with pages (if she has any) holding up her train.  Each pair in the procession follows the two directly in front by four paces or beats of time.  In the vestibule, every one in the procession must pay attention to the feet directly in front, the pacemakers can follow the army sergeant’s example and say very softly “left, left!” At the end the bride counts eight beats before she and the father put “left foot” forward.  The whole trick is starting; after that they just walk naturally to the beat of the music, but keeping the ones in front as nearly as possible at the same distance.

At the foot of the chancel, the ushers divide.  In a small church, the first two go up the chancel steps and stand at the top; one on the right, the other on the left.  The second two go to a step or two below the first.  If there are more, they stand below again.  Chalk marks can be made on the chancel floor if necessary, but it ought not to be difficult, except for very little children who are flower girls or pages, to learn their position.

[Illustration:  Diagram of Church]

Or in a big church they go up farther, some of them lining the steps, or all of them in front of the choir stalls.  The bridesmaids also divide, half on either side, and always stand in front of the ushers.  The maid of honor’s place is on the left at the foot of the steps, exactly opposite the best man.  Flower girls and pages are put above or below the bridesmaids wherever it is thought “the picture” is best.

The grouping of the ushers and bridesmaids in the chancel or lining the steps also depends upon their number and the size of the church.  In any event, the bridesmaids stand in front of the ushers; half of them on the right and half on the left.  They never stand all on the bride’s side, and the ushers on the groom’s.

=ENTRANCE OF THE BRIDEGROOM=

The clergyman who is to perform the marriage comes into the chancel from the vestry.  At a few paces behind him follows the groom, who in turn is followed by the best man.  The groom stops at the foot of the chancel steps and takes his place at the right, as indicated in the accompanying diagram.  His best man stands directly behind him.  The ushers and bridesmaids always pass in front of him and take their places as noted above.  When the bride approaches, the groom takes only a step to meet her.

A more effective greeting of the bride is possible if the door of the vestry opens into the chancel so that on following the clergyman, the groom finds himself at the top instead of the foot of the chancel steps.  He goes forward to the right-hand side (his left), his best man behind him, and waits where he is until his bride approaches, when he goes down the steps to meet her—­which is perhaps more gallant than to stand at the head of the aisle, and wait for her to join him.