Father Daughter Dance when Not close with Father?

Heidi....I am having the same problem. I had it with the first marriage and am having it again this time. For the first time, I followed family tradition and did Al Martino's "Daddy's Little Girl." Yes..it is an oldie, and basically not on the same level as "Wind Beneath My Wings", but it was "the song" our Italian family uses.

My father is expecting to "give" my 49 year old behind away again(Hell, I will be 50 on wedding day.)....I didn't ask him, but will respect wishes. I am trying to figure out if we need a Dad and Daugther song, as the FH is 62, and his parents are deceased.

What about, another oldie, "Thank Heaven For LIttle Girls". That is not too sappy.

Good luck. I am looking forward to the replies as well, just in case my father wants the daddy daughter dance.

It's still a touchy song, but have you looked at "I loved her first" by Heartland. It's about a father giving away his daughter. Talks about how he still loves her but they no longer have the same relationship they used to. I'm not as close to my father as I used to be, and this is the song that brought a tear to my eye.

OMG I am having the same issue....My father and I are not close. I am totally confused on what song to play. Do we even have to dance??? I will be following this post Oh by the way he don't even know how to dance

Genevieve- I was thinking of that song or my "My wish" - its about dad wishing nothing but the best but you know I sent him the lyrics and he never responded. thats how it is, am goign to listen to these songs and see. Thanks!

I dont think you have to do a father/daughter dance but If I dont and he is there - then it will be a bigger scene and I am trying to avoid that on what willing hopefully be a perfect day with no fights (although mom and dad hate each other) So fun!!

Oh and they are BOTH supposed to walk me down the aisle!

I have the same issue. We are using Little Miss Magic by Jimmy Buffett because he is a big Buffett fan and even though he has not been my dad my entire life....it reflects how it was when I was little.

@Genevieve...Thanks for the song selection. While I have never heard of it, I am going to look into it. Somehow "Daddy's LIttle Girl' doesn't apply to a 50 year old woman. : )

Heidi....I am divorced and have a 23 year old daughter. Yes, I strongly dislike the ex, but in my children's interest, we are civil at public functions like First Holy Communion, Graduation, etc. We even sit together with our new SO's. My daughter's wedding in 2012 is going to be a little more difficult, but the bottom line is it is her day, and we are adults. Our animosity will stay in the car! Good luck!

You can pick a song that is not necessarily focused on your relationship:

"Cinderella (I Danced with Cinderella)" by Steven Curtis Chapman

"Daughters" by John Mayer

"My Funny Valentine" (there are a lot of remakes of this song)

"Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder

"Over The Rainbow" by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole

@Mrs: No, you don't have to have a dance. I've seen weddings where they didn't. A friend who just got married and dances competitively did not do a dance with her dad (he's a beginner level dancer, but has rhythm), and honestly no one really noticed, but then again there was dancing the entire reception. My dad has two left feet and is a bit self-concious about dancing with me, so probably no dance for us.

I completely know what you mean, I'm having my step dad walk me down the aisle and doing the F/D dance, and we aren't very close at all and I'm having a hard time thinking of what to dance to too. *sigh*

USE A CLASSICAL SONG (instrumental) or a song that you love but just PIANO version. I am not at all close with my dad he was almost not invited but I knew I'd regret it. Since I'm not close with him I think a modern song that is beautiful or even one that does represent you both even if its not a lovey song but in piano always sounds so much better and you don't have to worry about lyrics describing something that isn't real or it not really relating to you. Just and idea.

We all came here for the same reason. We are not close with our father and we are searching for a song that will not paint this image of something they are not. My father was never really in my life, more like a friend really... but not a really good friend. So for the sake of not causing any problems, I would like to dance with him. Maybe I am hoping that he will become a father to me when he sees me walking down the aisle dressed in white or when he dances with me. But for right now, when it comes to a song, the lyrics make a huge statement... at least it does for me. I don’t want to pick a song that will paint a picture of something that he was never really good at. I have been searching for a song that I feel will be appropriate and I came across the song called dance with my daughter by Jason Blaine. Maybe this might help some of you ladies when it comes to picking a song. Good luck.

Same here. I’m thinking of offering to let him pick Blessed by Elton John or The Way You Look Tonight.
Should I let him pick or should I just do it?