Wedding processional and recessional at a ceremony are always two solemn moments that must be carried out in the right way. Yes, but how?
What does the etiquette in Anglo-Saxon countries say about the wedding processional and recessional? What are the differences with Italian traditions? Here’s our guideline.
Meanwhile, a premise is a must: etiquette as written in a text in Italy exists only for Italy itself. The other European nations, such as UK and France, have behavioural rules that derive from noble habits and customs, which in France we call “Etiquette” and in UK “Manners” and which both can be considered rules of etiquette.
If we look instead at overseas states, it is more the uses, customs and above all traditions that have gone to create a historian that today is the practice for ceremonies. They dictate the rules and be interpreted as rules of etiquette.
How to make a professional wedding processional and recessional? Here are the tips from the manners expert. Don’t miss them!
1) First of all, what is the wedding processional? And the recessional?
“The term“ Wedding processional ”is the wedding procession at the entrance to a wedding ceremony. This procession must be structured according to the various rites that are celebrated for the wedding itself. It follows very precise rules also referring to the different positions that the actors of the procession must have. These rules are very clear and precise if we refer to a religious wedding, while for a civil or symbolic ceremony, the protocol is not so binding. However, we must underline that the modern etiquette has cleared the civil ceremony, equating it to the religious ceremony and no longer treating it as a rank “B” ceremony, as it was in traditional etiquette.
The wedding recessional, on the other hand, is the exit procession after the ceremony. It is the moment in which the couple introduce itself to their guests as husband and wife ”.
2) What does the etiquette in Anglo-Saxon countries say about the entry and exit procession? Who must accompany the bride in this procession? In what order?
“Wedding processional and recessional for the Anglo-Saxon countries is the one that has also inspired Italian tradition and culture. In fact, in Italian etiquette there are 2 different types of wedding processional, one of which is defined as “American style”. There are also in the English Etiquette Manners some fixed points that mark the formation of the parade. Indeed I would say that there is a list that from A to Z takes up traditions and etiquette for weddings in Anglo-Saxon countries.
With regard to the wedding processional, the bride is always the last to enter, after all the guests have taken their seats, bride’s mother, officiant, witnesses and groom included. The bride enters the ceremony on the arm of her father or her companion, she is preceded by page boys and flower girls, little girls who throw flower petals on the walkway and she is followed by the little bridesmaids who hold her veil.
In the Anglo-Saxon tradition there are also Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, who represent more particular figures, and are pages and bridesmaids in adulthood. Then we also have the Maid of Honour, usually the bride’s sister or a close friend, who has a role of her own. As for the groom we have the Page of Honour commonly called Bestman. In addition to these, there are the Ushers, often guys, responsible for directing and seating guests at the wedding ceremony, giving help to all and providing a smooth flow.
The expected order of entry is as follows: given that the officiant will already be present to welcome the bride and groom and all the guests will be seated, the groom will enter in order with his Bestman, Groomsmen and Bridesmaids, the Maid of Honour, the flower girls and the page boys of which one will carry the rings (Ring Bearer), the bride with her father and the little bridesmaids behind.
The order of the exit procession at the end of the ceremony is as follows: the bride and groom at the head of the procession, followed by the flower girls, the page boys, the Maid of Honour, the Bestman, bridesmaids and groomsmen, if in even number come out in couple man / woman, if in odd number individually. Then we will have the parents of the spouses and all the guests ”.
3) What are the differences with Italy? And between UK – USA and Australia?
“Although Italy has received the idea of the American parade, foreseen and also included in our etiquette, there are still differences with the provisions of the Anglo-Saxon etiquette manners.
In Italy we only have page boys and baby bridesmaids, defined by the etiquette itself as “miniatures”. There are no adult groomsmen and bridesmaids, much less the Bestman and the Maid of Honour. The witnesses enter the ceremony before the bride and groom. The groom makes his entrance on his mother’s arm. The bride enters her father’s arm last, preceded by pageboys and bridesmaids. This is what is foreseen by modern etiquette and applicable to both religious and civil ceremonies.
Traditional etiquette, on the other hand, provides for the following entrance procession: the groom enters offering his left arm to his mother, when he arrives at the altar he positions himself to the right of it. Then, the witnesses enter in a couple man / woman, always with the woman on the right side. Enter to follow the bride’s mother accompanied by a male relative. The pages precede the bride and one of them will bring the wedding rings. Then the bride with her dad, always to the right side. The little bridesmaids follow and close the procession. The bridesmaids arrange the bride’s veil and hold it, when they are already a little old and able to do so.
As for the differences between UK, USA and Australia we can say that the bride in the USA follows the bridesmaids, while in the UK she precedes them. The groom in the USA arrives at the altar, awaits the bride facing her, while in the UK he awaits her with his back to her. In Australia, where the ceremony has a much more informal tone, both parents accompany the bride to the altar”.
4) Which music is it advisable to play during wedding processional and recessional?
“For a wedding processional the music is subject to the type of ceremony. For a religious ceremony it is always preferable classical music even if it is not strictly sacred. Very suggested are Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major (often used for the entrance of the groom and also in civil ceremonies) and Wagner’s wedding march.
For the civil or even symbolic ceremony, there are no precise rules or impositions for the musical genre, everything is left to the personal taste of the spouses. What is certain is that Mendelssohn’s Wedding March is often recommended. Particular is also that of Mozart, taken from the Marriage of Figaro.
Then there are classics such as Bach’s Aria on the fourth string, Anonimo Veneziano, Cohen’s Allelujah and Gounod’s Ave Maria or even the famous pieces by Morricone such as Love Theme and Once upon a time in the West. Mendelssohn’s wedding march is the classic of the classics ”.
Have you already thought to your bridal party’s members? I am pretty sure you now know who to involve in your processional and recessional, after reading this very useful post!
And if you still have doubts, get in touch, I’ll be glad to help you.
Photo credit @theweddingtale