Who goes where?

When you are planning your wedding, for logistics and peace of mind it’s really helpful to know where you will be standing during your ceremony. This may seem like a really obvious point – Simple. At the front of course! – but actually, you have a few options to choose from. I have laid out some of them out below with helpful diagrams.

Quick Tips

Which Side?

If it’s helpful to know, traditionally the groom would stand on the right, from the audience perspective, and the bride on the left, however, rules are made for breaking and couples come in all shapes and sizes so I’d encourage you to make your own rules!

Where do Readers Stand?

I always direct family or friends who are doing a reading to either stand slightly to the side of the couple, on either left or right depending on which is easier for them – or I will step aside and they can take my place.

The Start of the Ceremony

At the start of the ceremony, traditionally, the groom stands with his best man at the front with the Celebrant. The bride walks down the aisle to join him. The best man sits down and the ceremony begins. However, you could walk in together or have the switch bride and groom’s places, whatever you like!

Ceremony Formations

Celebrant in the Centre

This is the most popular arrangement in my experience. The Celebrant stands in the centre and the couple stands slightly in front of her facing one another. In a traditional wedding, you often see couples facing the Celebrant, but I think this is a bit of shame as the guests don’t get to see their faces. Standing facing one another means your guests can see your profiles, you can look at each other and your guests can also see the Celebrant. Win win. If you have any symbolic elements in your ceremony they can be placed on the table nearby.

Celebrant to the Side

In this formation, the couple stands at the front in the centre, they are the main focal point. The couple stands facing one another so the audience can see their faces on profile. The Celebrant stands slightly to one side to deliver the ceremony. This arrangement works well if you have a slightly smaller space, or if your ceremony is taking place in an old church or ex-religious building because they ordinarily have a pulpit or lectern set just off centre.

Everything in the Centre

In this formation, the couple stands at the front in the centre, they are the main focal point. The Celebrant stands behind them with a table between them, which could have unity candles or a certificate on it etc… This works well in venues with a strong central focus point behind the ceremony like a window or paintinge etc…

With Groomsmen and Bridesmaids

In this formation, the couple are front and centre with the Celebrant behind them. The couple face each other. Flanked on either side of the couple and Celebrant, are the bridesmaids and groomsmen, or chosen friends and family. If you have a wide venue you could also fit a table in the centre for any symbolic elements, but in a narrow venue there may not be space, which is something to keep in mind.

With Chairs

You may want to sit on a chair during the ceremony, either for the whole ceremony or just for the readings. These chairs can be placed to the side so that you can easily go to them and then return to the centre for the exchange or rings for example.