Fun & Unique Bridal Party Entrance Ideas for Your Big Day
A bridesmaid and a groomsmen entering a reception together dancing. Image by Stacy Smith Studios.
Your bridal party is an important part of your special day. Not only do they offer support throughout the entire planning process, but they are at your side as you say your vows!
That’s why the bridal party entrance is so important. It introduces each member to the rest of the guests. Plus, it helps set the tone for your own grand entrance!
Let’s look at some memorable bridal party entrance ideas you can use to wow your guests and honor your bridesmaids and groomsmen!
Traditional Entrance Ideas
A groomsmen and a bridesmaid walking together arm-in-arm. Image by Wedding Spot.
The Traditional Walk-In
A procession of bridesmaids and groomsmen is the most traditional way to usher in your bridal party to the reception.
You can opt to have each pair walk in together or solo. Choose an upbeat song and plan something fun to keep the momentum going. For instance, have the DJ shine a spotlight on each person as they enter or coordinate a pop of confetti to hold the guests’ attention.
Prep each member of the bridal party so they will know what to expect and where to stand once their time in the spotlight is over.
The Organized Announcement
Another popular way to introduce your bridal party is by announcing each one as they enter by name. This helps the guests get to know each person and honors their role in your special day.
Give your DJ a list of your bridal party and their relationship to the bride and groom. You can go a step further by adding a fun fact about each one that helps their personality shine.
The “Strike a Pose”
This entrance adds a special twist to the traditional procession. Ask each member or pair in your bridal party to strike a fun pose when they first enter the space or when their name is called.
This will make for an excellent photo op and help each person show their personality. The poses can be as tame or unique as possible. Be sure to communicate what vibe you are going for to avoid any embarrassing moments!
The Gauntlet
Surround yourself with your bridal party by having them line the path you’ll walk into the reception. You can have each member announced or ask them to enter the area in pairs.
Line the bridesmaids up on one side and the groomsmen on the other. Have them hold a fun prop like flowers, swords, or even lightsabers for you and your spouse to walk under!
This is an easy, low-prep entrance method that works well if most of your bridal party is traveling in for the wedding.
Creative and Unique Entrances
A groom with his groomsmen lifting him up for a picture.
The Theme Song
Ask each pair or member to choose their own entrance or theme song. Assign a genre to keep things cohesive or let your bridal party loose.
If you’re a Mamma Mia fan, you can ask them to choose a disco song. If boy bands are more your thing, have them dance into the venue to one of your favorite hits!
This will require some planning and advanced notice. You will also have to plan the entrance with your DJ to ensure the songs are in the correct order.
The Photo Montage
Give a nod to the past by using childhood photos of each bridal party member before they enter. You can project the images onto a screen or white curtain and have them step through.
This is a great way to capture your guests’ attention and show how much they have changed! You’ll have to ask for the photos in advance, practice, and ask someone to run the technology portion to ensure a smooth party entrance.
The Superhero
If you or your spouse is a Marvel or DC fan, ask your bridal party to dress up as different superheroes for their entrance!
You can go simple with masks and detachable capes or go big with intricate costumes. Ask your DJ to cue up theme music for each character. When it’s your turn to enter, the crowd will be brimming with energy!
The Flash Mob
While this entrance takes a lot of preparation, the payoff is huge! Coordinate with your bridal party and a select few guests and create a flash mob!
A flash mob is a dance or random act done by a large group of people, who immediately disperse like nothing happened. You can plan a fun dance number that leads to you and your spouse entering the reception area.
Or, if you want a surprise, ask your bridal party to plan this on their own and perform it after your own entrance.
Fun and Humorous Entrances
Two members of the bridal party riding on big wheel toy cars. Image by Bridal Guide.
The Big Wheel
If you’re looking to make your guests laugh, have your bridal party ride in on Big Wheels! These miniature electric cars are a staple in many backyards so that you can borrow them from friends and family!
Use a mixture of different styles or thrift used models and paint them to reflect your theme or style. Your bridal party will have a ball driving in and the visual will have everyone in stitches!
The Costume
Costumes aren’t just for Halloween! They can be a great addition to your bridal party entrance. The best part is that this approach is extremely customizable.
The best costumes to get laughs are the ever-popular inflatable costumes! Have someone dress in an inflatable dinosaur costume and have them chase your bridesmaids around the reception area.
Or have your bridal party feign an alien attack by choosing a costume that makes it look like they are being kidnapped by space invaders!
The Skit
If you’re looking to add some performance art to your bridal party entrance, plan a funny skit.
Go for a fishing pole gag or some physical comedy, like having a willing participant fall or having someone’s wig fall off.
There are endless possibilities. This entrance idea will require lots of preparation and planning! Each bridal party member will have to know their lines and be ready for their cue.
The Green Screen
If you are tech-savvy and have a reception space with screens, plan some green screen fun to make your guests laugh!
You can purchase inexpensive chroma key backgrounds that will make your bridal party look like they are sailing, riding a horse, or skiing down a mountainside!
The effects can happen live or you can pre-record them and have your bridesmaids and groomsmen enter after their hilarious clip.
Grand and Luxurious Entrances
Members of the bridal party holding sparklers for the bride and groom. Image by Dalila Moreira.
The Gorgeous Glow
Nighttime weddings will make sparklers pop. So have your bridal party wave glowing sparklers, paper lanterns, or balloons with LED lights as they enter.
It will look great in photos and offer a soft glow for photos of your own special entrance. The visuals will be stunning and you won’t have to do much prep beforehand.
The Ride-In-Style
There’s more than one way to make a grand entrance. Have your bridal party enter on bikes, rickshaws, or even horses!
If you have the space and budget, you can even enlist elephants to bring your bridal party into the reception! It’s a great way to make a big impression.
The Champagne Pop
Have your bridal party pop bottles of champagne or sip drinks as they enter the reception area. They can also clink glasses and raise them as the DJ calls their name.
To make this entrance even more special, invest in food-safe dyes that match your color scheme to dye their drinks!
The Romantic Slow Dance
If you’re looking for a relaxed vibe for your reception, opt for a romantic slow dance entrance.
You can have your bridal party take professional ballroom dance lessons or choreograph it yourself using YouTube videos as inspiration.
This entrance will look beautiful with long, flowy bridesmaid dresses. To make it even more romantic, have each pair hold LED candles as they dance.
Entrance Planning Tips
The right entrance helps make a smooth transition from the ceremony to the reception. But it takes time to find the right bridal party entrance idea and plan it.
Here are some ways you can ensure your bridal party entrance goes off without a hitch!
Plan Early: Whether you want an elaborate entrance or a more subdued one, make sure you plan early to avoid an unclear vision.
Choose the Entrance That Fits Your Special Day: Don’t feel pressured to pick an elaborate bridal party entrance.
Communicate with Your DJ: Be clear with your DJ about your entrance vision. Triple-check that they have the correct music order and can pronounce everyone’s name correctly.
Schedule Rehearsal Time: Even simple entrances need practice. Schedule rehearsals for all of your bridal party. Squeeze one in before the rehearsal dinner so the routine or plan is fresh in their minds.
Have Fun: Your special day should reflect all of your careful planning. So don’t forget to let loose and have fun. Even if something doesn’t go exactly as planned, keep moving forward and celebrate your day!
Plan Your Entrance Items Into Your Wedding Checklist: If you’re using any special props, items, or attire for your bridal party entrances, make sure to include it in your wedding decor checklist. This will make it easy to ensure these items get to your venue on your wedding day and that you have everything you need to pull it together.