandparents of the Bride (2nd row left side)
Parents of the Groom (1st row right side)
Mother of the Bride (1st row left side)

Please Note: if the parents of the Bride, or Groom, are divorced, the "Mother" of the Bride, or the "Mother" of the Groom, sits on the first row, with the Father on the second row.

RECEPTION SCHEDULE:
This is a general Reception Schedule, you will need to adapt it to your individual circumstances.
Grand Entrance (Introductions of Wedding Party, Parents, and Newlyweds)
First Dance (Bride & Groom, then Parents, then Wedding Party)
Blessing
Champagne Toast (can be now or just before the Cake-cutting)
Food Service (while the guests are eating is a good time to go table to table and thank them for coming; you can also hand out special favors at this time, and collect "money" envelopes. Don't forget to get a Bride's Bag for the envelopes, or a Wishing Well display.)
Special Dances (Father/Daughter; Mother/Son, etc.)
Cake (usually done 30 - 45 minutes after food service, unless you are using the Cake as your dessert)
Bouquet Toss
Garter Toss
Bride & Groom Exit (Don't change your clothes unless you absolutely have to. It is a nice fantasy to leave the reception in your Gown and Tuxedo, and to be seen entering your hotel in your Wedding attire, or drive thru a Burger King for a snack !)

RECEPTION SEATING CHARTS:
The best and easiest way to assign seating for your reception is to use a large piece of poster board and draw your table arrangement on it. Use a jar lid, saucer or rectangular box lid to draw the tables. Your caterer can give you a small scale layout of your reception room, then enlarge it to poster size. It doesn't have to be drawn perfectly, just so it is usable.

Make a list of all of your RSVP's (including bride, groom, attendants, and parents). Write the names of the bride, groom, and wedding party in the box for the head table, then make reserved tables for the parents and families, and fill in the names.

Now start assigning tables for the guests. Try to mix guests of the bride with guests of the groom. Remember you are assigning names to tables, not seats. Let the guests decide who to sit next to at the tables. If you know certain people will not be comfortable together at the same table, then don't put them together. Also, try to put elderly guests away from the band or DJ's speakers.

Don't forget to draw the dance floor, cake table and gift table on the diagram. After you are done with table assignments, make a list (on paper) of who is assigned to each table, and give this to the person in charge of the place cards at the reception in case of any confusion. Don't forget to assign (ask) someone to be in charge of the gift table, the place card table and the guest book. This could all be on the same table or several. Arrange the place cards alphabetically on a table outside the entrance to the reception. Also, ask someone to bring the guest book from the ceremony to the reception for late arrivals.