No Father?

[septbride]

My "dad" and I never had a relationship. Even if he was still alive he would not receive an invitation. I was going to have one of my uncles walk me down the aisle, but knowing that picking one over the other may cause for some comments to be made, so I decided against that. I mentioned it to my mom, and now she's all thrilled and wants to do it. First question, this should be ok, right? Does it have to be a male figure that walks you down?
Second question, now that I will not have a father-daughter dance, does any one have any suggestions as to what I should have in place of this, or if I should just leave it out all together?

[Maria 05]

Sweetheart I think having your mom walk you down the ailse is fantastic and not a breech of ettiquette not any more after all your mom raised you and she ought to "give you away"

As for the father daughter dance you could leave it out no one will mind its not going to have you burn in ettitiqutte hell (And yes I know I cant spell)
or you could do a mother daughter dance.

[jillian]

It's perfectly acceptable to have your mom walk you down the aisle. You can have anyone walk you down the aisle.

As far as the dance do a mother/daughter dance. She's excited about walking you down the aisle she'll be extra excited about doing a dance.

ETA: My friend did this at her wedding.

[KelciAlexandra]

i kinda have the same dilema and im havin my papa (my mom's dad) walk me down the aisle and im going to dance with him for the father daughter dance

and its DEFINITLY acceptable for your mom to walk you down the aisle. . . i actually think theres quite a few girls on here that have done that

and with the father daughter dance part you can do a variation on it. . . i like jillian's idea of dancing with your mom. . . but if youre not sure about that or uncomfortable you can have all the men you consider father figures dance with you, like announce at your reception that instead of doing a traditional father daughter dance that you are gonna give the honor to the men that helped raise you and dance with each in turn

[septbride]

I would have loved to do something like that. but I never had a father figure in my life. So I don't look at anyone like that.

[Sk8ermaiden]

I am in the same position as you except my father is still alive. My mom is also walking me down, and we're just nixing the father daughter (and mother son) dances altogether.

[septbride]

That may be a good idea. Since Hank was married before, I dont think he would mind taking out their dance too. I will have to talk to him about it. So what are you planning on doing, just the bridal dance first, then yours?

[Sk8ermaiden]

No bridal dances. As a guest I dislike sitting through all those, and I know my bridal party would hate being on display.

We'll come in, have toasts, have dinner, have our first dance to open the floor, and then cut cake a bit later. So only one special dance. :kimgrill:

[Kathy]

I'm having my mom walk me down the aisle, and I don't think we're doing anything to replace the father/daughter dance.

[::Amanda::]

It is perfectly acceptable to have your mother walk you down the aisle. My friend did this and it was beautiful. Her father passed away when she was 8 I believe.
I also say nix both dances.

[That Girl]

I am in the same boat. My father has never been in my life. So I had my oldest son walk me down the aisle. Your idea about having your mom walk you down the aisle is great! There is no reason she shouldn't.

As far as the father/daughter dance, I wasn't going to do it. But my FIL surprised me at the reception and requested a song for us to dance to. It was the father-in-law/daughter-in-law dance. :) I guess you could say it was symbolic of him thinking of me like a daughter now. It was so sweet! My FIL and I get along so well. I love him! Maybe do a dance with your FIL? Or just leave that one out all together.

[Angela]

I was in the same boat as you, only my dad's still alive. I had my younger cousin walk me down the aisle, because I knew my mom wouldn't be comfortable doing it. But I think it's totally acceptable.

We nixed the father/daughter dance, but still did the mother/son because my hubby is the only son of 4 kids. DH ended up requesting a father/daughter song for me to dance to with my FIL, who has become like a father to me. But I don't think anyone would have noticed/said anything if we didn't do one at all.

[Poloke]

FH's oldest half sister had her mom walk her down the aisle last year and did a mother/daughter dance in lieu of the father/daughter dance.

Whatever you want to do should be ok, just let people know what you plan on doing so they work with you on it :)

[angie]

My mom walked me down the aisle.:)

We just skipped father/daughter and mother/son dance.

[Raychel]

Just echoing what everyone else has pretty much said. It is perfectly okay for your mom to walk you down the aisle. Or anybody else you choose for that matter.

My dad did not come to my wedding and even if he would have I don't think he deserved the honor of walking me down the aisle. I had my brother walk me down the aisle. I was going to walk down by myself but nerves got the better of me at the last moment and my brother expressed anticipation over the possibility of "giving me away" so I was proud to let him have the honor.

As far as the traditional father-daughter dance, I think it is entirely up to you what you want to do about that. Is your FFIL still alive and part of FH's life? Maybe you could dance with him out on the floor while FH (who will then be DH, yay hehe) dances with his mom at the same time. Just a suggestion. Or you could do away with the traditional parent dances all together but I don't know I guess that depends on your FH & his parents and if they express wishes to have those dances. Just some food for thought I guess....