Stand Up for the Bride
This weekend I officiated at a lovely outdoor wedding in northwest Florida. As the bride and her parents walked to take their place in the processional I suddenly wondered, "Who is going to signal the audience to stand as the bride walks down the aisle?"
Typically, the mother of the bride is in charge of this time honored tradition. When the mother stands, and not until, everyone else follows her lead. Saturday's bride had asked both of her parents to walk her down the aisle. Her mother couldn't signal the audience to stand. She was already standing.
There was a dear family friend and second mother to Saturday's bride sitting up front. I tried to catch her eye as if to say, "Why don't you stand up and then everyone else will too." She didn't get my signal. The crowd remained seated.
Saturday's bride was extremely organized throughout the entire planning of her day. Her wedding invitations went out exactly on time. Her wedding programs were perfect. I am trusting that if she had wanted people to stand, she would have made that plan clear to me and others.
Standing as the bride walks down the aisle is a sign of respect and a way for those present to actively participate in the ceremony.
Suzanah
5 comments:
My wedding participations have been legion whether attending or singing and I can honestly say, I have never seen 'no one stand.' However, I have seen the guests stand before the mother. Now that my daughter is getting married, this haunts me. I totally want to lead the stand. It is my special moment for my daughter. Is it appropriate to put a tasteful and subtle line at that point in the printed program giving the guests a head's up on that? Please advise.
doodahdi, According to sources I know and love (and your comment), it is customary for the Mother of the Bride to stand first. Where is your daughter's wedding? More than likely, once you stand, others will follow your lead.
If you are really concerned about the congregation not standing, I suggest you put an asterisk by the program line that announces the bridal procession. This means you will need to list procession participants by category: groomsmen, bridemaids, bride. Laurie, please advise here.
At the bottom of the page or program you can print the asterisk with the notation, "All who are able please stand."
Congratulations doodahdi! I know you and your daughter are busy preparing for this special day.
Suzanah
Your wedding ceremony can be arranged by your parents.Once the wedding planning begins.you will quickly realize that as your mother becomes the mother of the bride,your personality may be changed a bit.The bride has been looking forward to this moment.It's not often that a parents gets the opportunity to his true feelings about his daughter and parents of the bride speech how special daughter/parents relationships.
When I got married I put in the program for everyone to remain seated. I spent all that money on my wedding dress for that walk down the aisle and when everyone stands, the dress cannot be seen by the majority of people. It was not that important for me to have the guests stand.
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