Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Walking Down the Aisle Alternatives

With the family structure for many people being anything but "traditional", many brides are bucking the common practice of the father escorting his daughter down the aisle. If you are a bride who chooses not to have your father alone walk you down the aisle, there are many alternatives that you can use without losing any of the sentiment and meaning of that walk towards your future husband.


TWO PARENTS COULD BE BETTER THAN ONE

First of all, using the father as an escort is not traditional for everyone. In the Jewish tradition and sometimes in the Hispanic tradition, both parents walk the bride (and groom) down the aisle. One parent is on either side of the bride. This has become a very popular alternative. After all, doesn't your mother deserve the honor of "giving the bride away" just as much as your father?


ALL IN THE FAMILY

There are no hard and fast rules regarding who will walk you down the aisle, but perhaps the most important consideration, is that you choose the person or persons who mean the most to you, and have been among the most important people in your life.

A bride does not necessarily have to have a parent walk her down the aisle. Many brides are choosing different family members, or a mix of different family members. Some brides whose grandparents raised them will have them walk her down the aisle. You could even use more than one. Perhaps her father and grandmother primarily raised a bride. Therefore, she could have both of them walk her down the aisle.

Some brides may have had the presence of both a father and stepfather in her lives. Trying to choose between the two could be a headache, and hurt some feelings. Again, you could have both of them walk you down the aisle.

If there is no one playing the role of father in your life… you can have your mother alone walk you down the aisle, your sister, brother, or an aunt.

For many second-time brides, having a son or daughter walk them down the aisle holds a great deal of meaning.


THE HAND-OFF

Want to have two parents walk you down the aisle, but not necessarily at the same time? Maybe they don't get along due to an ugly divorce. You can begin your walk down the aisle perhaps with your father, to a halfway point. Then your mother may take you to the end of the aisle. This can be done with any of your family members and is especially a good option if you want more than one person walking you down the aisle but it is too narrow.

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.

No comments: