Choosing who should walk down the aisle with you is not as easy
at it has been in the past. In the past, it has always been
assumed that the father of the bride is to be the one. These
days, between family tensions, having divorced parents and just
wanting to be independent has changed this tradition. Some
brides still choose the traditional route with a twist. Here are
8 ideas from brides and brides-to-be who have considered this.
1. Some brides choose to have their father walk them down the
aisle only halfway and then walk the other half by themselves.
This symbolizes the bride’s transfer from dependence to
independence and that she has a new life of her own. This is
pretty safe since it still involves the father of the bride.
2. Some have their mother and father both walk them down the
aisle, so they can both give them away. For some brides, this is
a way to include her mother in the process. While this may be
also seen as an attempt to go against a “male dominated
society”, it still should be accepted by most if you are worried
about it.
3. Another thing that is becoming more popular is the groom
meeting the bride halfway. It’s not only cute, it symbolizes the
strong union between them. Again, it may seem improper to some
strict traditionalists, but who’s paying for the wedding?
4. Some brides choose to have only their mothers walk them down
the aisle. Some brides and their mothers are so close that
tradition is a non-issue. They just want to honor their mothers
for their love and hard work.
5. Walking down the aisle by oneself is relatively new and you
have to be careful. It is not so much the break with tradition
that may cause trouble as it is the bundle of nerves you may
feel when walking down the aisle alone. A test run may help you,
but it is not the same as the real thing! Everybody is “ahhing”
you, your fiancé is looking at you as if he is seeing an angel
from heaven and you are excited on top of all that. If you are
not the shy type and still want to take a go at it, plan your
wedding early so that you are not stressed out. And try not to
think about what could go wrong!
6. Some brides may split it up between two escorts. For example,
you could have your uncle walk you down partly and then have
your father walk you down the rest of the way. This way everyone
gets his turn to shine.
7. Walking together with you fiancé is not something out of the
question. It is the ultimate demonstration of partnership,
commitment and independence. If you are one of the brides who
are aiming to break with tradition this could be a good route.
8. A bride who does not have her father with her anymore may
still want someone who is like a father to her to escort her
down the aisle. She may choose her uncle, brother, godfather or
even a close friend of her father to “represent” him. In this
case it is good idea to get your escort’s approval way in
advance and talk to friends and family about how they feel to
gauge how this may look (if you are afraid of offending anyone).
Above all, it is your day. I know you might be afraid of
offending someone, but it is your day and most of the time your
friends and family are not that “strict”. Even if someone else
is footing the bill, it’s you who will have the most vivid
memories of your day and it’s you who will have to live with it.