What's wrong with a Catholic bride walking herself down the aisle?

I can see absolutely no reason and the priest is being a jerk (I had another word in mind but I don't want to offend anyone). It's none of his business who you have walk you down the aisle.

This is a priest/diocese thing, not a "Catholic" thing.

I am sorry that he is being so difficult.

Catholics believe that the bride and groom give themselves to each other as equal partners, and as one, they give themselves and in a very particular way their marriage to God. That is why the rite directs the bride and groom to walk in together or to be escorted by both their parents. This is a practice you hardly see, but it is the preferred practice according to the Church’s teaching about the Sacrament of Marriage.

Actually, the bride walking herself down the aisle does happen a lot in Catholic weddings where the bride doesn't have anyone to walk her down.

In fact, traditionally in Catholic weddings, the bride and groom would walk down together as a symbol of entering the marriage together and not the bride being "given away" as property.

There is no set way to walk down the aisle...I think you should talk to your priest again and see if he might have just been a jerk that day and that was it...or if you want to start looking elsewhere for a different priest/church.

I'm not Catholic so I have no idea if it's a "rule" or he's just being an asshole about it. If he's adamant, can you find another priest? Or just stand your ground and tell him no. He's not the be all end all. You have time to find someone else if he's being an ass.

I'm not catholic, so don't know for sure--but could it be something where the priest thinks it is important to have the symbolism of having your dad give you away? I have heard of similar things for wearing a veil or white dress...like there's something suspect about the situation if it isn't done 'traditionally'. Hope you can get things straightened out!

Is it possible that the priest is friends with or knows your dad, and is taking your "dad's" side even though he has not been asked too? Is it possible that if you talk to the priest he will bend on this?

The priest did give us the option of walking in together the traditional way, but it's important to FH that we not see each other beforehand, and he wants to wait for me at the end of the aisle. I won't ruin that for him.

Another part of what I liked about the idea of walking alone was that it was more like giving ourselves to each other, which is what the sacrament truly is, than being given away. The priest said I should think of it as being supported instead of being given away, but it's hard to change my feelings about that, knowing that traditionally being "given away" was quite literal.

That's stupid. I'm not having anyone walk me down the aisle. My father isn't even invited and my relationship with my mother is strained. So I'm going to walk myself down the aisle.

All I can think is, "It's the Catholics-- who denied that the Earth went around the sun, who won't punish pedophile priests, who blame the Jews for Jesus' death (even though Jesus himself was Jewish)-- do you really expect them to be sensible?"

Sorry this guy's in your face about this. I hope you can find a compromise that makes you happy.

R, What do you mean, "What do you mean traditionally bride and groom walked down together? Like in the 1300s? Because no Catholic church does that."

We did a few weeks ago.

I'd still walk down the aisle by myself...that's not his call to make and you definitely have a choice

Nothing wrong with walking yourself down the isle.

I am getting married in a Catholic church and they would let me walk myself if I wanted to.

What would be the protocol if your Dad wasn't alive?

I have been to Catholic weddings where the couple walked in together, where the father of the bride escorted his daughter, and where the bride walked alone. My sister had both of our parents walk her down the aisle. We live in Philadelphia which is a fairly conservative archdiocese and all of these variations have been permitted there. I wonder if your priest might be enforcing his own personal preference. If this is important to you, I would check with your diocese to see if there actually are fixed rules about this.

My priest didn't have a problem with me walking myself down either - I had considered it. I agree with following up with the diocese. If the priest knows you're going to push back, he might bend (as well he should).

I've never heard of this. I've been to more then one Catholic mass where the bride walked down the aisle alone. This is not a "Catholic" thing...this is a priest/parish thing. & I'd be looking for another priest or parish if I were you.

I spoke with a few Catholic churches in my diocese (Philadelphia- hi, Donna!) and it seems that the pastor has a lot of discretion. Some do weddings in Lent, other don't, etc. If it's been a few days now, I'd follow up and let him know that you have been thinking/praying on this and you really believe that walking alone is the right thing to do. Be firm. If this priest absolutely won't allow it, you may have to look for another church.

I've never heard of this either. It sounds like he's being arbitrary (I have other things I could call him, but none of them are fit for human consumption, lol).

If someone needs to 'support you" (which I think is crap anyway; everyone there supports you), why not your mom? Or could you walk halfway down by yourself and then have your groom meet you?

I hate hearing this stuff, and I'm sorry. Maybe it's time for a new church...