Wedding Without Dad

I am so sorry you have to plan this day without your father. Is there anyone in your life you are super close to that could walk you down the aisle? I wouldn't have just any man step in, it should be someone you are super close with if you have someone walk you down the aisle. Maybe carry a picture of your dad with your bouquet so he will be there in spirit. Same goes for the dance. You don't have to have the dance, but if you do choose to, it should be with someone very important to you.

My dad isn't apart of my life.. I was always one to dream of having my dad there to walk Mr down the aisle. I'm choosing not have a replacement! Its hard but I feel the same. I would be too upset thinking its not my dad walking me down to my groom. Anyways so sorry to hear that you don't have your dad. Good luck

I have a dad and a step dad but my relationship with neither is very great recently. I haven't really decided what exactly I'm going to do but some of the things I've considered are 1) walking by myself 2) meeting FH halfway and walking together 3) my BIL is great and would do it in a heartbeat. Not sure yet.

As far as the father daughter dance, we may just skip it. I know FH would love to dance with his mom so that may still happen.

I know the loss of your father is very different than choosing to not have those things happen, but I thought I'd share anyways.

A friend of mine, whose dad also passed away a few years ago, had her mom walk her down. She had her dad's picture on their ceremony table and I think lit a candle for him though, which was nice.

I'm sorry for your loss, I'm sure he'll be with you in spirit

I'm sorry about your dad! One thing I've seen women do to honor their late parents/grandparents is sewing a patch of cloth from something of theirs onto/into the gown. A popular cloth to use to honor late male family members is a hanky that belonged to dad/grandpa. I also like the idea of choosing to involve whoever may have stepped in and been a special and positive male influence since his death. If it's too emotional for you, then it's okay to skip it! We're always here if you need to vent or for suggestions!!!

I'm sorry about your dad. My dad is really ill right now and can't do a dance. I am just going to skip all the dances. We are also talking about just doing a small court house ceremony where there won't be a a giving away part. My FI and I are very low key though and that's the wedding we want. I recently attended my FSIL's wedding where she did a lovely photo montage of pictures of her and her dad set to a daddy-daughter-dance song. Makes me tear up just thinking about it. Also my cousin lost both of her parents before her wedding and had their photos right on the altar at the ceremony. Our grandpa walked her up the isle.

But for me, I think it's great to walk yourself up the isle! He'll be there with you

I'm going through the same thing. My dad passed away in 2012. I'm having my grandfather walk me down the aisle and having a dance with my mom's longtime SO. It's so hard but you have to go with what you feel in your heart. I'm sure your uncle would be honored if you had him walk you down the aisle. I also plan on putting a picture of my dad near the fireplace at my venue. Sending love your way.

My dad isn't apart of my life either, I'm Australian and I am marrying my sweet American man in The USA and limited family is coming because of how far and expensive it is travel so my mom is walking me down the isle and instead of a father daughter Dance, I'm dancing with my mom to Carrie underwoods song "mama"

I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how you must be feeling but here are my first thoughts: No one could replace my dad or stand in for him. If I were in your shoes I would probably carry a momento of him with me down the aisle and walk alone. I would probably pass on any time of father/daughter dance. No matter what you choose, I am sure he will be with you that day.

I'm sorry for your loss. My dad passed away 5 years ago and it still hurts. My Brother will be walking me down the aisle. Then I will be dancing with my mom for the parents dances, I'm still working on the perfect song. To honor my dad i bought a charm for my bouquet that has a picture in it of him.

My dad passed away almost 5 years ago and I had the same feeling when I got engaged. I've asked my brother to walk me down the aisle and we're skipping the traditional "first" dances. It's probably going to be a rocky road planning, just because you'll get into the alternative approaches you decide on and then WHAM something totally unrelated to the "father" part of the day will make you think about him not being there. Hang in there, it's going to be an amazing day and he wouldn't want you to stress too much about it.

Oh! Brittaney reminded me. The very last song of the night will be a song my dad and I danced to all the time when I was little (Wilbury Twist by the Traveling Wilburys). I think he would have loved that.

My dad passed away 4 years ago this coming October. We were very close and I still get teary-eyed thinking about my wedding day without him. Fortunately my mother and I are extremely close and she will be walking me down the aisle.

My mom and I are also planning a mother/daughter dance which I know is corny but it's important to her. I'm sure I'll be bawling,

My girlfriend lost her father last year only a couple months before she walked down the isle. She walked by herself, but had added a cool jewelry piece her father always wore onto her bouquet as if he was with her. She also nixed the father daughter dance. However, the groom still danced with his mom. I may have been too intoxicated to think that it was awkward at the time.

I'm sorry for your loss. My dad passed away a few months after I got engaged. I was planning on walking by myself down the aisle and skipping the father/daughter dance (because no one could fill my dad's shoes for that). But I ended up walking down the aisle with my MOH (my sister) and we danced together in his memory. I was totally fine the entire day until it came time for that dance that's when the tears started.

I also had a piece of my dad's shirt sewn into my dress so a piece of him was with me.

I have 2 uncles that I am close with. The older one is walking me down the aisle and the younger one is dancing with me while my FH dances with his mom.

Hi Jennifer. Both of my parents died before my wedding, so I know how you feel. It completely sucked, and, to be honest, made me hate planning my own wedding.

I scrapped the father-daughter dance. I didn't want anyone to replace my father in that respect. I had my parents' best friend/my godfather walk me down the aisle because he did all of the dad things once my dad died - taught me to drive, shoot a gun, lived in the town I went to college at so I was at his place often, he was the executor of both of my parents' estates, etc.

My dad has been gone for 15 years and I will be walking with my uncle who is his brother.. I feel like it would be harder for me if I was to walk alone of course no one would or could ever replace my dad and I know he would be proud of my uncle walking me down the aisle

Thank you all for the support and awesome ideas!

I am having my BF walk me down the aisle, he is also my FHs BM and I am dancing with my daughter for my dance.