Parent-less bride

Girl you walk yourself down the aisle!! I think it shows off your strength and independence!!

I agree with Sheila! Walk yourself down the aisle!! I've seen lots of people do it! And if you really want to have a special dance with any of yours or his family, that's awesome too!!

My father has been out of the picture my whole life, so there will be no father/daughter dance. Some on here have fathers, but for there own reasons wont be having a F/D dance. Feel proud walking yourself down the aisle I planned to until I figured out my mother wanted to walk with me. And dance away with your FFIL!

My father passed before I had the "big happy" wedding, but he was there for the emergency legal one, in his hospital room. That being said, I had my brothers walk me. but if you don't have brothers, go for it yourself! You got this girl. We skipped the parent dances due to both my parents being deceased, and his Mom preferring to be a wall flower. But why not dance with FFIL, just pick and appropriate song.

Definitely agree about maybe a dance with ffil if you feel comfortable doing so. I'm not because I'm a terrible dancer!

Shana, you are under no obligation to have anyone walk you down the aisle. You are an adult, and if you have no emotional connection to either bio parent, walk alone (because you probably feel as though you've been doing that for a long time).

As for the dances, don't mistake love for pity. I know the impact that a big Italian, Irish, or whatever intact family can have on someone who hasn't had the advantage of living in that dynamic. FH's family is embracing you -- not pitying you. Their objective is to make you feel about yourself the way they feel about you. You are now a part of their family. My guess is that if you ask your FFIL to dance with you during the father/daughter dance, he will be honored and quite moved. After that, allow yourself to feel their love, their acceptance, and their desire to make you one of their own. You're home. You're finally home. Be thankful for a gift you've waited too long to receive. Then, embrace it.

My parents both died before my wedding, so I didn't have any special dance. And my godfather walked me down the aisle.

If you're worried about pity, do you have a really good male friend to escort you down the aisle rather than walking you? Or your FH can meet you and walk with you.

You walk yourself! There is no pity involved and I doubt that anyone in that group will feel anything but joy. Your past has made you the woman you are, even though it was certainly a different and challenging one. No one has to be 'given' away, no matter what he parent situation is. It's not so much about 'giving away', even in the most traditional families, the child isn't owned, thus never given, but ideally supported by both sides of the newly blended family and the family you and your fiance will create.

In every ceremony, I thank the guests and I say, "You are the family that the couple has inherited and the family they have chosen."

I love the idea of you dancing with your father in law, and I'm sure he'd love it too.

I don't see any problem with walking yourself down the aisle! I think it would be a nice touch for you to dance with your FFIL.