Whose supposed to walk down the aisle at the ceremony?

Question

My grandmother & grandfather are both remarried. Do they walk down the aisle with there new husband & wife or should I let an usher escort everyone down.
See the problem is my grandfather cheated on my grandmother with his new wife many years ago and ended up marrying her. We're now older and have learned to deal with his new wife. However, my grandmother is now remarried as well. I just really don't want my grandfather's wife to walk down the aisle. What would you do? Who escorted your parents & grandparents down the aisle?

Answer 1

It's obvious you don't have a wedding planner. If you've talked to your wedding photog about this and he/she doesn't know, I'd be scared about that.

Groomsmen/ushers escort mom, grandma, sisters (who are not bridesmaids), and aunts down the aisle arm and arm. the husband walks one step behind. As for who goes 1st, grandma of course then mom and everyone else.

If you need more help you can e-mail, I've been shooting weddings for over 15 years and still love it.

Answer 2

My dad is remarried, so we had my mom, two grandmothers (and grandfathers), my stepmom, and my husband's mother.

First, my dad's mother was escorted in, with my dad's father walking behind her. She was escorted by my husband's best friend, the best man, who knew nothing about weddings and the proper order of things, and he seated her in the wrong place, so she actually got up to take her rightful place. My grandmother is very well-learned on proper etiquette.

Then my mom's mother was escorted in (my mom's dad was officiating.) She was escorted by the MAWB.

Then my stepmom was escorted in alone (Daddy was giving me away). My cousin on my dad's side of the family escorted her.

Then my husband's mother, with my husband's dad behind her. They were escorted by my husband's brother, one of the groomsmen, whose wife had informed him of where they were supposed to go.

Last, my mom was escorted, by the MAWB, because he was an usher. He just took his seat with her, then my Dad escorted me.


If it were me, I would probably try not to rock the boat.

Assuming they're all alive, this is how I would do it:

Your husband's paternal grandmother, followed by his paternal grandfather.
Your husband's maternal grandmother, followed by his maternal grandfather.
Your paternal grandfather, with the new wife. If they are escorted (and I think they should be), just have the difference between this couple and the others be that instead of the woman being escorted, with the man following, have the man and woman escorted together.
Your paternal grandmother, with her new husband following.
Your maternal grandmother, with your maternal grandfather following.
Your mother-in-law, with your father-in-law following.
Your mother.

If it's your maternal grandparents who have had the drama, just change it up, but have it be pretty much the same, with the couple (grandfather and wife) escorted together right before the grandmother.

Or you could start out with your grandfather and his new wife. Have him escort her and take his seat beside her.

I would definately not have the four of them escorted at the same time.

If you definately don't want her to be escorted at all, you're going to have a difficult time not having AT LEAST your grandfather offended.

Another option, if that's just the way you really want to go, though, is to ask her to take on a job. Ask that she attend the table at the entrance with the book, or that she help with the timing, telling the flower girl and bridesmaids and you when to start the walk down the aisle.



**** "The MAWB" is what we call my mom's boyfriend... stands for "might as well be", as in "might as well be stepdad".

Answer 3

It takes two to tango - your grandfather's wife wasn't alone in their affair.

Have your grandparents with their respective spouses escorted down the aisle by an usher just as other guests will be, but have them seated just before your & your husband's parents.

I wasn't fortunate enough to have grandparents at my wedding, so consider yourself fortunate & know that everyone is human & everyone makes mistakes. Probably most people at your wedding will know about the "dalience" between your grandfather & his cuurrent wife anyway - your pointing it out to them by treating her differently does not show much character.

Answer 4

In order to be seated, everyone will technically need to walk down the aisle. I believe "etiquette" says that the gentlemen who are being seated are expected to walk by themselves, and that their female guests would be escorted by the ushers. This would be the same for your aunts & uncles, friends and other guests.

Unfortunately, my grandparents were not around for my wedding, or any of my siblings' weddings, so I don't have personal experience on this myself.

If you don't want to call attention to your grandfather's new wife, then I'd recommend that you treat all of your grandparents as you will treat all of your other guests. Allow your parents to be seated with additional fanfare.

Answer 5

If you want them to be involved, you can have both sets walk down with different ushers. If you'd prefer to have just your grandparents walk down and not their respective significant others, have their 'others' already seated and you can either escort them at the same time or have them each escorted separately. There is not right or wrong way, just do what you want and what you feel is best. If you wish, ask your parents what they think or even ask your grandparents what they'd prefer and take that into consideration. In the end, remember it's your decision.

Answer 6

The simple way to handle this is to have the grandparent escorted and the partner join them - it shows you understand and want no hard feelings to follow your marital path. The Walk down the aisle is symbolic of taking steps to a new life and the path should not carry hardship or burden. Ask your family to understand you don't want to slight anyone you just want a clear path to start your new life. Good Luck!

Answer 7

I hated the idea of a million people walking down the aisle. I only had a "best woman" and a best man. My husbands parents walked him down, my parents walked me down. That was it. Grandparents didn't walk. They sat in the front row and wore coursages. If you really want the grandparents to walk down the aisle, then I think ettiquette suggests they should walk with their respective spouses

Answer 8

lol my folks were married by a preacher at his house in Baltimore - they eloped!

I think you should let your grandfather walk down with his new wife, grandma with her new hubby - have an usher seat them in different pews, tho - to keep the peace in the family. Also, at the reception, seat them all at different tables to prevent any flare-ups. They should be with their spouses - even though its YOUR special day, you don't want to drag up old & hurtful memories if you can help it.

Congratulations & good luck - I hope everything runs smoothly & you have the time of your life, that you are surrounded by love, that you are at the beginning of something terrific!!!

Answer 9

you should be the 'bridge' between the conflict on your youthful people and function your dad and mom walk the two area of you down the aisle...your way of extending the olive branch. Your brother must be the 'suited guy' interior the bridal social gathering?

Answer 10

Traditionally, ushers seat all of the ladies - married or not. That is their job in the wedding! Also - letting everyone be seated by an usher prevents any sticky or uncomfortable situations.