Terrific Alternatives to Walking Down the Aisle on Your Wedding Day

Photo By | Davina + Daniel

The traditional walk down the aisle is nice, but if you’re a bold bride that wants to spice things up a bit then tradition just won’t do. Every bride wants their wedding to be memorable and a little different. So in the past few years, some brides have decided to make their personality shine in their wedding or have brought a bit of flair into their walk down the aisle. If you’d like to surprise your guests on your big day, consider these fun ideas.

Avid Sports Fans

Okay, so you both love sports and watch football or baseball every chance you get. Why not use it in your wedding procession? It certainly wouldn’t be something your guests are expecting or would forget!

If you’re getting married during football season, begin by playing high-energy music to give an arena-like feel. As you walk down the aisle hold a football instead of a beautiful bouquet and, if you can do it properly, throw it to your dad (or whoever is walking you down the aisle) and he will throw it to the groom. At the end of the ceremony, the official can set up goal posts and both of you can score a touchdown to symbolize the beginning of your marriage.

If your wedding is during baseball season, play “Centerfield” by John Fogerty for your procession and hold a baseball in a catcher’s mitt rather than the usual bouquet. Toss the ball to your dad, who can catch it in his glove and then toss it to your gloved spouse-to-be. When the “I dos” have been said, the official can set down a home plate and, as newlyweds, you can both swing the bat and hit the ball thrown by the official. Make sure this is done at an outdoor wedding only—you wouldn’t want to break a window!

Don’t Carry a Bouquet—Make One!

If you’re looking for a touching and meaningful twist on the traditional procession, let those that are closest to you (and not in the wedding party) take part! Down the side of the procession aisle, line up the family members and friends that mean the world to you. As you make your way to the front, each person gives you a beautiful flower. This lets you take some time to speak with those that are very important to you. Plus, if you’re a bit nervous, it’s a great way for you to relax a little. When you collect the flower from the person nearest to the front, you’ll have a gorgeous bouquet filled with support and love!

Let Your Profession Be an Inspiration

Show off your line of work by including it in the festivities. Whatever your job is, there’s going to be a way to include it—you’ll probably have to use your imagination for some. This could have a special meaning for the two of you if you met at your workplace.

Some good examples are: if you and your fiancé are a flight attendant and pilot, use the Frank Sinatra song “Come Fly with Me” for your walk down the aisle; your partner can wear a pilot hat and you can wear a scarf. If you work in a restaurant as a chef, a chef’s hat would be a great replacement for your headpiece. Don’t forget to extend this dress code to the groomsmen and bridesmaids.

Or maybe you’re a veterinarian or veterinary assistant; allow your pet to walk with you. While this would work best with dogs, believe it or not, there are cats that do well on leashes too.

Variations on the Traditional Walk

If you like the traditional procession but want to change things slightly, here are some versions for you to consider:

• Your family and friends will be pleasantly shocked to see you and your fiancé simultaneously walk up different aisles and meet at the front. When the ceremony is complete, both of you will walk down the same aisle signifying that you’re now joined as one.

• If you just can’t pick someone to escort you down the aisle—or your father has passed on—this version might work for you. After the bridesmaids and groomsmen have walked down, make your big entrance—but wait there. Your partner can either appear at your side or walk to you from the front; both of you then walk down the aisle together. There won’t be a dry eye at the ceremony as this represents you’ll never have to walk alone. Or you can do what I did, and walk alone. My father passed almost 6 years before my wedding day, and I knew there was absolutely no one who could take his place. He was indeed walking beside me that day. I also have a friend who decided to walk alone as well. For purely feminist reasons – the only person who could “give her away”, was herself!

• Why shouldn’t the groom get to walk down the aisle too? In fact, he can walk in after you to his own music. That’ll give everyone something to talk about! This is terrific for same-sex couples who both want their chance to shine.

• After the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk down the aisle, your guests will be expecting you to appear. Surprise them by appearing at the side or front of the altar; take your place where the groom usually stands and let the groom walk up the aisle. When he’s in front of you, he’ll bend on one knee and your father will give him your hand; thus symbolizing the groom asking to marry you instead of “giving the bride away”.

• There isn’t a rule that says you need to have just one escort (or any at all). So ask your dad to walk halfway down the aisle with you then have your husband-to-be meet you and walk the other half with you to the front.

Eliminate the Aisle

You and your fiancé just don’t care for the idea of an aisle and want a creative setting. So how about getting rid of the aisles all together and replacing it with a circle? Now that’s different! There are two choices for a circle ceremony. One option is to arrange your guests to stand—or sit—in a circle; you and your fiancé will stand in the two spaces that are left open for the ceremony. The other alternative is to have your guests form a spiral; you must walk through the spiral to reach the center where the ceremony will take place.

So however you decide to walk down the aisle, have some fun giving everyone a sense of who you two are. But, whether you pick something from this blog or create your own, both of you need to keep the procession a secret—after all, the goal is to amaze your guests and perhaps even make your wedding unforgettable.