Walk Down The Aisle By Myself & Father/Daughter Dance

tkaczorowski86

My father past away last year, and I'm not as close with my Godfather. I had heard of a tradition that dates back to pre-medieval times where a bride would walk down with a candle "lighting the way from her fathers house to her husbands" but I can't find any literature to support that.
Also, my Fiance still wants to have a Mother-Son dance... will it be awkward if I don't have a Father/Daughter dance? Or, if my Godfather did walk me down the aisle, and I did dance with him, then what kind of song do I choose?

trix1223

It's an aisle, not an isle.

You don't need to find literature or history to walk down the aisle yourself.  If you want to, do it.  Plenty of brides walk by themselves.  As you've said, you could have someone else as your "escort"~your mom, a brother or uncle, a grandfather, your Godfather. 

I have a friend whose son waiting until his bride stood at the top of the aisle.  Then he walked up the aisle to meet her, and together they walked to the altar.  I loved the symbolism of them walking together to their wedding ceremony.

As for the dance, my DIL's dad passed away when she was young, but she wouldn't have considered keeping me from that special moment with my son.  Everyone will understand if you don't have a father/daughter dance.  But certainly if your FI and his mom want that lovely moment, keep it in.

I'm sorry for the loss of your dad.

kimmieniesink

My sister did a father/daughter dance, but her husband did not do a mother/son dance (complicated situation, had birth mom and adoptive mom at ceremony) and no one found it strange.

Lisa8888

Other brides have walked down the aisle alone and they just leave out the father/daughter dance. No problem there. Never heard of this candle tradition.

dehner23

Sorry to hear about your dad.

My SIL's father passed away a few years before she married my brother. She had a locket with a picture of him attached to her boquet and she walked down the aisle herself. During the ceremony, they light a rememberance candle and placed a single rose on the seat next to her mother. Very touching.