Walking Down the Aisle: A Guide
Inhale… exhale… breathe. It’s your time to walk down the aisle and say your “I Dos!”
All your pre-wedding planning and stress has finally paid off! How do you feel? You should feel good! I know you’re probably still anxious about the actual wedding day, but don’t be. Whatever life throws at you on the day of your wedding, you’ll be okay. At the end of the day, it’s about you, your partner, and the love you two share.
On your wedding day, if all the nerves and adrenaline are overwhelming you, just take a moment to breathe and remember that the person you love is waiting for you at the other end.
Before walking down the aisle, I want to share with you some things many brides forget to do or think about.
Lipstick and Veil
While every bride has a specific makeup look they want, be mindful of what your veil looks like. What do I mean by this? Well, you don’t want your veil and lips sticking to each other as you’re walking down the aisle. I would highly suggest using a matte or semi-matte lipstick.
And even if you’re not wearing a veil, it still might be a good idea to avoid glossy lipstick so your hair doesn’t stick to it either.
Veil and Bouquet
“Where do I place my bouquet while I walk down the aisle?” One of the biggest mistakes brides can make is carrying their bouquet too high. While this isn’t the biggest deal in the world, it can affect your wedding photos.
Typically, the flower bouquet should be carried down at hip height, rather than at the waist. But if you have a very small bouquet, like a posy, then carry the bouquet around your belly button height. Smaller bouquets get lost at the hips, so they should be carried higher.
And if your veil is long and goes past your chest, carry your flower bouquet underneath the veil. This will create a soft, romantic look.
Before Doors Open
There are a few things you should do before the doors open and you walk down the aisle.
First, go use the bathroom. Even if you don’t think you have to go, go. The last thing you want to do is not use the bathroom and end up doing the potty dance while reading your vows.
Secondly, check yourself in a mirror. Take a look at your teeth, hair, lipstick, and dress. If there isn’t a mirror hanging up somewhere near the doors, bring one with you.
Third, have a breath mint and eat it before the doors open. You’re going to be saying your vows and kissing your future husband so you want your breath to be fresh. Also, you’re going to be talking to your guests afterwards.
And lastly, imagine your walk and vow in your head. Think about walking and talking slowly – this will help with your nerves. And speaking of the walk, read the next section.
The Walk
“Oh look, here comes the bride! She looks so gorgeous” – your guests.
Now, let’s talk about your walk. How to walk down the aisle? First, throw out the “step, together, step” method. I know, it’s in a lot of movies but it looks too stilted. You want to look natural while walking down the aisle.
So just practice your walk. Practice a few days before your wedding and at your dinner rehearsal. And practice with whoever is walking you down the aisle. Focus on taking your time.
Walking slowly will give your photographer and videographer time to capture all the precious moments.
How long does it take to walk down the aisle? An average time is about 3-4 minutes but no longer than 5 minutes. The wedding party will take up most of that time with the bride taking about 45 seconds to walk down the aisle.
Remember, this is YOUR moment! Everyone came to see the beautiful bride – aka- YOU. Give them time to get a good look at you and the dress, especially for your partner! Make sure to smile at your guests while walking down the aisle too.
At the Altar
Congrats, you’ve made it down to the altar! Now what?
Before you reach the groom, whoever is walking you down the aisle will most likely give you a hug or a kiss on your cheek. In this case, if you’re wearing a veil with a blusher, he or she should lift it up, kiss your cheek, then put it back down.
Next, hand your flower bouquet to the maid of honor. If you have a train and your maid of honor is on train duty, she will hand your flower bouquet, along with hers, to another bridesmaid for safekeeping. Do not take a step back or you will get tripped up by the fabric. Let your maid of honor or whoever is on train duty lift up the fabric before you move.
Lastly, there’s something most brides don’t think about. Move your engagement ring from your left ring finger to the right ring finger.
Why? When you exchange your wedding rings, it’ll go on more smoothly if you don’t have to take off your engagement ring, put on your wedding ring, and then put your engagement ring back on. Plus, your engagement ring will be in all the photos from your ceremony since it’ll be facing the guests. You can rearrange your rings after your ceremony and before your reception.
Otherwise, you can take off your engagement ring and keep it safe back at home. Or you could have someone trustworthy keep it safe for you until after the ceremony. It’s all up to you and how comfortable you are!
The Wedding Kiss
Let’s rewind a few weeks before the kiss – you’ve probably wondered “what’s the best way to kiss in front of all these people?” Many couples worry about how long and passionate their kiss should be or how they should move their heads – just be natural! It can be a little awkward for some conservative family members, but they are expecting a kiss…
Why do we end the ceremony with a kiss? Recall a phrase, “sealed with a kiss?” Well back in the day, a kiss was how agreements were sealed. In the middle ages, illiterate people used the letter “x” in place of “kiss.” That’s where “xo” comes from.
Also, some people believe that when the couple kisses, they exchange a piece of their souls. A kiss represents love, tenderness, affection, and a physical oath to honor your spoken vows.
“You may now kiss the bride.” CONGRATS! You’re married!
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