How do you handle dad's traditional role in the wedding if you don't have a good relationship with him?

If you don't have that relationship with him then you definitely shouldn't do it just to appease him.
I would just explain that it's nothing to do with him and more that you're not comfortable with traditions you find sexist. How empowering you'll find it to walk alone or whatever you choose. Then don't engage in any further discussion about it, it's not up for debate. Good luck

Assuming you are getting married in the church, they actually prefer the bride not be walked down as the bride isn’t being given away. They allow it because it’s tradition but it isn’t preferred.
My dad is walking me so I didn’t look too much into other options. But I believe it is preferred you walk in together or maybe alone. You can use this info when talking to your dad about his role. You can let him know that with this way he can just enjoy himself as a guest.
Its just a thought that will hopefully make it easier for him to accept not walking you. Maybe still have a dance with him so he does feel included. After all he is your dad. You have to ask your self if years from now you’ll be ok not doing it if you decide to not have it.

If you have a good relationship with your mom , have her walk you in.

It is becoming more common for the bride to walk down the aisle alone or with her mom. I don't have a relationship with my dad and in the end he didn't even come. You have to decide what is best for you and your new husband without placating someone you don't even care for much less respect that much. Your wedding is the time to do it. I walked down the aisle alone and saw it as symbolic of me walking down the aisle as an independent woman confident in my choice of partner. As for parent dances, we skipped those. We invited everyone to join our first dance after about 30 seconds. Believe me, your guests would rather you do less spotlight dances than more so they will probably be relieved if you skip a father/daughter dance.

My father decided not to come to my wedding, because I wasn’t being traditional with having just him walk me down. I wanted both him and my step father walk me down . He didn’t like that so he didn’t show.
You get to do this once. So do it how you want. If he doesn’t like it then that’s on him. You are your own person. I will say, you will realize who your real supporters during this process.
Good luck with everything!

Thank you for all your comments, I will definately keep this in mind! Its a weird situations but it's good to know I am not the only one who had to go through dad drama. I loved your pictures!

My situation with my father is very similar to yours. We aren't doing dancing so the father daughter dance is a non issue. He's not at all happy about it, but that's too bad. I'm still struggling with him walking me down the aisle - I hesitantly agreed because it was important to him but he has since been telling everyone that he is "giving me away." We're going to have to have a talk about that and what it means and what he's actually doing, and if he can't adjust that mindset then I'll be walking alone. I definitely agree with PP that you should be upfront now and just tell him you won't be doing those things, and he can just be mad about it. He'll get over it eventually. I'm really regretting not doing the same with my father. One last thing - therapy might be a good idea at least during wedding planning if you have a complicated relationship. It can help you sort through some things and set boundaries.

Something that is done in my culture, non-Catholic, I have seen done in some Catholic weddings, and when hubby and I went to pre-cans , because he was raised Catholic, the priest said it was considered nice by most priests: Instead of father escorting bride down the aisle, and "giving her away", the MOB and FOB ( and godparents if you have them and are close, optional) sit up front , on the aisle. When the bride has walked herself down the aisle, parents stand, and efficient asks, who has raised this young woman, and is here to see her married? And parents respond, then are seated. ( In my culture, all of family, and grandparents and godmother, answer, but in Catholic weddings, I have only seen parents, or also godparents, as the Church includes them at baptism.) The poster above is right, it is for many a cultural, not church mandated , tradition for father to walk with the bride. And if you are interested and ask your priest, saying that as an independent woman you would like to walk alone, but honor the parents who raised you in this way, this may make not having Dad walk seem a statement of your independence, that they should be proud of capable and independent woman they raised, rather than Dad feeling rejected .

I have toiled with this since my engagement a few months ago. I met my father for the first time at age 41, which was a few years ago and now that I am getting married it was assumed that he would walk me down the aisle.

I decided to have my eldest brother walk me down the aisle instead of my father for two very important reasons. First reason being, walking me down the aisle is a moment for my brother. It’s something we have talked about since I was a young girl. I cannot take his moment away from him. It doesn’t feel right. The second reason being, what giving the bride represents. It represents a father or father figure, giving away the daughter he has protected and provided for until the man that he gives his blessings to -to carry on or continue what he has started. Unfortunately, my father did not play that role in my life and all though we have a good relationship now, the opportunity to give me away has been lost with all the years of him not being in my life.

My family has agreed, and understands the importance and what this very small, yet significant part of the ceremony means to me.

I hope this helps you with deciding who should walk you down the aisle

Happy wedding planning

Cherise

I don’t have a good relationship with my biological Dad these days due to his wife of almost 20 years.
If I choose to be walked down the aisle, ideally, I would like the stress between my Dad and I to be handled by then so he can give me away. However, if its not, I’m going to ask my step-Dad and if that’s a no-go, my son will and maybe an Uncle if he can show up.

I did Neither of those things with my dad. He attended my wedding but I walked down the aisle with my wife and we didn’t do and kind of dances. It sounds like there may not be a simple way to talk to your dad but it’s your wedding so plan how you want to and he’ll adjust or stay home.

LITERALLY JUST WENT THROUGH THIS!

I got married a week and a half ago. My parents are also still married although I have no idea why. My dad is a functioning alcoholic jerk, and my mother is a peach. So I'm not sure why she puts up with him. Anyway, from the beginning I let it be known that my mom was walking me down the aisle.

Fast forward to the day before my wedding when we are doing the rehearsal. My wife decided that she wanted both of her parents to walk her. After the rehearsal, multiple family members pulled me aside and told me that "the right thing to do" would be to let my dad walk me and that it would be a slap in the face if I don't. I was livid. How dare anyone else decided something for me when they've never walked in my shoes.

My wife's godmother finally pulled me aside. She told me that she had a terrible relationship with her father and that for her wedding she was pressured by her family members into having him walk her down the aisle. She said it was the biggest regret on her wedding day and that she to this day hates looking at the pictures of that part of the ceremony.

Ultimately, I said no. Did he pout like a 5 year old during my entire wedding? 100%. Did that affect my day? Nope. The sheer thought of having him walk me caused me so much anxiety and unhappiness. There's no way that I would have enjoyed my day.

The only reason I did the father/daughter dance with him is because FIL wanted to dance with both my wife and I durning the dance. So we each started with our dads, switched for like 15 seconds, and then switched back. We picked a short song so that helped. LOL

Everyone is going to try to talk you into it because it's what's traditional. I'm a girl who married another girl in my backyard DIY friendor wedding. Nothing about my wedding was traditional. Why should I have started there? I hope you make the decision that is best for you because no one else can ever possibly know how it will affect you.

View Quoted Comment Thanks for the feedback. It’s hard spurning tradition without being rude. I’m glad things worked out in a way you felt comfortable

View Quoted Comment Thanks for the feedback. That sounds super sweet, I’m glad you have such an awesome brother

View Quoted Comment I’ve never heard of that! It sounds like a good compromise - I’ll look it up. thanks

I dont have a great relationship with my dad either it's my wedding and my choice who walks me down the aisle that doesn't mean you dont love him its perfectly ok if you dont want him to.

My dad will be attending my wedding (supposedly) but we do not have a close relationship. My younger brother is going to be walking me down the aisle and I will be dancing with my mom at the reception.