The Presentation of the Bride
The Presentation of the Bride
The
Wedding Procession of the bridesmaids is followed by the Maid of Honor, flower
girl and ring bearer who make their way down the aisle to where the ceremony
will take place. Perhaps Canon in D
by Johann Pachelbel or Air on a G String
by Johann Sabastian Bach will accompany the Bride on her memorable walk down
the aisle. As the officiant, I announce to the guests, “Ladies and gentlemen
please stand for the entrance of the Bride” or when more formal words seem
appropriate, “Please be upstanding for the Bride.”
It’s quite dramatic when a door
opens wide to give guests their first glimpse of the bride in her splendid
white gown and delicate veil with her escort, her father or perhaps her mother
or both, or maybe a person the bride has chosen to have the honor of presenting
her for marriage.
It’s an emotional moment,
often provoking anxiety, tears, ear-to-ear smiles and deep feelings of hope and
love. The officiant has a perfect view of the bride as she and her escort walk down
the aisle.
The music tappers down and with
a reassuring smile I approach the bride and her father. I’ve already explained to
him that I would be asking the question, “Who presents this lovely woman for
marriage?” I also explained that after answering the question he will want to kiss
his daughter.
This is a lovely, tender moment
just before the wedding ceremony. It can be a confusing process. I ask the
question, “Who presents this lovely woman for marriage?” The father says “I do”
or says “Her mother and I do.” The father kisses the bride. If she has a veil covering her face, he lifts
the veil to kiss her. If the bride want the veil to cover her face for the
ceremony, he should return the veil to its original position otherwise it
should be lifted completely. The maid of honor can help fix this later. In the
meantime the groom, who has been watching nervously, approaches the bride’s father
shakes his hand, and if the mother is an escort too, he kisses the bride’s
mother. He does not kiss the bride.
Next, the Bride’s father places
the bride’s right in the left hand of the groom which is often a bit confusing
for the father. Right to left hand allows the groom to escort the bride to the place
in the front officiant where the couple stand and face the officiant. The Maid
of Honor is the attendant that fixes the bride’s veil and gown’s train. To be
sure that the father does not step on the bridal gown or veil, he should remain
in place until the bride has stepped forward with the groom clearing his way to
his seat next to the bride’s mother.
The presentation of the Bride
before all the gathered guests is one of the most tender and touching moments in
a wedding ceremony and it’s for this reason that I have offered my experience. It should be a memorable, intimate ritual
captured in photos that can be revisited when the Bride and Groom look through their
keepsake album of precious wedding photos.
Ann
V. Corbett, Wedding Officiant
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