An assembly (200, 200', 200") for loading a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve into a delivery device, comprising: a compression member (202, 202', 1502, 1602, 1802, 2002) having a longitudinal axis, a first open end (208, 1508, 1608) with a first diameter, a second open end (210, 1510, 1610) with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a wall decreasing in diameter from the first open end to the second open end, the wall defining an open space adapted to receive the valve; a support member (204, 504, 1504, 1604, 1704, 1804, 1904, 2004) having a longitudinal axis, a base and a recess (226, 1526, 1626, 1826) extending along the longitudinal axis and adapted to receive an end of the valve, the support member and the compression member being movable relative to one another between an initial position in which the base of the support member is relatively far from the first open end of the compression member and an operative position in which the base of the support member is relatively close to the first open end of the compression member, wherein movement of the support member and the compression member from the initial position to the operative position pushes the valve through the open space such that the valve is radially compressed by the tapered wall of the compression member as the valve advances through the open space; and a constricting member (300, 300', 300'', 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000) having a first end, a second end (306, 806, 906), a tubular portion (302, 602, 702, 822, 1022) between the first end and the second end, the tubular portion having a lumen (304, 604, 704, 804) with a substantially constant diameter sized to slidably receive at least a distal sheath of the delivery device, the second end of the constricting member being sized to receive the compressed valve from the second open end of the compression member, characterized in that the constricting member further comprises a first end member (308, 610, 710) on the second end, the first end member having a free end with a first diameter connectable to the compression member, another end connected to the tubular portion and having a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a wall decreasing in diameter from the free end to the another end. a compression member (202, 202', 1502, 1602, 1802, 2002) having a longitudinal axis, a first open end (208, 1508, 1608) with a first diameter, a second open end (210, 1510, 1610) with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a wall decreasing in diameter from the first open end to the second open end, the wall defining an open space adapted to receive the valve; a support member (204, 504, 1504, 1604, 1704, 1804, 1904, 2004) having a longitudinal axis, a base and a recess (226, 1526, 1626, 1826) extending along the longitudinal axis and adapted to receive an end of the valve, the support member and the compression member being movable relative to one another between an initial position in which the base of the support member is relatively far from the first open end of the compression member and an operative position in which the base of the support member is relatively close to the first open end of the compression member, wherein movement of the support member and the compression member from the initial position to the operative position pushes the valve through the open space such that the valve is radially compressed by the tapered wall of the compression member as the valve advances through the open space; and a constricting member (300, 300', 300'', 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000) having a first end, a second end (306, 806, 906), a tubular portion (302, 602, 702, 822, 1022) between the first end and the second end, the tubular portion having a lumen (304, 604, 704, 804) with a substantially constant diameter sized to slidably receive at least a distal sheath of the delivery device, the second end of the constricting member being sized to receive the compressed valve from the second open end of the compression member, characterized in that the constricting member further comprises a first end member (308, 610, 710) on the second end, the first end member having a free end with a first diameter connectable to the compression member, another end connected to the tubular portion and having a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a wall decreasing in diameter from the free end to the another end.