How to Work Out Timing for Walking Down the Aisle

how long does it take to walk down the aisle

You have seen this happen in the past, but you have never experienced it yourself.

Today is the day that you get to walk down the aisle towards your prince charming and marry him in front of all your friends and family.

To some, this may be exciting, but for others, it can be quite overwhelming. The Bride to be is often filled with so many questions. How long do I have to walk down the aisle?

What if I fall? What if I get to the end before the song is finished?

In this article, we will give you some advice on how to work out the timing of your walk down the aisle as well as a few tips on how to calm yourself before you go through with it.

How to Work Out the Timing for Your Walk Down the Aisle

There isn’t an exact way to how a bride should time walking down the aisle. All brides have their personal preferences as to how they envision themselves walking down the aisle.

It is a good idea to work with the following variables in mind to prepare yourself and work out the timing that you are going to need.

Consider the Length of The Aisle

It is obvious that the longer the aisle the longer it is going to take the bride to make it to the end to meet her groom.

Perhaps ask your venue if you can have a look at the chapel or garden where you are due to get married beforehand and measure out the length of the aisle.

You can do this by walking it at your own pace and timing how long it takes you to get from the top to the bottom of the aisle.

Go at A Pace You are Happy With

While you are busy testing out the length of the aisle practice walking up and down at different speeds.

Use a timer to time how long it takes you to walk the entire aisle to help you decide what speed you should walk at on your wedding day.

How Long is The Song You are Using?

Some brides chose a song of sentimental value to walk down the aisle to.

Listen to the words of the song and time the lyrics so that you enter the chapel doors at just the right time that the lyrics start.

Organize a Short Rehearsal with The Venue

To ease your mind and alleviate any anxiety that you may be feeling ask the wedding venue if you can stop in for an hour or two to practice.

This way you will know exactly when to start walking down the aisle once your song starts.

How Long Should It Take A Bride to Walk Down the Aisle?

Wondering how long does it take to walk down the aisle is something we’ve all wondered about. In total it shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes for the entire wedding party to walk down the aisle.

On average, the bride should take up no more than 45 seconds of this time.

If you have chosen a song with a musical intro before the lyrics start, then allow the wedding entourage to walk in during the intro of the song and then make your way down the aisle as the lyrics start.

Tips on How to Calm Yourself Just Before Taking the Steps

From when you wake up on your wedding day you are on the go. There is hair to do, make-up to do, bridesmaids to meet, last-minute changes to your reception schedule to stress you out and perhaps even a few little bridesmaids and ring bearers running around in the background screaming and playing.

This is sure to get you a little anxious even before the ceremony has begun! 

Here are a few tips on how to deal with your anxiety and nervousness before you walk down the aisle:

1. Take A Minute to Relax Yourself

Take a few minutes for yourself. Walk away, find a quiet place, and close the door behind you even if it is just for 5 minutes.

Once you have collected yourself and had a few minutes of silence you should feel a little better.

2. Tell Yourself That Being Nervous is Normal

Take a moment to rationalize why you are feeling anxious. Is it because there are going to be a lot of people looking at you?

Could it be that the day has finally arrived together with all the emotions that you have been putting aside while you have been preparing for the wedding?

Once you have taken a moment to understand why you are feeling anxious then you will be able to cope better with your anxiety and relax.

3. Breathe In! Breathe Out! Just Breathe!

What you are feeling is the pre-aisle jitters and is quite normal. The best thing to do if you feel like you are going to have a panic attack is to breathe!

In times of stress and anxiety, many people hold in their breath without even realizing it. Take a few deep breaths in and exhale out while closing your eyes to calm yourself down.

It is the first day of the rest of your life, your wedding day.

There is no need to feel overwhelmed and if you calm yourself down as much as possible and just go with the natural flow of things you will see that your wedding day anxiety was for nothing.