Each Wednesday, we tackle wedding etiquette. At times, it’s a reader question or one from a colleague, friend or family member and other times we’ll cover a popular issue. (Note: Questions may be edited for clarity and brevity.)
Question: My best friend is getting married to his boyfriend of five years in the fall and asked me to be his best woman. His fiancé asked his brother to be his best man. Both of us are also helping the couple out with the planning as much as possible. While running through some of the ceremony basics, we were all wondering, who walks the grooms down the aisle?
Answer: Congratulations to your friends. It sounds like they picked the right man and woman for the job of best man and woman. Over the years, even heterosexual couples have started switching up the convention of who walks whom down the aisle, so whether it’s a heterosexual couple or same sex, this is yet another moment for the couple to create their own tradition. Some couples opt to have a parent or trusted and beloved loved one or friend walk one or both down the aisle and some walk together. Others walk alone following the officiant or just come out each side and meet in the middle. Religious practices and traditions can also come into play. So if it’s a religious ceremony, check with the officiant before making any decisions. If you haven’t yet discovered Steven Petrow, “Civilities” columnist for the Washington Post and author of “Steven Petrow’s Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners: The Definitive Guide to LGBT Life,” I recommend visiting his website, grabbing the book and following his column. He’s always a wealth of information.
Do you have a solution to share or a wedding etiquette question? Respond in the comments or email Melanie@MyNewOrleans.com.
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