What do you do when your father refuses to participate?

Could you dance with FFIL?

*My dad will also probably be attending, sitting in the back

How far off is the wedding? Any chance he will change his mind? Chances are a lot people know he is like this and won't blink an eye about it. Ask your FIL to dance.

I'm really sorry that you're in this position it must make planning a bit harder.

Check out Nenabear's thread (the last minute cancellations one), she also went through the issue of her father not participating. Other brides had to face the same unfortunate circumstances. As to walking alone, I think it's really cool many brides walk by themselves halfway, then meet their groom and both walk together the other half. It has a nice significance regarding walking together through life.

? sorry Not sure what that stands for @kgroenwold

The wedding is 11 months from now....and zero chances of him changing his mind unfortunately

How about dancing with your FFIL? ETA: Future Father In Law

I am very sorry to hear about your being resentful about your wedding due to his divorce (at least my assumption). It sort of sounds like he is putting his feelings before yours. Honestly it really isn't anyones business who walks you down the aisle and who you dance with at the reception.

My parents weren't at the wedding. DH and his mom did a mother son dance and we just completely skipped over the father daughter dance. No one said anything about it. No one noticed and just went ahead and got on the dance floor and to the bar after they were done.

FFIL means Future Father In Law.

FFIL = future father in law. Check out the newbie thread for the abriviations used on here. Sorry you are going through this. I think others have suggested great alternatives.

Sorry you are going through this Are you really close with your mom? My Matron of Honor got married and she made the decision to dance with her mother. Her and her mom were super close.

I saw a mother/daughter dance at a wedding last summer, too. You could also have a dance with your sister(s) if you're close.

I would skip the father/daughter dance and let your FH have his mother/son dance. No one will bat an eye and will probably be thankful they don't have to sit and watch another dance.

At my first wedding my mom walked me down the aisle (they were divorced since I was 1, and my dad had passed). I did the "father/daughter" dance with my mom's brother. Or just omit it altogther. I believe tradtionally there is a separate song for the mother/son dance anyway, so it's not like it will be that weird.

FMIL and FH won't be doing a dance but my dad and I will. We're just gonna skip right over it, if anyone says anything just brush it off by saying thank you for coming. They don't need to know any of the details, it's not their day. I'm sorry that you have to go through this :/

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. At my cousin's wedding, he danced with his mother, but the bride had no relationship with her father. As far as I know, no one from our side of the family batted an eye about this. It's the same that plenty of men don't do a mother son dance. Just don't call attention to it and omit, but let him dance with his mother. Like others have said, dancing with your FFIL is always an option, or I've see a bride dance with her BIL/other special man in her life who was a father figure to her.

Are you close with his family? You could dance with his father while he dances with his mother. Do a combo dance so the attention isn't just on you and father in law. Or you can skip it altogether. No one will care!! Just let him dance with mom and then move on!

It will be fine if your FH does his dance with his mom and you don't do a father/daughter dance. Also don't worry about people asking questions. It's none of their business.

If your father doesn't want to participate then just don't do the things that involve your father. Your wedding doesn't have to be 'balanced' or the same for you and your husband as to what traditions you do.