Walking down the aisle?

Question

How do you walk down the aisle? Do you just walk really slow or do you do what they do on the movies? ... One step, stop.. one step, stop...etc. I'm not sure. I know that if I walk regularly that it will probably appear as if I'm trying to walk slow and I might look funny. Thanks for any advice!!

Also.. does anyone have suggestions where my dad should stand after I reach the alter until the officiant has asked who is giving me away?

Answer 1

By the time you calm down and relax and see your fiance standing there at the end waiting for you, it will just come natural. I thought about this too and told myself I was going to try and walk slowly. And seriously, at that exact moment all you are thinking is that this is the real thing finally, and don't trip on your dress and everyone is taking pictures.. it goes by way too fast to even think about walking haha. Congrats and have fun!!

Answer 2

Your officiant/coordinator should help you with this. It depends on the song you've chosen to process to.

When you get to the end of the aisle your fiance will join you & your father; Dad should stand between you & your fiance until the presentation. Then he steps back & the two of you join together & move closer to the altar/minister.

The Presentation sometimes called the ,Take/Leave, usually comes after a few nice words. But I've seen weddings started this way before the welcome or convocation.

On the morning of the wedding, eat something, even if you don't feel like it. No caffine, no alcohol (even the night before). Keep hydrated.
Before putting on your dress, take one last pee.
Before leaving to walk the aisle, take a few moments by yourself. Give thought to the fact that you are going to marry the man you love most, and who loves you as much in return. Look at the beautiful image staring back from you in the mirror. Take a deep breath & go. Stand straight, & smile; you aren't walking the last mile!
You will walk the aisle knowing you are stunning.

Answer 3

Congratulations!

I've sung for a lot of weddings, so I've seen a few variations on this.

The thing from the movies looks a little contrived. Besides, if your dad is walking you down the aisle, you two have to coordinate your steps. WAY too much to concentrate on when you're already nervous!

Just walk at a slow pace, preferably to the beat of the music. Take your time and enjoy it! If you're not sure, get a recording of it and practice a bit. I'm sure you won't look funny.

So far as where your dad should stand, he can stand to your side or just slightly behind you. I'm sure when you go to your wedding rehearsal, they will help you as well.

Answer 4

Honestly, I never even practiced or thought about it. When my dad and I entered the church, I locked eyes with my hubby and it just came naturally. You don't have to mall walk but then you don't have to be all dramatic and walk slow or stop, walk, stop, walk. Just walk at a nice pace so everyone can get a good shot of you. Also remember if you have a photog there, you want to give them some time to get some nice shots as well!

To answer your latest question, whoever is giving you away should stand next to you (to your right) and in between you and your fiance until the officiant asks, "who gives this woman?" Then that person normally takes your hand, and gives your hand to your hubby's hand, kisses you and sits down. I did some research and the bride always walks on the left arm of the person escorting them down the aisle.

Answer 5

Your husband is on your right side so your dad walks you down with him on your left arm. When you get to the front of the alter he stands on your left side until the preacher does his thing, then your husband comes down and takes your right and and you go up to the alter. You dad takes his seat, usually a spot near the aisle reserved in the front row. After the ceremony you turn around and walk out of the church with your new husband on your left arm.

(Factoid: A lady is always escorted with her escort on her left arm..this is from back in the day when people threw garbage and sewage out windows directly onto the street. The men were on the left thus closer to the street and more likely to get pelted with the garbage instead of the ladies should a mishap occur)


As far as the walking thing I am just going to walk normally at a slightly slow pace. I think the one, together, two, together think makes it look like you are a canary in a cookoo clock or something.

Answer 6

Well, here is what you do. I am a professional harpist, and I have played so many weddings I can't even count them all. This is the one problem we ALWAYS have in rehearsal.
Whatever music is playing, that is the beat you need to walk to. If the musician is worth their salt, they will pick a song with an easily identifiable beat for the entrance and exit, and keep their pace steady so that you can follow them. They will also time it so all you have to do is pay attention and walk. It is usually a pretty slow and dignified progression, but not TOO slow. Think about moderato.
If you are using a CD instead of live music, pick a tune that is moderately slow, and take a step on each downbeat.
Like with the 'here comes the bride' tune, you would step on each downbeat - DUM dum dum dum Dum dum dum dum, etc.

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

Okay, just walk slowly down the aisle. All that starting and stopping looks REALLY silly if you try it in real life. And most wedding dresses are heavy, which would make that movement difficult. When you get to the end of the aisle, your dad stands next to you until he's officially "given" you away. Afterwards, he has a seat next to your mom.

Answer 8

It's all in personal preference. The "one step, stop. one step, stop." is a more traditional way of walking down the aisle. In my opinion, walking at a slow, normal pace looks better. Stopping between steps could cause problems with people in the party who may not have the same sense of rhythm, i.e., someone stumbling when they don't know which foot they should be on.

EDIT: Usually, when the bride and her father get to the groom, he stays where he is until the person conducting the ceremony says "who gives this man permission to marry this woman?", and the father says "her mother and I do" and gives his daughter's hand to her new husband.

Answer 9

The step, meet, step is very awkward to do when someone is escorting you. If you were going up the aisle by yourself you might do it just to pace yourself. But, with your dad walking with you, it will be both awkward and difficult to that unnatural step. I say, take your dad's arm and do a slow, natural walk up the aisle with him. You'll look very natural with an escort.

Answer 10

You just walk slow. You will probably need to anyway with the dress and if you are being escorted it is difficult to walk fast while holding onto someone else. They only do that step thing on TV for some reason.