My dad walked me down the aisle, and I hate the whole "give her away" thing. I was so worried I would associate that with the moment. Your post reminded me of my struggle with this decision when planning my ceremony.

I wanted my dad to walk me down the aisle because he did so much to raise me and teach me. He loves me so much, he taught me to hold high standards and to value/respect myself.

My mum was more like a "mean girl" in raising me, so I didn't want them both to walk me. So how to just have dad walk me without looking like a part of an icky wedding tradition? Also, I didn't want anyone else to think that it was a "give away" either.

But I wanted him to walk me down the aisle, just us, and to meet my husband at the end.

We did that.

It may sound a bit cheesy, but to me it felt like it represented walking down the path of our history. How I always had my dad love me all my life.

And when we got to my husband at the end and he gave him a hug, it felt like it represented my husband's turn to walk beside me and show me that same love and kindness.

And you know what? I never ended up caring what anyone else thought that looked like. That memory and its meaning can't be taken from me. It is too special for anyone to try.

Ig what I'm saying is, ask yourself why you want your dad to walk you down the aisle. Because that's what it's going to mean, and that's what you will remember.