Wedding Procession: Did Someone Walk You Down the Aisle?

DH had his parents walk him in and I had both of mine. It wasn't so much of a handing off but a joining together. The last wedding I went to the bride walked in alone because her grandparents raised her and they have since passed on. She said she was so nervous and anxious she felt like she was going to fall over. Everyone is different though. I highly considered walking in with DH and not my parents.

Neither my biological father (who I have met once) or my step-father (who adopted me) are even invited. I don't have a relationship with either of them. I am walking halfway by myself and FH is then meeting me to walk the rest of the way together (just like our lives - starting out alone and finishing together). I love the symbolism and the fact that I don't have to do the whole thing alone.

I think it would hurt your father's feelings, honestly. I agree with PPs who said have both of your parents escort you together. And maybe have FH be escorted by his parents as well. And of course, skip the whole, "Who gives this woman to this man?" part because...ick.

At first I was insistent that no one would "give me away". I planned on walking myself down the aisle because no one is going to give me permission to marry my FH; I'm a strong independent woman, dammit!

Then I started to think about it in different terms. My father (whom I have a very rocky relationship with) will not be "giving me away", he will be escorting and supporting me. If I didn't let go of my stubbornness I have a feeling I would regret it. I'm not saying that anyone's choice to walk themselves is just being stubborn. I'm simply saying that for me, the change in mindset will mean a lot more when I look back on the day.

I walked with both my parents!

I asked my mother, to be a part of the wedding in a way I thought would be special to her as a gift from me that wasn't material - walking with me on my last walk as a single woman before I married my best friend...

I should have walked on my own; when it came time to walk, I just felt that was more me. I've always been on my own and by myself and it felt weird and sad at the same time since we have a very strange relationship. She didn't raise me and I didn't really know her until I was already a teenager. I've always been the 'responsible caretaker' in the relationship.

oh well.

My advice is to really take some time and really think about what it means to you/him and your FH.

I would prefer to walk with both of my parents but my dad is really excited about walking me down the aisle and having a dance together. I'm sure I won't regret it though!

First wedding, both my parents walked me down the aisle, and both of the groom's parents walked him down the aisle. That kind of got around the "handing off" thing.

Second wedding, NotFroofy and I walked down the aisle together holding hands.

Honestly, you can do what you like. No one has the "right" to walk you down the aisle.

Hi Emily! I walked alone. I didn't invite my father, and I would have had my grandmother walk me, but she wasn't able to travel up to our wedding.

I liked walking alone, but on the other hand...I was so nervous. It would have been really nice to have someone with me to calm me down and to help me take.my.time. I think I walked too fast down the aisle because I was so nervous. If I could do over and had my grandmother there, I would have walked with her.

Jewish tradition is to walk with both parents, so that's what I'm doing. I'm close with both my prent a though, so it's fitting. As PPs have said, talk to your dad about it and see what his thoughts are. There are so many different options.

My dad walked me down the aisle and I wouldn't have it any other way. I think this is a personal decision and you need to do what makes you happy. I do think that since you said you have a good relationship with your dad, that it's something you should discuss with him.

Do what makes your heart happy, I'm not doing it personally. My family has ghostly expectations of what I should do, but it doesn't feel right to me.

My dad will be walking me down the aisle. I don't think I could do it on my own with everyone looking at me. That and I'm clumsy so I need someone to keep me from tripping

My son and my grandfather are giving me away. I am my grandfather's only granddaughter and he is my only grandparent left. As for my son, he is the little man in my life and this makes him a special part of wedding. I see this as an honor for my two favorite men to give me away.

My dad can't be at my wedding and if he was my decision wouldn't change.

I agree that you should speak to your dad about this. This is my second marriage and my 6 year old son is walking me down the aisle.

This is not my first rodeo, and I'm told old to be handed off. I'm walking solo. It was suggested that perhaps we walk down the aisle together, but the Italian contingent are going to have a hard enough time wrapping their minds around my not being given away. Thankfully I wasn't raised Italian so I can get away with breaking with tradition, but him not so much.

I think I like the idea of having my fiancé stand at the altar, and my dad stand halfway between during the walk, that way I can start on my own, and finish with my dad handing over his responsibility of loving me over to my finance.... It would also be very symbolic for me, as I was very independent growing up and really resented my dad, but now we have a very strong relationship. I also don't want a hand-off to occur, but I do want there to be some kind of acknowledgement (my dad loves my fiancé, so just a handoff would almost be too informal and inappropriate).

I would check with your dad first but in the end, it's your day and your decision to make. Do what you feel is right.

My dad passed away 4 years ago and if he was still here, I would have him walk me down the aisle, without question. As it is, even though my brother or my mom would be more than willing to do it, I will be walking down the aisle alone. If my dad isn't doing it, no one is.