Wedding Inspirations: Who Should Walk the Bride Down the Aisle?

A little girl was at a wedding with her parents. After the wedding, she asked her mother why the bride changed her mind. "What do you mean?" responded her mother.

"Well, she went down the aisle with one man and came back
with another man."

Sometimes the issue of who will walk the bride down the aisle can be very stressful.  More and more I hear stories of a bride’s father just not being in her life. Often mom has re-married and there is the dilemma of having the natural father or the man that raised the bride do the honor. Even when a loving dad is deceased, it leaves the bride wondering, "Now who do I ask?"

The solution can be simple and not stressful.   

As a matter of fact, there are several solutions to the many scenarios when the bride’s father won't be asked to walk her down the aisle, especially if the wedding is not in a church where tradition is expected.

• Mom or mom and her new husband can do it instead.
• Mom and grandma can escort the bride
• The bride’s older brother can also escort her
• The brother of the bride’s deceased dad (her uncle) can represent dad or even the father of the bride's deceased dad can fill in
• So can the children of the bride and/or groom

HOWEVER, the tradition of the father giving away his daughter has its roots in the days of arranged marriages.  Throughout history, marriage was not about LOVE…it was about money.

It also was a way for the bride’s family to climb the social ladder.  Daughters were considered their father's property and the groom’s family was required to pay a "bride’s price," purchasing the bride from her family.

When the financial arrangements were met, the father of the bride would allow the marriage to take place and would give his daughter away; presenting his daughter to the groom. The bride’s family no longer had any claim to her, and she became dependent upon her husband.

Our society today is so so different. Women today work, have their own money, houses and investments. They get married because they love someone so much that they want to spend their life with that person and not because daddy is giving them to another man to take care of her financially. As a result, brides do not need anyone to give them away. They probably are already away from their parents anyway living with their intended spouse.

Walking down the aisle alone makes the dramatic statement that the bride is doing this because she wants to. The groom walking half-way down the aisle to meet her and then handing her a bouquet also shows that this is a day of love. On the most romantic day of their lives, the groom should give the bride a bouquet rather than she arrives with her “own damn flowers.”  

Suddenly, reality sets in with all the guests…these are two adults making this life changing decision.

Afterall, it is 2012 A.D. and not 2012 B.C. Isn't it time to start a new tradition?

Cartoon by Royston Robertson (http://www.roystoncartoons.com/) (Used by permission)