Making a grand entry!

I think the most memorable entry of any wedding I've attended was on a beach in Byron Bay. The bride arrived in a beautiful white gown, although barefooted (apparently it's difficult to walk on soft sand in high heels!) and made her way down the beach to the waiting guests. Most of the guests, however, looked quite concerned that the groom and groomsmen hadn't yet arrived. Had she been stood up on her big day?! Moments later the sound of a light plane was heard overhead and as heads turned skywards several skydivers left the aircraft and made their way with clockwork precision to the beach. The groom parachuted in to land at exactly the right spot beside his bride, followed by his groomsmen (it turns out they were all professional skydivers). They removed their parachutes, put on tuxedos and proceeded with the ceremony. The arrival of the groom even upstaged the wedding I attended where the groom arrived by helicopter!
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I love it when couples do something unexpected and add a unique personal touch to their ceremony. I wrote in a previous blog post about choosing music for the arrival of the bride, but you could also think about whether you want to follow tradition with the bride arriving with her father, or if you want to do something unconventional. In fact, for all sorts of reasons, it's not always appropriate for brides to be walked down the aisle by their fathers. This might be the case, for example, in families where there is no father, or the father hasn't been involved in the bride's life. I've seen brides escorted down the aisle by their mums, children, both parents, or a close friend. Here are a few more options to think about:

1. What's wrong with the bride walking down the aisle on her own?
2. Another option would be for the bride and groom to arrive together and make the procession down the aisle as a couple.
3. Why should the bride get all the attention? How about the groom walking down the aisle first with his groomsmen, and then the bride making a second grand entry?
4. A surprise alternative could be for the bride and groom to be the first to arrive, and then they greet their guests together on their arrival. 
5. Both bride and groom could make their entries at the same time, but coming from different sides and meeting in front of the celebrant.
6. For a traditional arrival with a nice twist, think about the bride being escorted half way down the aisle by a parent, relative or special friend, and then the groom meeting her half-way and walking her the rest of the distance.
7. Of course, there is no limit to how creative you can be and it's just a matter of time and I'll see a bride or groom upstage the helicopter or parachute!

In several posts now I have referred to brides and bridesmaids, grooms and groomsmen. But that's another convention that doesn't have to be set in stone. If the bride has close male friends, or the groom has close female friends, why not include them in the bridal party too? Instead of "bridesmaids" and "groomsmen" it might be time to refer to the bride and groom's companions as their "friends" or "supporters" and lose the gender distinction.

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