Standing up at the Chuppa when the Kallah passes by

Question

Last night I was at a wedding, and when I stood up as the bride was passing by on the way to the Chuppa, a fellow in all seriousness told me "It is not proper and a lack of Tzniyus to stand up for the bride". I told him that I am certain that there is a valid source for doing so as we see that it is a Minhag Yisroel that people stand up when the bride passes by. What is the source?

Answer 1

I don't have a source for the custom, but I think it's irrelevant. The onus is upon him to show a source that it isn't tznius. Standing for a woman in general certainly isn't a violation of tznius - in fact the Gemara says one is obligated to stand up for the wife of a talmid chacham (Shevuos 30b).

Answer 2

See Halachically Speaking (Volume 4, Issue 12, Page 8) where the author brings that many poskim [see footnote 108 for names] actually say to stand the entire Chuppah. (One reason given is because the Chosson is doing a Mitzvah, so we stand in his honor). Common custom however, is not like that.

He then goes on to say:

It is customary to stand when the chosson and kallah walk down the aisle. Some say this is out of respect for the chosson and kallah.

He brings Knesses Hagedolah E.H. 62[:2] as a source for that last reason [though the Knesses Hagedolah is referring to standing for the Chuppah Berachos].

So there you have it: a source.

Answer 3

I have heard it comes from the mishna (Bikurim) that says people in Jerusalem would stand and greet people bringing bikurim, on which the g'mara (Kidushin) says chaviva mitzva b'sha'tah, a mitzva at its right time is beloved [and we stand up for the one doing it].

However, I'll have to find the source that connects that to a bride (and groom).

See also the comments on this answer.