Weddings. Who Walks the Bride Down the Aisle if her Father is Deceased?

Question

I have never been to, or involved in, a wedding. Therefore, I don't know what is customary. I have come to believe, however, that the father always walks the bride down the aisle, to 'give her away' to her future husband. My father passed away recently, and I am getting married next summer. What other options have you heard of?

Addition details, in case they become relevant. My mother is deceased as well, I have no siblings who could give me away, I have no godparents, no step parents, my father has no brother who could do it, and I have never met any of my mother's side of the family. I'm running out of options!

Answer 1

Someone who you respect and have had a long relationship would work. A mentor, a long-time boss, a good friend of the family. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Since your immediate family options are limited, I would just have someone that is very special to you. It doesn't have to be a male. It could be a very dear childhood friend, maybe someone that has been there for you and this is a way to honor them. I also have been to plenty of weddings where the bride walked down the aisle by herself. There was nothing strange at all about it. Best wishes to you.

oh, a funny note: I had one friend that walked with her dog down the aisle and had a friend sitting in the front row hold the leash during the rest of the ceremony.

Answer 3

Just walk down the aisle alone. You have no caretakers and are your own woman. Have pride in all that you have accomplished to this point in your life. You are an independent woman who can stand on her own two feet.

From an article cited below:

WALKING THE WALK ALONE

Do you have to have someone walk you down the aisle? Of course not. Many brides are opting to walk down the aisle by themselves. Sometimes the parent or parents of a bride will walk them past the top of the aisle and then have the bride walk independently to the altar.

Another popular option is having the bride walk halfway down the aisle where her groom is waiting for her, and he accompanies her down the rest of the aisle. Perhaps this symbolizes that the bride has been alone part of her life, and is joined by her husband the rest of it.


Once again, there are no absolute rules when it comes to the walk down the aisle. Do it in a way that represents who has been important in your own walk of life, and who you will be honored to have guide you to the person who will be with you the rest of that walk.

Answer 4

If you don't have a good male friend, then perhaps your best (female) friend's hubby? Or if you have an associate pastor with your Church, he can do it for you. Maybe a girlfriend's dad that you are close to?

It is not absolutely necessary. Brides sometimes walk themselves down the aisle and it is not seen as negative. Women who have been married before sometimes opt out of the tradition.

I'm to remarry this coming February. It's just going to be the Pastor, my beau, and my parents will be present for a private ceremony. Patrick is adopted and is an "orphan", so will have no one from his side available.

Don't fret so much over this - just play it by ear and what you are both comfortable with. Just enjoy your special day!

010507 1:52

Answer 5

Did you ever watch 90120? When Donna and David got married in the end, Donna asked Nat, the owner of the resturant they all hung out at, to give her away. Just pick someone that you have always seen as a fatherly (or motherly) figure. Maybe a boss, or maybe someone on your soon-to-be husband's side. How about a neighbor, or another co-worker.

And if you can't seem to find anyone else. You don't have to be given away. You can just walk down by yourself...I've seen that done too. I don't know how traditional you are though.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 6

If the father passes away (which I'm really sorry about your father, btw) the bride can choose a close male friend or relative to walk her down the aisle. You really have limited options, so I would recommend a good male friend walking you down the aisle.

Answer 7

You can choose anyone special to you. Or, you can simply walk yourself down the aisle. A friend from my childhood lost her father when we were in 5th grade. She walked herself down the aisle and had a candle lit for her father on the altar. She also danced with her mom in lieu of a father-daughter dance and it was really sweet.

One suggestion is that if you don't feel comfortable walking by yourself down a long aisle, go a little non-traditional and enter from the side of the altar.

DO NOT be afraid to toss things up and tailor your wedding to your wishes and those of your future husband. We did lots of unique things and people loved our wedding (two officiants for example).

Answer 8

Hon anyone can walk you down the aisle. You can pick a best male friend or you could ask your grooms father to do you the honor of walking you down the aisle. If neither of these work for you then dont have anyone walk you down just walk yourself down there and have the minister eliminate that part of the cermony.

Answer 9

A good friend, or even the groom's father. Someone you look up to. My dad and I fell out just before my wedding, so I walked down the aisle on my own. It was absolutely fine. Good luck and congratulations.

Answer 10

Choose anyone--male or female, it doesn't matter--that you love and respect. If you'd like, you could have your maid/matron of honor walk with you or your fiance's best man. If you aren't too stuck on tradition, you could walk by yourself and have your fiance meet you halfway, a sort of symbol of your journeys apart becoming a journey together. Another option would be to have the person performing the ceremoney accompany you, instead of waiting at the end of the aisle.

Answer 11

Without any male relatives, then you could choose a male friend that you are particularly close to that your future husband is completely comfortable with, or you could walk down the isle yourself.
There is nothing wrong with that, in your circumstances.
But if there is a male relative that you are close to, pick him, lest you offend! ;)
One last thing, if you choose a friend, give it serious consideration. This is your wedding and a moment that will be in your memory forever. You don't want it to be someone that you won't be talking to before your 10th anniversary.