Your wedding reception is a time for excitement and celebration. While the newlyweds will shine as the stars of the night, it is a thoughtful gesture to give a spotlight to your bridal party—the people who helped make your magical night a success.
Adding a theme or gimmick to your wedding party introductions will get your guests excited for the rest of the night. Some entrance ideas for your bridesmaids and groomsmen specifically include a flash mob, a lighthearted roast, a luau, and wearing meme-themed costumes.
Below are over 20 ideas you can consider adding to your reception festivities, along with a step-by-step guide for how to set up a fantastic bridal party entrance.
Unforgettable Entrance Ideas for Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
1. Flash Mob Fiesta
Picture this: all your guests talking at the reception, drinking and having fun, and then suddenly—loud, upbeat music starts playing. There might be a change in lighting, too, and the master of ceremonies can start hyping the crowd up.
One by one, the bridesmaids and groomsmen can join in on a meticulously choreographed dance—one they have been practicing for weeks. The energy is contagious, and the moves are slick, and in less than a minute, you will have everyone singing and dancing along.
2. Costume Party
Each pair of bridal party members can make a grand entrance in costumes. Give them free rein for the theme; they can dress up in period outfits, pretend they are Disney princes and princesses, and so on.
3. Mystery Masquerade
Why not evoke an air of mystery and glamor at your reception? Give your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and bridesmates a mask, let them practice their elegant walk, and entertain your guests with this alluring and intriguing entrance idea for your bridal party.
4. Roller Skate Into the Venue
If you are having a retro-themed reception, lean into it with this bridesmaids and groomsmen entrance idea. Let them dress up in era-appropriate gear, play some ’70s and ’80s music, and give everyone a bad case of nostalgia.
5. Parade of Lanterns
A nighttime reception by itself is an intimate and romantic event. Make it even more enchanting by having your groomsmen and bridesmaids enter with their own lanterns. The soft glow from the lantern will create a lovely effect at the venue—you can even incorporate these lanterns into your venue’s decor!
6. Have Them Roast Each Other
This idea for the bridesmaids and groomsmen’s entrance is unconventional and unique, but it can be fantastic if they already know each other well.
As a pair of bridesmaids and groomsmen reach the end of the path, give them a microphone. Tell them to roast each other—that is, make fun of and tease each other lightheartedly. This is a funny and engaging way of introducing everyone in your bridal party to the rest of your guests.
7. Personalized Music Medley
Music is a big part of most people’s lives. For a simple yet unforgettable entrance idea for your bridesmaids and groomsmen, take the songs most important to them and arrange them into a medley. Play them as they enter—they can even dance along.
8. Enter on Piggybacks
A classic and well-loved entrance idea for bridal parties, one person will ride on the other’s back as they enter the reception venue. Although simple, this idea will give everyone a good time and a bright smile.
9. Epic Sports Entry
Channel your inner sports fan and have your bridal party enter like they are athletes being introduced at an arena. Think basketball players wearing matching jerseys, running through an aisle with cheerleaders—something your nieces and nephews can cutely do—while their names are being chanted by the audience.
10. Historical Costume Parade
Take idea number two above and turn it historical. Look back at the different eras throughout world history and take inspiration from the best fashions of each era. Think of the togas from ancient Greece, the tubular day dresses of the 1920s, or the empire dress silhouettes of the late 18th to early 19th centuries.
11. United Nations Parade
Instead of costumes, you can give each pair of bridesmaids and groomsmen a flag to represent different countries. They can coordinate their outfits to match the color scheme of their flags.
Alternatively, you can group people according to their countries. This is a great idea if you have a culturally diverse bridal party. Instead of in pairs, they can walk in groups to represent their nations and cultures.
12. Tiaras and Sashes
Make your bridal party feel like royalty with this idea for a bridesmaid’s and groomsman’s entrance. Give them crowns, tiaras, and sashes, and watch lectures on the proper way to wave as a royal.
To go the extra mile, you can even practice the Received Pronunciation accent to truly seem like you are a part of royalty. This will make everyone laugh as they introduce themselves.
13. Roll Out the Red Carpet
For a simple but effective bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’s entrance idea, bring out the bright red carpet and put it along the aisle.
Go even further by making a custom backdrop and adding blinking light effects to mimic the paparazzi. Your bridal party will feel like A-list celebrities walking to a movie premiere.
14. Superhero Reveal
Underneath their formal attire, have your bridesmaids and groomsmen wear a superhero costume. Once they get to the front, they can reveal which superhero they are to everyone.
15. Starry Night Entrance
For a low-key but just as enchanting entrance idea, dim the rest of the lights and put on a projector to display twinkling stars. Celestial and soothing music can play in the background.
16. Star Wars-Themed Entrance
May the force be with everybody as they walk into the reception venue. Let everyone dress as their favorite character—or put them into groups—and give them props like lightsabers.
17. Harry Potter-Themed Entrance
This time, let your bridesmaids and groomsmen dress as their designated house. You can also provide props, such as wands, scarves, glasses, and hats. You can also play music from the official soundtrack to sell the theme even further.
18. Mythical Bridal Party
For this entrance idea for your bridal party, let your guests dress up as mythical and otherworldly creatures. Think elves, fairies, unicorns, knights in shining armor, and other figures from mythology and folklore. Not only does it look enchanting, but it is also a wonderful way to introduce everyone to different cultures.
19. Flower Power Entrance
This idea works best for couples who had a rustic, outdoor, or ‘60s or ‘70s-themed wedding. Give your bridal party flower crowns, ask them to wear their best attire with a flower motif, and tell them they can walk into the venue barefoot.
20. Tropical Luau
Make your outdoor beach reception even more romantic and memorable with a luau-themed bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’s entrance. Give your bridal party grass skirts, leis, flower crowns, temporary tattoos, and Hawaiian shirts. As a bonus, enroll your bridal party in hula dancing lessons!
21. Bring Memes to Life
If your bridal party members are millennials and Gen Zs, this entrance idea is a perfect and comedic fit. Let them dress up as people or characters from iconic memes from Vine or TikTok.
Although not everyone will get each reference, the joy and laughter this will give your bridesmaids and groomsmen will be unmatched.
22. Cosplay Entrance
Are you, your bridesmaids, and groomsmen fans of anime? In this case, a cute and memorable entrance idea for your bridal party is having everyone cosplay.
You have two options. First, your bridal party can simply dress up as their favorite character. Second, you can pick your favorite anime and have everyone choose a character to dress up as.
Planning a Bridesmaids and Groomsmen’s Entrance: Guide
Brainstorm With Your Bridal Party
Before anything else, sit down with your groomsmen and bridesmaids to discuss how they want the wedding party introductions to go. Present the ideas you currently have and ask how they feel about them.
Even though the bride and groom get the final say, do not stop discussing until you at least reach a compromise. It is important for everyone to have fun and be comfortable.
Decide What Music to Play
For some bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’s entrance ideas, which music to include in your song checklist is straightforward. For example, Hedwig’s Theme is an iconic and instantly recognizable song from the Harry Potter soundtrack.
If that is not the case in your situation, ask for input from your bridal party. You can also include your DJ in the conversation. Find an appropriate song for the vibe of the entrance—be it celestial, upbeat, dramatic, or anything in between.
Take Care of the Costumes and Props
You can find a costume rental company, buy them from retailers, or have your bridal party create their costumes themselves. The same goes for appropriate props. The better the costumes and props, the more your bridal party and your guests will be immersed.
Rehearse the Entrance
As soon as possible, start blocking and practicing your bridal party’s entrance. Get everyone familiarized with where the path starts, where they have to stop for photos or speeches, and where to go after their turn is done.
Once the blockings are settled, start refining the execution of the bridesmaids and groomsmen’s entrances. Practice choreographies, skits, and other gimmicks you and your bridal party may have in mind.
Get the Timing Right
Ideally, you should first give all your guests time to get to the reception venue. Depending on how many guests you have, allot 30–60 minutes for this waiting period.
Hype Everyone Up
Right before the bridal party enters, make sure everyone is energized and hyped up. Play exciting music, have a dance party, and cheer for everyone in your bridal party. While your guests wait, the emcee and the DJ should get everyone on the edge of their seats.
