Walking down the aisle with papa is part of the classic wedding ceremony, and a growing number of brides have started to include both parents in that part of the wedding too. But what about people who were ‘given away’ by someone other than their parents? Here are some of the stories shared on Facebook group Wedding Talk*.
The bride who walked with her brother and grandfather
“My parents separated when my siblings and I were very young, and I never believed in the idea of marriage until I met my now-husband,” said Mathilde*. “My father and I drifted apart, and although we are on relatively good terms, there is no daughter/father bond. It’s very strange in a way. On the other hand, my siblings and I continued to grow closer to my mum's father. He's a pillar in our family. Meanwhile, my brother grew into a fine young man.”
“When it came down to choosing who walks me down, I don't believe in doing it alone. It’s not a matter of objectifying the bride, but a passing-of-life kind of situation, and it’s good to have a role model sharing that moment with you. I had to formally invite my dad to the wedding to nudge his interest in actually attending. I was being told to expect to not see him there, but part of me still hoped for his presence. My heart sank a little when he didn't show up, but my husband's face when I walked in the church lifted any flicker of sadness I felt. Truth be told, I knew he wouldn't come, but I always tend to look for the positive. So I had set in place a plan with my brother and grandfather, who were both happy to walk with me. I did part of the aisle with my brother, then, my grandpa walked with me the rest of the way. After the ceremony, we danced and laughed and drank and ate the night away. We couldn't have asked for a better day.”
The bride who walked with her uncle
“My father left us when we were young,” says Helen*. “Although my mum has a partner, he always seemed to make a little bit of distinction between my siblings and I, and his biological kids, therefore, it felt right to ask my uncle. I also had his two daughters as my flower girls.”
The bride who walked with her son
“I was ‘given away’ by my son who is seven years old!” says Louise*.
The bride who walked with her mother
“My father died three months before my wedding,” says Corinne*. “I have no brothers, but I could have opted for an uncle, as many suggested, to keep it “traditional” with a male figure. But I chose my mum to walk me down the aisle, as I wanted no other men to take my dad’s place.”
The bride who walked with her husband
“My parents were invited but didn’t come to our wedding as it was on a Friday and for them it was bad luck to marry on a Friday,” says Philippa*. ”And they wanted us to have our wedding the way they wanted it. My husband waited for me near the church door and we went in together – it was the priest’s idea. We have been happily married for 16 years already, and we have a beautiful family, so it wasn’t bad luck at all!”
The bride who will walk alone
“It's my second marriage, and I will be walking down the aisle alone,” said Annette*. “I don't need anyone to guide me walking. To be honest, there is no relation with my side of the family. It doesn't bother me. I'm 42, and by the time you reach my age, you’ll learn to not care so much about traditional stuff.”
*All names have been changed
Jeff Loves Jessica