Catholic Brides - Ceremony Processional Questions!!

I would talk to your priest about it. I'm sure they can clarify/accommodate you. Every Catholic wedding I've ever been to, the father has walked the bride down the aisle and given his daughter away, and then the bride and groom walk up to the alter together. (This is how we're doing my wedding too - also in the Catholic church)

The Father of our church never said anything like that. We walk down just like every other normal wedding. I wonder if you can change it? I would call and ask about it.

That's what I'm hoping, too. My problem is that I don't know who I'm being married by now :-(. The church we're marrying at is getting a new priest in June/July. I don't even know his name (or his style) so I'm clueless to what he will require. dang it!

I haven't talked to mine about that but from what I've known the father gives away the daughter.....

They are pretty flexible w/ what you want or dont want as long as it is NOT a full Catholic MASS ceremony. If during a mass then you go with their flow

My Dad had walked my 2 sisters down the aisle and he will be escorting me to Fh as well.

YAY.

Oh, good! You guys are making me feel much better. I was reading this like WHAT???! Huh?? WHY!!?

LOL Its not a full Mass, fh is not catholic

What??!?!?!! who wrote THAT book?

Hmmm, I haven't seen/heard that. FH and I actually went to the second half of our pre-cana today (well yesterday now) and were told that we could decide how to enter. The Father was trying really hard to be modern (said husband and wife instead of man and wife, intentionally excluded anything that referred to wives being submissive and obedient, etc.). Anyway, he talked about a couple who had walked in to together because they were choosing to enter marriage together and the bride was not being given away. I really the symbolism of that, but also want to walk down the aisle toward FH. My understanding is that traditionally the groom and best man enter and wait in the front of the church. I'm planning to walk in with my mother and father, and make my way up the aisle with our two daughters. So far, I haven't heard that there will be any issues with this... Though we haven't decided which priest/deacon will officiate our wedding either.

Is anyone else finding the whole Catholic preparation really stressful? We're doing a full nuptial mass, but I'm getting tired of having Natural Family Planning shoved down my throat, being told that ideally the woman should stay home and be the root of the family, etc. Also, I just found out recently that the women in the bridal party are not to arrive at the church until 5-10 mins before it starts!! I am seriously stressing over that one... Northern Virginia has such crazy traffic sometimes. We're getting ready approx 10 miles away at the hotel where the reception is at, but I feel like I would rather leave the hotel early and sit in the church parking lot if we're there 20 mins early! :p

@ Erica - yeah, its getting a little stressful. I'm not in alt about the Natural Family Planning, either. :-( Luckily I've been able to do most of my pre-cana here in DC (the dioese here is looser than VA's) but I still have to do NFP cause we're getting married in VA.

We can be at the church up to an hour before - but we're being married in a small church that my mom has attended for years and years.

So I know this thread is old but I wanted to weigh in. I’ve seen the bride and groom go down the aisle together at a French Catholic wedding. I think this style is more common for Catholics in Europe and Latin countries. What we see as “traditional” with the bride being given away by her father, is more like “traditional American,” but not necessarily “traditional” for a lot of other people. Many Catholic parishes, even super conservative ones, are very flexible with local customs, so requesting being given away shouldn’t be a problem. Even for a Catholic Mass. I’m personally a fan of the bride and groom going down together as equal partners, so that there’s no symbolism of a bride being property or leaving a family.

About NFP- it’s natural and there’s no hormones. I’ve been reading up on it, and it’s actually been developed to be effective and a green alternative to hormones. Why shoot the messenger? Apparently they think it is important, but maybe it could be useful for you! :-)