How can i Include my Step Father?

What about just doing two spotlight dances?

View Quoted Comment

I did think of that but didn't want to do the same thing that I am doing with my Dad. I feel like it makes his moment with me a little less special.

You could ask him to do a reading at the ceremony, or dedicate a special dance at the reception so he and your mom could dance (maybe to their wedding song?). That way, you still get to do the father-daughter dance with your dad, but you can still honor your step dad.

View Quoted Comment

Great idea Lisa! Thank you

My friend walked down the aisle with her dad and step-dad, danced with both of them and both have a speech at the reception.

My younger brother's dad (step-dad at the time) has been with me since I was 4 years old. My biological dad came later and although we now have a close relationship, I told him I felt it would be more appropriate to have my brother's dad walk me. Since we are excluding the parental dances, I still wanted to find a way to have my dad involved. We both write poetry so we will be performing a collaboration poetry piece together in the parent dance slot. Maybe you can find something you both love that can be done during the reception or maybe have your step dad walk you as well, unless your dad is doing that too.

I know a few women who did not want to hurt step fathers, or bio dads who cared but were not able or around as much, who decided that since this much loved person would be shunted aside mostly as real dad and adoptive dad got the dances, escort, and most pictures, who scheduled half an hour or less photo shoots just before seeing the groom for first look or portraits. No one there to comment, and no competition for attention. For them, a more important use of photographer time than getting ready pics that were taken on smart phones or other people's digital cameras. I watched out for a couple, keeping anyone from interrupting with the dad, later with the groom, for these pre-8 ceremony pictures, and those were wonderful. Each had a moment to escort his daughter to see/ be seen by the groom for their alone time, and they had framed photos made for him, grandparents on his side, anyone who cared. A separate special time. If there were awkward moments I did not hear about them. And I saw pics of 2 who just did pre-ceremony pictures with an other dad, who did not see groom, and otherwise did pics with her bridal party, the groom having previously posed with his guys elsewhere, when they were getting everything but bride and groom and parent pics done early, so B&G were away from guests only 20 minutes or so after the ceremony. It seemed a nice gesture to me, take away the competition for having time to honor them without hurting the other loved Dad.