Tips for Walking Down the Aisle

Walking down the aisle is one of the most iconic moments of any wedding day. Whether you're the bride or a bridesmaid, it's a moment you'll never forget. But, with all eyes on you, it can also be a nerve-wracking experience. As a professional wedding filmmaker the walk down the aisle is one of the most important moments of the day for me to capture well & is always a huge moment in a wedding film. So, to help you feel confident & comfortable on your walk down the aisle, I've compiled some of the best tips from my experience filming this magical & timeless moment so that you can make sure you have the most beautiful, elegant & timeless walking down the aisle shot.

1. Practice Makes Perfect

The first and most important tip for walking down the aisle is to practice. No matter how confident you are, it's always a good idea to rehearse your walk a few times before the big day. This will help you get familiar with the space, the timing, and any potential obstacles. If you're wearing heels, practice walking in them on different surfaces to get used to the feel & don’t forget about your dress! Walking in your wedding dress, especially if it has a long train or is particularly heavy will alter the way you walk naturally & so try to have some kind of practice run beforehand so that you don’t feel uncomfortable on the day.

2. Go Bush to Bush!

When it comes to holding your bouquet while walking down the aisle, the key is to go bush to bush (as crude as it sounds, but this way you’ll remember it!). This means holding your flowers nice & low, so that everyone can see your face as you make your way down the aisle. Holding your bouquet too high can obscure your face and make it difficult for me as your filmmaker & your photographer to capture those important moments. When holding your bouquet, keep your arms relaxed and slightly away from your body. This will help you avoid a cramped or uncomfortable posture. If you're unsure how to hold your bouquet, practice in front of a mirror or with a friend until you find a comfortable and natural position. If you're a bridesmaid, coordinate with your fellow bridesmaids to make sure everyone is holding their bouquets at a similar height. This will help create a cohesive look in your wedding photos and make it easier for your photographer to capture those beautiful moments.

3. Walk Slowly and Steadily

When it comes to the actual walk down the aisle, take it slow and steady. Don't rush, as this can make you more likely to stumble or trip. Take small steps and focus on putting one foot in front of the other. If you're nervous, it can be helpful to look at your partner or a fixed point ahead of you to help you stay on track. It’s completely natural to feel nervous, but a by product of this is that you’ll speed up. Some aisles are not very long at all & we need a few seconds to capture those amazing steps you’re taking- so slow down, breath it in & thoroughly enjoy that moment!

4. Breathe and Relax

Walking down the aisle can be an emotional experience, but it's important to remember to breathe and relax. Take a few deep breaths before you start walking and continue to breathe slowly and evenly throughout your walk & if you’re getting emotional, then that’s absolutely ok! It’s perfectly normal to cry, shed a tear, laugh etc, but as long as you’re relaxed all of these reactions will look amazing when you watch them back.

5. Smile and Make Eye Contact

As you walk down the aisle, be sure to smile and make eye contact with your partner and your guests- they’ve all come here to celebrate with you! This is a joyful moment, and your smile and eye contact will help everyone feel the love and happiness in the air. I’ve filmed some brides who were so overcome with nerves they stared at the floor for their entire walk down the aisle, which isn’t how you should feel. Try to focus on something if you are feeling particularly anxious- I normally say to my brides to simply look at your future husband, because once your eyes meet you’ll both smile & trust me, you’ll both feel immediately more at ease with the situation!

6. Coordinate with Your Bridesmaids

If you're a bridesmaid, coordinating with your fellow bridesmaids can make your walk down the aisle smoother & more cohesive. Decide on a pace and stick to it, & make sure everyone knows where they need to be & when- it’s a good idea to do this well ahead of time because you don’t want to be trying to sort this out as the music has started playing & you’re about to take your first steps! Don’t be scared to leave a big gap in between each other, because you’ll converge on each other as you reach the end of the aisle. Consider walking in pairs or in a single file line, depending on the size of the aisle & almost as importantly, know where your seats or final position is going to be so you can walk straight there. I have lost countless of shots of bridesmaids or even the bride walking down the aisle because the bridesmaids didn’t know where they were sitting or going too, so they were still in the aisle which meant I didn’t have a clean shot of the next person walking down.

7. Don’t worry about your Flower Girls & Paige boys

Flower Girls & Paige boys are normally quite young & so don’t build up too much expectation on them to simply walk down the aisle as planned. They are being put in a very surreal situation that they won’t fully understand, so be prepared for them to either cry, run back up the aisle towards you or panic. If this happens, don’t worry about it- let their parents deal with them & if Mum is a bridesmaid then let them walk down together.

8. Know which side you’ll be on

Traditionally your Father (or whoever is giving you away) should stand on your left, because as you walk down the aisle the Groom will be stood on the right hand side. Dad, or whoever you’ve chosen to walk you down the aisle, can be a great calming influence, so hold onto their arm & enjoy your walk together!

9. Designate a Bridesmaid to be you ‘Fluffer’

When you reach the end of the aisle you’ll be greeted by your future Husband & the Registrar or Vicar. There will be a short period of time as the music ends & everyone settles down, & you may be asked to pass your bouquet to someone. Designate one of your Bridesmaids to be your ‘fluffed’, so they can quickly dart out during this moment & reset your dress & your train as it may have clumped together during your walk down the aisle. We want that lovely dress fluffed out for the whole ceremony!

As a wedding filmmaker, I've seen countless brides and bridesmaids walk down the aisle. It's a moment that never fails to inspire awe and emotion, & it's something that you'll cherish for the rest of your life. From my experience, I can tell you that the key to a successful aisle walk is preparation and confidence. By practicing your walk beforehand, walking slowly and steadily, and holding your bouquet low, you can ensure that your aisle walk is smooth and confident. By breathing deeply, smiling, & enjoying the moment, you can make sure that your joy & love shine through in every step.

Remember, your wedding day is all about you & your partner. It's a celebration of your love & your aisle walk is just one small part of that. So don't be too hard on yourself if things don't go perfectly. Just take a deep breath, smile, & know that you're surrounded by love and support.

As a wedding filmmaker, I feel honored to be able to capture these special moments for my clients. It's a privilege to be able to document the love and joy that fills the air on a wedding day, and I can't wait to see you take your walk down the aisle.