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Processional Ideas, part 3

Posted on 7/11/2008 at 8:11:11 PM

At least I think it’s part 3. This is about the logistics of processionals. From our perspective, anyway.

If you haven’t read “Processional Ideas” parts 1, 2A, and 2B, do that.

Ok, on to logistics. In earlier editions of “Processional Ideas” I talked about music for processionals, as well as the necessity of considering who is walking and when. Here, I’ll go into some logistical things that I think deserve forethought.

The two main points I want to make:

• Have a coordinator.

Designate someone, whether it’s a professional you’ve hired, or not, to do the task of gathering the necessary people when the time comes. This is often like herding cats, and it’s a complicated job, so make sure that person is up for the task.

• Consider the walk itself and what’s involved in it - terrain, age/speed of walkers, etc.

Again, you want to make sure that everyone involved is up for the task. For some folks, it’s nothing. But walking even 20 yards can be a problem if you’re 90 years old (or if you’re 2!)

Coordinating processionals.

I’d always advocate for hiring a professional to do this, even if you don’t have an official “wedding planner” - many professional wedding planners offer day-of services that are, frankly, invaluable. Just the task of determining when enough guests have arrived and all the walking people are ready (parents/grandparents, bridesmaids, kids, bride, officiant, groomsmen, bride’s dad…) can be difficult to coordinate. A two-person team would be even better: one to hang out with the bride and attendants, and one to keep an eye on the guests and cue the musicians.

However you work this out, make sure your plan is solid and reasonable. Often, the preparations for the ceremony happen at a different site altogether from the ceremony itself, so travel from one place to the other is part of this mess/complication. So, for the sake of everyone’s sanity, someone should be given this task - and it should definitely not be anyone who’s part of the actual processional.

Walking logistics.

A total free-for-all is certainly an option, and I’m all for spontaneity, but at the same time, certain aspects of the walk itself should be considered. Very old parents or grandparents will take longer, and may not be up for a lot of stairs. Escorts are good. Groomsmen can do this, but then they need a plan for how to get to the front once they’re done escorting, and they should probably try to keep out of trouble for at least this part of the wedding (groomsmen seem to have a penchant for “attitude adjustments” of various sorts).

Very young kids, too, will be better off with some sort of back-up plan. In heat and stress, 3-year-olds sometimes balk at walking anywhere, much less down the aisle with all the attention on them. The last bridesmaid (usually Maid of Honor) should be aware and possibly available for guidance. The parents of said kids need to be on hand too, in case of complete meltdown.

Last year we had two weddings in a row on a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) with the same flower girl! She was unusually composed, excellent at her job, and really comfortable being in front of everyone. I swear she was destined for a career… But this is rare. Most kids are experiencing this for the first time. If I’d had to do this at age 4, I would have been absolutely mortified, and probably wouldn’t have been able to handle it. So choose your kid carefully, and/or make an alternate plan. Unless you can somehow track down that lovely little 6 year old girl I met last year…

Another very important consideration is terrain and shoes, especially here in Oregon, where everyone gets hitched outdoors AND we have lots of wet weather. Seriously, wet lawns and stilettos don’t mix well. Perhaps chunkier heels, or wedge heels? This is especially important in May, June, and October.

One more thing.

Almost forgot - musicians will need a cue. Or something. We’ve certainly done this totally on intuition many times, but it’s really better and less stressful to have some plan for a cue. My favorite way to go about it is this:

Have the officiant be our cue. S/he should wait back with the bride/attendants/parents until all are assembled and the coordinator determines that it’s time. Then, the officiant goes up the aisle, looking all official as officiants do, turns around and smiles at everyone. The groom can go with, if the groomsmen and bridesmaids will be proceeding in pairs (otherwise he may come in from the side with groomsmen at the same time that the bridesmaids enter). The musicians will be somewhere in the middle of a piece of prelude music. Instruct all parties that once that piece stops, the NEXT piece will be the first processional (for parents, or attendants, or both, or however you have worked it out).

This is a totally smooth and elegant way to do it. No bullhorns, no frantic arm-waving, and the guests will shut up and pay attention once they see the officiant as well. I love it.

It’s pretty much totally fool-proof, too, as long as the first walkers don’t start early. If they do, and this DOES happen (twice already this year!), then they’ll be walking down the aisle to whatever piece we’re already playing as prelude, and we’ll just keep it going rather than abruptly stop and change music while they’re in the middle of the aisle. Then we’ll play whatever is specified for the next processional, and we’re on our way.

It’s my preference to have a chat with the officiant AND coordinator about this before we start prelude, to make sure they know that this is the plan - but it’s not always even possible to locate these people, and if the guests are there we just have to start with the prelude. So a phone call the day before helps, as does solid advance planning between all parties

Ok, next installment of “Processional Ideas” will be part 4: some examples of music to which real brides have walked down the aisle.