Walk down the aisle-solo or with dad?

shellbelle321

My dad was hospitalized for a couple of weeks in June for peumonia/heart problems/etc. He is home now but very weak and uses a walker to get around slowly.  My wedding is Aug 20, and he might be more recovered by then, but I'm not sure what to do about walking down the aisle. We aren't very close and I was already not sure what to do before he got so sick.

Did anyone walk down by themselves? Is it weird not to be escorted by my dad if he is present at the ceremony?  I think I actually prefer walking by myself. But it also kinda freaks me out to have everyone watching just me. I also don't want people wondering why my dad isn't escorting me. It seems like most brides are close with their dads and give them big hugs and both cry, but it won't really be like that for me. How did you get down the aisle?

khornbach

Have your mom walk you down

tegdirb2001

I plan to get walked down the aisle by my dad.  We are not SUPER close but not distant either.  He is someone that is always there for me whenever I need him and has helped me shape me into the person I am today.  I've seem people where they are a supper 'daddy's girl' but I'm not one of them but I couldn't imagine not walking down the aisle without my dad by my side.

Does he know you are pondering this? 

ogrady88

I walked down the aisle with both my mom and dad. If you are comfortable talking about it with him, you should see how he feels about it.

FutureMrsSheeler

I agree, have both walk you down

rachi1285

I would definately bring it up to your dad. Even though you don't feel that close to him, walking you down the aisle might be huge for him.

SSaltzman87

My mom has said that she'd love to walk me down the aisle along with my dad. I don't have a preference. My dad and I didn't really get along when I was growing up and just now it's getting better, slowly but surely. I guess I would talk to your dad about it and see how he feels about it.

tpender13

I walked with my dad. I think it would be okay to walk alone, or with both parents. Or, is there someone else in your life that's special? My SIL has a weird relationship w/her dad, but she's super close w/H (her brother) so he walked her down the aisle at her wedding.

I agree w/PPs though -- talk to your dad and see what he thinks.

shellbelle321

Thanks for the feedback. It's true that it's not always obvious how much these details mean to the other people involved. I'll talk to them about it and see if my parents have any strong feelings.

colstj1

I would talk with your parents about it and what they think. If it is really important to your dad and you can always have both walk you down.  Otherwise having your mom or another relative is very normal also

schmood

I had a similar situation.  My dad had a stroke and now uses a walker. I didn't want to have to worry about a) him having to walk that far down the aisle b) me being more worried if he was going to stumble c) people looking more at him shuffling down the aisle with his walker.  What I ended up doing was have my mom walk me down the aisle.   my dad was up at the front and was seated until just before I got there, then my brother helped get him up as I neared the front.  So he was standing at the front of the aisle for the 'hand-off.' 

futuremrsjb3

I refuse to let my dad walk me down the aisle so I decided I would just go by myself.  The other night I was talking to my fiance about it and he suggested that we walk down the aisle together.  I said if that is what he wants or I can have my oldest daughter (from a previous relationship) walk me down the aisle and when the officiant asks who gives me just say her and her sibling(s) do.

Steph0871

You can skip the whole "who gives away the bride for marriage" bit too, if you don't want that awkwardness, Brueske.  Just something to consider. I didnt' want that anyway- I'm quite traditional, but line has always bothered me. ha

OP- do whatever you feel most comfortable with in your situation.  It sounds like you have some hesitation to letting your dad walk you down the aisle.  If you still want him to be part of that moment, I like what Schmood did.  If you're worried about what guests think, don't  But- they'll understand if they see him with a walker.  

I had my dad walk me down the aisle, because I've always been a little bit of a daddy's girl, so I wouldn't have done it anyway.  I have friends who aren't close to their fathers though, and I've seen it both ways- either the bride walks down alone or with the groom. My favorite was when the bride walked into the room alone, and the groom met her about half way down the aisle and they walked up to the altar together.  They still had 'that' moment where he sees her for the first time, but she didn't walk completely alone either.