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Original poster

Is it "normal" for mother of bride to walk down aisle?

94 replies

Whisky2014 · 07/10/2018 17:59

After all the other guests but before the bridesmaid and brides? Or would she be seated at the front at the same time all the other guests are being seated? Whats normal? Is this a special thing to do?

OP posts:

MaisyPops · 07/10/2018 19:21

In the US, if the mother is not walking with her daughter down the aisle, there is usually a special entrance of the mothers (and grandmothers, too.) The groom's mother goes first, escorted by an usher, with her husband/partner following. She is seated, then the bride's mother is escorted down the aisle to her seat.
This is the only time I've heard of it and even then that's from watching American wedding shows where everyone has 80 bridesmaids and the wedding party has to equal numbers of men and women.

BackforGood · 07/10/2018 19:23

What ShallIChangeMyName ^ and others have said .

and this
It's traditional for the mother of the bride to be the last one seated as they usually wait outside the church for first sight of the bride. They then help the bride and bridesmaids arrange their dresses and then enters the church and takes her seat. The music then starts for the welcoming of the bride. These days you can do what you want within the boundaries of good taste.

and that's the key.
You can do what you want these days, which is nice. However it is traditional that she is the last guest to be seated, and that someone escorts her to her seat - usually an usher, but could be another male relative. It isn't part of the 'formal procession', but it is traditional, historically.

Rhondacross · 07/10/2018 19:25

Aw, why not? Ask her to wait for you and the bridesmaids to arrive, help to get you all ready to walk down the aisle, and then she goes down before you lot on your brother's arm. No need for grand music or anything, but why shouldn't she have a nice walk down and have a smile at everyone. What harm can it do? I wish I'd thought of that for my mum, she'd have loved it.

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Weddings

Original poster

Whisky2014 · 07/10/2018 19:27

rhonda she will! I just had no clue about it until 3 hours ago haha

OP posts:

Welshmaiden85 · 07/10/2018 19:32

My mum had no formal role in my wedding and in hindsight I really regret that. Why you dad’s have all the spotlight and take credit for how great their daughter is when (often) mums did the lionshare of the child rearing. I just did what was traditional but wish I’d been more creative.

Satchell · 07/10/2018 19:33

I think it's the phrase 'walk down the ailse' that's confusing. All guests walk down the ailse, at least part way, to get to their seats. She'll be one of the last in anyway as she'll be in the photos outside with you and your dad and bridesmaids before you go in.
Then walk down the ailse (as it's the only way to get to the front to her seat) before your entrance.

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 07/10/2018 19:34

It is a thing, but just slightly less formally than you might have seen.

MOB will hover around the back and want to see bride arrive and get out of the car etc.

Then she'll go to her seat, it would be manners to get an usher to do it, as he should also be at the back waiting for bride to arrive, so he can come in and tell priest/groom.

Then music starts and bridal party come in.

Justanotheruser01 · 07/10/2018 19:43

My mum would have ended up doing this purely because she wanted to see us arrive in the bridal car and make sure our dress etc was perfected before we walked so she would have been last in not in a walk down the aisle way though

PlatypusPie · 07/10/2018 19:50

I have seen that happen but it’s not a must do. My DD got married recently - I didn’t do any hovering outside waiting for the bride and bridesmaids ( it was their job to adjust her dress) I arrived earlier than most of the guests in order to greet those who had travelled a long way etc and then took my seat at the front. Managed to totter there all by myself without an usher. My DH had asked the day before where he was meant to sit - I told him to look out for me and the empty space next to me !

It struck me, a few months before, that I had no official role to play - it was a pleasant liberation ! I did lots of errand running before to help out but on the day, I could just enjoy the unfolding event.

LivLemler · 07/10/2018 20:03

Why you dad’s have all the spotlight and take credit for how great their daughter is when (often) mums did the lionshare of the child rearing.

Completely agree. I had both of my parents walk me down. I'd planned it anyway but my dad also asked me to, as mum did most of the hard work raising us (SAHM). It was lovely, and my sister did the same a few years later.

MIL also walked DH down, she was so proud and delighted.

KeepServingTheDrinks · 07/10/2018 20:15

I'm so going to remember this and insist on it if DD ever gets married. She'd be MORTIFIED

TheFillijonk · 07/10/2018 20:16

It's definitely a thing; my Mum walked down the aisle with my brother and took her seat just before my Dad walked me down the aisle.

letsdolunch321 · 07/10/2018 20:19

This is your day, you do what makes you happy.

I wouldn’t dream of stealing my daughters day.

Namelessinseattle · 07/10/2018 20:25

You know your mom best. Mine arrived in the car with the bridesmaids ahead of my dad and myself- so when they pulled up there was a mad dash for the church and seats. Then she gave me a hug and went in. She was nervous about walking up the aisle in a packed church alone so my brother gf walked with her.

Her sister did the same but asked her two sons to meet her at the back, she just didn’t like the idea of walking up the aisle and being the focus of attention when everyone knows the bride is there and waiting for the bridal procession.

Or she could just be a glory hunting drama llama.

Proseccoagain · 07/10/2018 22:25

At DD's wedding one of the ushers walked me to my seat just before the bridal party arrived - thought that was what everyone did. Otherwise I'd have been walking in on my own.

QueenOfMyWorld · 07/10/2018 22:30

Only in the film "father of The bride"

MulticolourMophead · 08/10/2018 09:58

Weddings I've been to have had MOB walking down the aisle as the last guest, with an usher, usually the signal that the bridal party is ready to proceed. It wasn't a big thing, but certainly acknowledged the MOB as, well, MOB. After all, dads have been taking the credit for centuries.

DD reckons when she gets married, she and her DH2b (however that might be, hope it's years yet) will walk down together.

CanOpenWormsEverywhere · 08/10/2018 10:29

My brother walked my mum down the aisle. After all the others guests and just before my entrance with my dad. I'm UK. My mum and bro are just as important as my dad, it seemed to make perfect sense to me.

Enko · 08/10/2018 10:31

my brother who was an usher walked our mother down the aisle just after I had arrived in the church sort of signalling we were about to start

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