Bridesmaids? After the procession up the aisle?

Question

What do they actually do after they've escorted the bride up the aisle? Do they sit, do they stand, do they take her flowers (there is a matron of honour and a ring bearer). My daughter in law wants two bridemaids to go before her, with the ring bearer, followed by three bridesmaids.

I was never a bridesmaid :( and at weddings, I've been too busy looking at the bride, to notice.

Answer 1

It depends on the layout of the Church. It is one of the things that gets sorted out at the wedding rehearsal. They usually stand demurely (hopefully) aside so as not to obstruct the view of the congregation, or sit in the choir stalls or a front pew.

It's technically one of the duties of the best man to make sure the ushers know which seats have to be kept free.

Answer 2

Are you in the US? It's different there to here in the UK.

A friend of mine was a bridesmaid last weekend and when she posted the pics of her and the other bridesmaid walking down the aisle behind the bride the Americans we know were surprised that we have the bridesmaids follow and not walk down before her.

I was a bridesmaid when I was very young and the little ones don't have any responsibilities other than to look cute in the photos and if possible not cry during the ceremony.

The one time I did it as an adult my only job was to supervise the little bridesmaid and keep her from crying, straighten out the bride's dress when she got out of the car (although the bride's mother usually elbows her way through to do that job) and take the flowers from her when she gets to the front of the church.

You said matron of honour so I'm assuming you are British. This bridesmaids going first with a ring bearer and then bridesmaids behind sounds like a new formula to me so I don't think there's any set rules.

As for what bridesmaids do during the ceremony, sometimes they made us stand all the way through and others they made us sit down with the congregation until we were needed to join the procession out again. We didn't go with the bride for the register signing bit, that was always bride, groom and parents only. (this could possibly just be a Church of England thing though)

Answer 3

They stand behind her, the matron/maid of honour takes her flowers.

Answer 4

They are only needed for the coming in and going out.  During the service they sit in the second pew from the front (behind the bride's family) out of the way.

Answer 5

The stand in somewhat of a line to the brides left usually. I believe the MOH can hold her flowers. Usually, the bride is the last to walk down the aisle, so that's interesting how she wants a couple before and after her; but more power to her!  

Answer 6

Normally, the bridesmaids generally stand at the altar in a line next to the bride (the groomsmen will stand in a line next to the groom on the other side of the altar). The matron of honor will stand closest to the bride in the line, and will hold the bride's bouquet during the vows, and then hand it back before the new husband and wife walk back down the aisle.

However, in a Catholic wedding (because the ceremony is so long and requires a lot of sitting, standing, and kneeling), the bridesmaids and groomsmen will be seated in the first few rows of pews on either side of the aisle.

In the US, it's traditional for ALL of the bridesmaids to enter first, followed by the bride and her escort. Apparently, in the UK it's more common for the bride to enter first, followed by her attendants.

Answer 7

i think its a personal thing and depends on what the venue normally do at a wedding i went to the bridesmaid walked before the bride before the ceremony stood at the altar on the left of the bride and then were told to sit down by the priest the moh stood a little longer and then sat down with brides flowers etc. After the ceremony they walked behind the bride with their ushers!