Who Walks The Bride Down The Aisle
Blended families are a normal part of life these days, but when it comes to deciding who walks the bride down the aisle—father or step-father—it can be anything but a “normal” decision. However, there are some guidelines to follow to help make the decision.
Guideline for Walking Bride Down Aisle:
The first thing to keep in mind is that walking the bride down the aisle or “giving the bride away” is a place of honor.
- Keeping that in mind, if a bride’s biological father has passed away and she is close to her step-father, she may have him walk her down the aisle.
- If her father is alive and she has a healthy relationship with him, she should give him the privilege of giving her away.
- In cases where there is a poor relationship with her biological father, the choice is really up to the bride to determine who to ask to walk her down the aisle. While it may be a touchy decision, the bride must do what she believes is appropriate in that situation and ask herself: who deserves that place of honor?
- It is always appropriate to give honor to the parents who raised you—whether biological or step.
Even if the bride’s relationship with her father or step-father is strained, she can still give him a place of honor at the reception, by having the wedding band include a special father-daughter dance. By handling these decisions with grace and appreciation for each man, the bride can diffuse any hurt feelings and include both in her most special day.
Tags: Giving Bride Away, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Etiquette, Wedding Traditions
February 26th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Yes, but what if the step father is a deadbeat and the grandfather has bought the bride a car, paid for school, and covered many of the family expenses over the years? Should the bride consider the grandfather?
February 27th, 2009 at 10:33 am
The real question any bride should ask when deciding who walks her down the aisle is this “who’s actions provide the stability, love, and support of a “father figure” in the crucial and day to day aspects of her life.” For some it will be their father, for other a step-fathers and in many cases it will be a grandfather, an uncle, a brother, a brother-in-law and even a family friend. Keep in mind giving the bride away is an honor and not a requirement. The bride is not required to have her father give her away. It is the bride”s way to honor the person who provided stability, love, support and guidance in her life. So, if her grandfather is the person who provided all of these things then he should be the one to give her away.
March 9th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
I’m getting married in June, and my father has never been a big part of my life. My seventeen year old brother is doing the honors, and I couldn’t be more pleased.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:20 am
Krystle, that’s wonderful! First, congratulations. Second, what prompted you to choose your brother? I think it’s a very sweet idea.