No one walking you down the Aisle?

[sooz123]

It's been my experience that you will never make everyone happy, especially regarding your wedding... so do what you want. In the end, they'll just have to deal with it and get over it either way.

Almost everyone I know had family buck at at least one of their decisions, including us... we had ours at a large beach house and invited only the wedding party to stay there (they honored us by participating so we felt we needed to provide free accommodations), and my mom gave me a huge guilt trip over it although they were welcomed to stay at my sister's large house less than an hour's drive away.

I fretted and worried for months over the details. When it all came down to it, it was a wonderful night, but there were a lot of things that didn't pan out the way I wanted and when you looked around at the decor you couldn't really see where all the hours of effort went. That and my sister/wedding planner took all the credit for everything. If I had it to do over, I would've planned a very simple but special night for just a few immediate family members in a nice romantic place (like a fancy candlelit restaurant, moonlit dock, or small chapel) and canned the whole "wedding" idea. For a "wedding" to be so much work, it goes by so fast that it's a total blur and you can only remember it by viewing the photos anyway. Every girl grows up just waiting for their day to be Princess, but to me it wasn't worth all the stress for it to turn out so differently than I imagined in my head!

 

[katl8e]

The tradition of the bride's father "giving her away" dates back to the times when women were considered chattel.

You may want to explore some other cultures' traditions. In some, BOTH sets of parents escort the bride AND groom. At a Quaker wedding, the bride and groom enter together.

 

[esrgirl]

Like Katl8e said, Quaker brides don't typically have anyone escorting them down the isle- except the husband to be. I made some consessions for my fiancee's family in this regard, by having a more traditional wedding- but that is my choice to do so. I think it is perfectly acceptable for you to walk down the aisle by yourself. My stepdad and grandfather will be walking me down the isle, instead of my father. I'm not sure what will happen with that exactly. My grandpa said I should probably have my dad and stepdad walk me down the aisle, but I'm not close with my dad (although he'll probably expect to do this). It's tough- trying to please everyone! Good luck to you! I say if it's what you want, then that is what you should do. It is *your* day!