Is this a regional thing? The bridesmaids walking up the aisle at the beginning of the ceremony on their own? Seriously I have been to a handful of weddings recently but I truly can’t remember one - as far as I can remember back - where that didn’t happen!
Goskid’s bridesmaids were escorted by the groomsmen…but I do remember way back when, weddings did have the bridesmaids walking alone. Just haven’t seen it recently…
They did it at my wedding (walked up the aisle alone) and at my D’s wedding. The groomsmen escort them out at every wedding I’ve been to.
It is so interesting what each of us focuses on. I know my kids are not having traditional first dances. I know who the bridesmaids are, but not if my son has any best man or groomsmen. I suspect they will write their own vows, their officiant is their former roommate, who is now ordained, she is a love. What made me pleased a few days ago was when my son sent me a picture of a quilt top, that a friend was making for them. He asked me if I thought the top would work as a Chupah. It is gorgeous. Made by a close friend. So,personal.
I just looked back at DS#2’ wedding photos. The bridesmaids walked alone down the aisle, and I think the groomsmen maybe walked them back in the recessional. I really can’t recall (and don’t see that in the pics). Which speaks to the fact that these wont be things that make the wedding stand out. Its their wedding— make gentle suggestions (like your friend the pianist) but let them decide. Its like college applications— they will have ideas and will change their minds. But it will all be treat in the end! Just enjoy it!
@intparent I played the sports music for D, who loved it. She in turn played it for FSIL, who also liked it until he heard it was the PGA tournament theme. One of the groomsmen is into everything golf and FSIL didn’t want him to recognize it (who cares, I said). So…D played it for him and…it was familiar, but he didn’t know why. I think it’s back in the #1 spot, but the wedding is in August.
Didn’t someone upthread’s d and SIL consider using the PGA golf music?
My SIL wanted to use the Master’s theme. He dropped it when I asked them to consider other options.
Yes, I thought it was intparent. I played it after I read the post (and discussion)…and passed it on to D.
@abasket, I don’t know if it’s regional but in our case I think it was logistical. The bridesmaids/men and groomsmen were not standing up front, they all sat in the first two rows because the couple just wanted their siblings and parents standing with them under the chuppah. They didn’t have a traditional MOH or BM, either, just the bride’s two brothers standing up for her and my son’s brother and sister standing up for him.
What I learned in all the planning for the wedding was that it was really important to my S and DIL that the day “feel” like them and I think they succeeded, In our case the unexpected happened when a pea hen and her baby crossed their path as the photographer was shooting and the sea lions added their own “live music” to the string quartet at the ceremony…things like that happen when you get married at the zoo! Brought a smile to everyone’s face. I’m sure whatever decisions are made will create a wonderful, beautiful, meaningful day for all.
For parents who are in the planning stage, I highly recommend to have a videographer at the wedding. Sometimes photos do not capture everything. D1 had few friends who did not like their wedding pictures, especially if some key people were not in those pictures. We have looked through D1’s video(s) a few times and each time we noticed something new.
Agree with @oldfort . We liked our pictures…even though many had to be taken indoors because it was cold and raining…but a video would have been nice.
One of DS#1’s friends videoed the ceremony on his phone. it was nice to be able to hear the vows and the ketubah ,which was beautifully written, was read aloud. DS#2 did not have his wedding videoed. I would like to hear the processional guitarist… oh well 
While our videographer had some technical difficulties, we were also glad to have the videos. I had not anticipated how meaningful it would be to see missed moments captured and be able to hear the ceremony and toasts again. The bi-cultural wedding had multiple events and as hosts, we had our eyes on many rapidly moving parts. It was a treat to re-visit the day.
DD was focused on the photographer and wondered if the videography would feel intrusive. Not at all; they stated that the photographer would always be “primary” and that they would be capturing moments, not attempting to create them. Also, for friends and relatives unable to attend, it meant a lot to see the video.
yes yes yes to videographer. My father was ill and couldn’t attend, so he loved seeing and also hearing the speeches at the reception and seeing the first dance. Goskid was also happy to see the processional of her wedding party…and her in laws and I …as she had not entered the church yet. And it was lovely to hear the music…
Anyone want to share how expensive wedding photography is? We don’t need hundreds of photos (I went through every one of about 300 pix from a friend’s D’s wedding and 90% were just mix/match or repeats.)
Btw, D1 not getting engaged this evening. BF has a cold. Ugh!
Or cold feet! 
Just kidding! Hope the engagement can happen soon!
Ha! But I spoke with him last night and he sounds awful. And the ring is here, hidden in the house, so she can’t find it at their place.
I’m not antsy about this. But since he’s not doing this tonight, I get to go to dinner with a friend. He wants to propose in the spot here where he first told her he loved her. So he wants me here to lure her.
Frankly, I’m divided about beng here. I feel strongly that it’s their relationship, two great young adults. But happy he feels comfy with me.
S1 had a videographer. So happy because MOB was very ill and had been released from the hospital only a few hours for the wedding. She was heavily medicated (we did not know how long she would live) and remembered nothing of the wedding. She survived and has so enjoyed watching the video.
I haven’t been able to talk D1 into it…says it doesnt fit the budget.
D1’s photographer did both the engagement and wedding pictures. The engagement pictures were a trial run to let them know each other style. If the engagement pictures didn’t turn out well, D1 would have changed the photographer. Photographers have their own pricing scheme. D1’s photographer was not into putting photo albums together or selling pictures individually. She charged us one flat rate and she gave us all of her pictures. D1 loaded them up to google share and all guests could download any pictures they wanted. D1 then spent some time to make albums for parents and themselves.