And some brides feel best walking down the aisle on their own. While a father-daughter walk is steeped in tradition, it's important to remember- this is your wedding. It's your day. And you get to decide what traditions to follow or leave behind.
“Well, the tradition comes from an era where women were the property of men,” she says. “Fathers walking their daughter down the aisle and giving their daughter, the bride, away represented a transfer of ownership from her father to her new husband.”
For as long as weddings have been celebrated, it has been customary for someone to give the bride “away” to her groom. Usually, this part of the ceremony is carried out by a father figure or male family member that has played an important role in the bride's life.
“A lot of brides love the idea of honoring their independence and strength by walking down the aisle on their own, or walking down with their fiancé, symbolizing the two of them heading toward their future as equals,” Ms. Ring said.
When couples are together, you'll tend to view your partners' parents as your own, and if you require a father figure to walk you down the aisle, your father-in-law can be a great choice. Grandparents are also a common choice for some brides, having their grandfather or grandmother walk them down the aisle.
In some situations, there is the sadness of an absent father, so a bride might choose her mother, a grandfather or grandmother, an uncle or aunt, a brother or sister, her own son or daughter, or any combination of people to walk her up the aisle.
While it's still somewhat common for a father to escort his daughter and hand her over to her future husband, this is no longer such a strict expectation or necessity. Sometimes, when appropriate, the bride's uncle, brother, nephew, or son could walk her down the aisle.
Your mother and father.
In many cultures, it's traditional to have both the mother and father walk their daughter down the aisle.
And while this has traditionally been the responsibility of a bride's father, it's not uncommon for moms to do it too. Hearing the stories of people whose moms walked them down the aisle makes it clear that there's nothing wrong with forgoing tradition and doing this your own way, no matter the reason.
The Processional
Jennifer Thye, the owner of Imoni Events, says you actually can walk down the aisle with both dads. If they're okay with it, she suggests having both men by your side during the processional, then having your stepdad take his seat and have your father proceed to walk you to your groom.
Tears come from the heart and are a symbol of your love and happiness. So remember ~ it's okay to cry during the ceremony. For me it's one of my favorite moments of the wedding day to document.
From walking down the aisle first to last, the traditional order is: Mother of Bride, Mother of Groom, Grandparents of Bride, Grandparents of Groom, Groom, Officiant, the Wedding Party, Maid of Honor and Best Man, Ring Bearer, Flower Girl and lastly the Bride and her Father.
After walking down the aisle, the bride usually takes her place on the left side of the altar. This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when grooms kept their sword-fighting right hand open for combat with those trying to rescue the bride, who was often kidnapped before the wedding.
Traditionally, the father of the bride is financially responsible for the wedding. Nowadays, that's not always the case, and that's okay. Sometimes the bride and groom will contribute, as well the parents of the groom. Even if you're not paying for the wedding, offer to help deliver payments to the vendors.
Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the wedding, but that custom is rapidly changing. Couples are increasingly choosing to handle at least half of the wedding expenses on their own. Early planning and a written budget can help avoid miscommunication when deciding who pays for what.
Don't look at the camera.
The wedding ceremony is all about the two of you, not the camera. So when you walk down the aisle don't look at the camera. Concentrate on more important things, like looking at your Groom and all your family & friends smiling at you.
Walking the bride down the aisle signifies giving the bride away and that can be done by any male the bride feels close to, including her own son or step-father or brother or even a very close friend!
Many couples now choose to meet at the top of the aisle and walk it together. It's a lovely way to signify that you are taking this journey together as equals.
Walk (almost) like you'd normally walk.
If it's extraordinarily slow, don't bother keeping pace; your trip down the aisle will last longer than your vows!
he simple answer is yes, it's 100% OK for a man to cry, if he feels the need to at his wedding.
How long does a wedding processional take? A wedding processional typically lasts between three to five minutes, depending on the number of people taking part. The bride's walk down the aisle can take up to one minute of that time.
If you have a birthfather you can have them both walk you down the aisle. If they don't get along or that just doesn't feel right to you, another option is to have your stepdad walk you down half of the way, and then your birth father walks you towards your groom.