“Giving away” at weddings - anyone done something different?

[TheThermalStair]

Coming under some (kindly meant) pressure to have my dad give me away at my wedding. I won’t be doing that for obvious reasons but I’m trying to think of alternatives - come up the aisle alone? Both parents? Me and DP swing in on trapezes? Just wondering how other feminists have handled it.

DH and I walked in preceded by our parents. My Dad was pretty put out but since my sister eloped, he was at least able to be at my wedding!

We walked in side by side which felt right for us.

Both parents!

We walked in together (registry office wedding). We actually met up an hour or so beforehand and had some couples photos taken.

Another vote for walking in together. It was so nice to see DH for that brief moment before and hold hands as we went in all the way

I walked up the aisle with our 1 1/2 year old daughter. I'd expected to have to carry her but she happily held my hand and walked with me 🥰

My father escorted me down the aisle, but I was not given away.

We walked in together. Recommend it.

I walked in with my dad- asked for mum too, but it wasn't wide enough - tiny church. but he did not give me away- I'm not anyone's to give.
I also find it weird when they say "you may kiss the bride"- possession again. So we didn't do that either.

DH and I walked in together. It was perfect as we were both really nervous, felt like we were facing our fear (of an audience, not marriage!) together.

My dad’s not around but my mum was keen to “give me away”. Sorry, mum, I’m not yours to give.

Rather loosely planned register office wedding; to my surprise we were called in to a side office before the ceremony to complete some paperwork so there was no "grand entry of the bride" moment. In retrospect it was quite nice as it meant that we walked into the ceremony together (start as you mean to go on).
I hope my dad wasn't disappointed that he didn't walk me in (I didn't think of it at the time). He did drive me to the register office and entered the building with me, just that my DP was then waiting for me in the lobby.

Me and DH met outside and walked down together. We both made a speech at the reception, nobody else did.

My dad has passed away so i asked my now father-in-law to walk in with me. It was a registry office wedding so no aisle as such but he's a brilliant man and always been so kind about my dad not being here so i wanted to make sure he had a "role" in our special day.

My Dad walked me down the aisle as he would have been gutted not to do it but I asked him, when asked the question 'who gives this woman?', to reply 'she gives herself but with our love and support'.

I also asked the registrar to say 'you may now kiss each other' instead of 'you may now kiss the Bride'.

My husband also helped me pick my dress, was just as involved in the wedding planning as I was and although due to a family tragedy we didn't end up doing it, we did intend on combining both our second names to make a new surname.

Oh, and I made the speech at the wedding instead of my husband as he hates public speaking.

I had both parents. I hated the idea of being "given" by one man to another but liked the symbolism of walking into the room with my "old" family and out with my "new" family.

We walked in together. Was actually really lovely having 2 mins alone together before things started.

My mum walked me down the aisle. My dad and stepdad walked my sisters, who were my bridesmaids. No groomsmen. Mum did all the work, so it only seemed right! That said, there was no “giving away” commentary. It was more a symbol of, “I’ve walked with you this far in life, it’s not going to stop now”. Congratulations, by the way! 🥳

I walked down the aisle alone, well, with my bridal party preceding me (maid of honour, two bridesmaids and two little page boys/ring bearers). I wouldn't have wanted to have been 'given away' but the decision was easier for me as although my DF did attend the wedding it was begrudgingly, he didn't really support our relationship or marriage so would have felt ridiculous for him to have given me away in those circumstances especially.

@SunnydaleClassProtector99

My dad walked me down the aisle. My husband had his dad as best man and both mum's signed the register. No 'giving away' speech but I felt I didn't want dad to miss out as he raised me just as much as mum.

That's exactly the same as us!

I walked alone. I was 26 and drove myself to my wedding. Drove us to the reception too, no need to waste money on a car & I didn’t need to be given away. Still married after close to 30 years.

I walked in with my husband to be. I have no parents. We did ask our ds to walk with us but he was 8 and was disgusted with the prospect of us kissing so said no! We didn't have speeches but he got up and told some jokes instead. It was priceless! You have to do what feels right for you. X

If you're getting married in a church, there isn't a "speech".
In the marriage service it literally says "her father or friend" - they're there as support. "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
In the book it's not an "I own you and I'm passing possession to him" - that's the patriarchy speaking.

You can whomever the f you eant to do this bit, to walk in with you. You can walk in on your own if you want.

My dad did walk down with me.
I'd lived away from home for over 10 years so it was not about ownership, but about him being supportive on the day.

And I waited at the altar for DH, too, because he played my entrance on the organ. (That made the paper )

Now dh and I walked down the aisle together. We got both mothers to be witnesses and so they both signed the register.