My father won't walk me down the isle due to religious beliefs

Thanks so much ladies. I don't think it's so much the "property" aspect as it is giving me away to what he sees as "false" religion and what "Christiandom" represents. It's sticky I know. I think walking down the aisle by myself and having him meet me is the way to go. Thanks so much for all your comments.

My dad is a JW too! But he was only a "practicing JW" when it was convenient for him...like he didn't have to buy us birthday or Christmas gifts because it was "against his religion". Charming, right? But he has noooo problem walking me down the aisle. And from what I've seen, JW aren't anti-family, but they are so tied into their religion, that they are willing to drop family members out of their lives if they don't abide by the "rules". For example, my dad was exiled from his family when he cheated on his first wife, so I don't see much of the 9 brothers and sisters he has, including his twin brother.

My dad passed away a couple years ago, so my FH and I, will be walking down the aisle together.

Oh I'm so glad someone got the the "Catholics ARE Christians" thing before me! I hear so many people say they aren't. I'm not even catholic and it's frustrating. Lol

As far as your dad goes, it IS okay to walk by yourself. I would be upset too, but it is what it is. You have to respect his wishes.

I don't necessarily think that the walking down the aisle is a property thing; almost all my brides (and some of my grooms) get escorted down the aisle by one or both parents. It's more a show of support. (And I have never said, "who gives this woman to this man"; it's just not in my repertoire, nor do my brides think of themselves as property to be given to anyone. )

The thing that I find most problematic is your father putting his religious system's rigid beliefs over the desires of his daughter. Sad, really. You'll have one wedding day, and he has one chance to be the father of the bride, and that he's willing to abide by one set of human made rules because he doesn't respect another set of human made rules doesn't make any sense at all to me. But that's just me.

You can absolutely walk by yourself or with your mom or with your maitre'd if you want; my brides come down the aisle in all kinds of ways. Many do walk down with their grooms.

He can't take that decision back, and neither can your brother. I hope they don't regret it. Please don't be offended, I just find all these artificial, hurtful 'rules', just that. Artificial and hurtful.

I really don't like the idea of my dad walking me or "giving me away" as it does echo a patriarchal past where women were their father's property until marriage (when they became their husband's... yay!). I'd prefer to walk alone or have both my parents walk me down, but the aisle isn't big enough for that, and my mom and dad feel quite traditional on this subject. I think it would really hurt my dad's feelings if he wasn't walking me, so he is. It's not worth it to hurt him over something so silly, in my opinion.

I grew up as a JW and baptized in it as well when i was 14yrs old by choice. Now since i married my husband that is not a JW and i no longer practice it. My mother and 2 sisters will not attend our vowel renewal. My dad will but i know the day off its gonna kill me not to have my mother and sisters present. it is what it is..

Hang in there girly

My dad and I don't have a relationship which makes me very sad. My FH is going to meet me halfway up the aisle. Lucky you that your dad will not only be there, but that he knows that his daughter is not property.

Your dad has backed out of a role you asked him to fill because of his religious beliefs. That's fine. It's his choice.

But he has absolutely NO grounds to tell you that you shouldn't have someone walk you down the aisle. I call bullshit. He doesn't get to say, "I won't walk you down the aisle, and no one is allowed to because I don't think you should do that." NOPE.

It's not a secret (I don't think) that I am a rabid raging feminist. My fiance and I have been very critical of every wedding tradition because of this: before we do something traditional, we ask, "Why is this a tradition? Do we want to do that?" For a while, that meant I wasn't going to have anyone walk me down the aisle and "give me away."

While my opinion hasn't changed, our wedding plans have. It means a lot to my mother to walk me down the aisle. So instead of me walking alone (my fiance didn't want to walk in together, which was my first choice), he will be walked down the aisle by his parents, and then I will be walked down by my mother. We choose to see it as a way to honor our parents for raising us, and that the three of them are bringing us together.

If your brother won't walk you down the aisle because your dad convinced him not to do it, then fine. But honestly, either your dad is embarrassing himself by refusing to participate, OR he's not embarrassing himself (religious beliefs, remember?) and is just being controlling.

I am walking half way be myself and FH is meeting me half way. My father will be at the wedding but we are not close.

I like Marisa's option. My ceremony doesn't ask that. Since my dad passed, I am having my mom's brother, my uncle walk me down. It's to keep me from falling really.

I'm not having my dad walk me down the aisle as property, but rather just due to tradition and it is what I dreamed of him doing it since I was a little girl. But I love what @marissa in love mom is saying and I will have to steal that if its ok.

We won't be including the "who gives this bride" part either. And I did fail to mention, I was married before (very young) and my father did walk me down the aisle then, so I'll give him the pass on this one. It is sad how religious differences do have a big impact on wedding planning. I'm hoping my father will still give a blessing and also father/daughter dance, but I haven't talked to him yet.

My Uncle is walking me down the Isle, My dad can not come to my wedding so he is coming to my graduation instead. I asked my uncle and he wanted to do it. And felt proud to do it. I never thought about it in religious context where as giving someone away or treating someone like property. I just thought it was tradition. Just like the man asking the brides father for his blessing. Do they even do that anymore. I concur on the side of the majority. Dance to your own beat. If he wont walk with you. Strut down that isle to your man girl

My Brother is walking me down the aisle. My father Isn't attending, which doesn't surprise me he has never been a part of my life, as I believe never really cared to. I was very honored that my younger brother asked if he would walk me down the aisle, more as a moral support than a property thing.

I am totally walking myself down the aisle. I'm old, but still....

Marisa in love- I love the way your mom is phrasing it.

Rachey could your mom walk you down the isle?

My older brother is going to walk me down. My dad will be there and we'll still our father/daughter dance. I think I'm pretty much over it. He will still be a special part of my day!