Alternative to 'giving away the bride'

Our officiant is saying "Who blesses the union of this couple?" or something along those lines, I don't remember exactly.

Are you getting married in a church? I haven't gotten this far yet, but in all the ceremony options I read over from my officiant, there is no language for giving the bride away at all, so it's fine to just skip it altogether. But I'm not having a religious ceremony.

Maybe "who gives their blessing for this bride to marry this groom today?"

We had a very traditional wedding (Jewish) and there were no lines of "giving away the bride". Both my parents walked me down the aisle, gave me a kiss, then shook DH's hand and I walked to him...

Just skip the line, or ask your officiant to skip this part. I'm not a feminist by any means, but "giving away the bride" doesn't sit well with me..

You could just have your father walk you, kiss your cheek, shake your FH's hand, then sit down. That's what I want my brother to do for me.

I don't do this while you're still standing in front. Everyone is seated, then I start with a reading, then I address the parents.

Parents (although it might feel like only yesterday), two children were born into this world, and in them, you saw infinite hope and possibility. You loved them, you rejoiced with them and you cried with them. You have given the inspiring examples of happy and successful marriages; proof of hard work and rich reward. On this day, we see them taking a new step, but it is not a step away from you; it is a step with you beside them as they start their married life.

Parents do you support your daughter Shu on this glorious day and welcome Tony into your family? Yakov and Larissa do you support your son Tony on this glorious day and welcome Shu into your family?

We didn't have any kind of line. My dad walked me down the aisle, gave me a hug, shook Ricky's hand and went to his seat.

We aren't doing anything. My parents are walking my down the aisle, then giving me a hug, probably shaking FH's hand, and taking their seats.

Ha! I feel the same way and I am totally dreading telling my dad because I don't think he'll understand my feelings about it. What I plan to do is have my dad walk me down the aisle, but a little bit before I make it to my FH I want to walk the rest of the way by myself. I just don't like the "passing" of me from man to man, I feel I've made it this far on my own and I'd like to walk those last few steps by myself..nothing needs to be. I will give my dad a kiss and I'm sure an I LOVE YOU. Maybe it can work for u!

@Love4slife, no, it's a very secular ceremony in a wedding hall.

@Celia, that's an excellent suggestion! I do like the idea of including parental blessing, so I might incorporate something like that.

Celia - epic. Clapping over here.

Why thank you! Virtually none of my brides (or grooms for that matter) want to be 'given' like an old coffee table, lol...BUT it's a moment that parents have been thinking about for years. I hate taking that away from them, and I think it's sweet that they can voice their support for you!

I am the same way. I told my dad and he misinterpreted me as saying i didnt want him to walk me down the aisle! he was so crushed! i didnt know until my mom frantically texted me hours later begging me to let him, so be careful @Soontobemrs!

our officiant is not doing any alternative. my dad will walk me down and we'll go straight into the ceremony

We are doing something similar to what Celia suggested. Our officiant will ask "Who presents this woman and this man to be married to each other?" And all 4 of our parents will say we do.

Im having my best friend and my brother giving me away.. my best friwns is a guy and i only have one brother so thats my alternative.

At my mom's third wedding (nope, she's not married to HIM anymore, either...) the officiant asked, "Who presents this couple to be married?" and my older sister and I said, "We do".

I asked my dad to escort me. I'm not going to have the officiant say anything about it.

"Who stands with this woman/man to represent her/his family and traditions?"

Yes, I ask the groom's parents, also.

We did this:

"Today, as we join James and Lara in marriage, we celebrate them as they begin a new family together. Yet we also know that this new branch of the family tree will be strengthened and enriched by the love, traditions, and knowledge of their family roots.

Will you FOB and MOB, FOG and MOG, bless James and Lara in their marriage? Will you celebrate them in their times of joy, and bolster them and their marriage in times of hardship? "

Our officiant suggested: "Who supports this woman today?" yada yada yada..."

That's what we're going to use. I would never want to take away from my dad's moment because of all he and my mother have done for me. I'm also 33 years old, so "giving me away" is not just icky, it's silly. This was verbiage we could all feel good about.