Walking Down the Aisle…Together?

I'm walking the aisle with my FH. Like you, I'm not crazy about the "giving away of the bride."

Can you have your father walk you half way and then the your FH walk you the rest of the way? they can shake hands and casual hug or whatever

it's not necessarily "giving you away" but more of a passing of the torch rather

either way no one will really care.

Without an officiant what will people be walking towards? I'm never heard of a Quaker marriage and don't know a lot about cultures so it is a sincere question. Once whoever walks with whoever wherever outside, what will happen next?

We are doing a first look as well and do not have a bridal party. (only 17 guests) What we decided to do is I will walk half way down the isle myself then at the halfway mark I will meet my FH and we will walk the rest of the way together.

Haha "no one will really care" love it! So true! @ItsGoodToBeKing

Our officiant said "Who offers their blessing to this woman" and my dad said her mother and I do - it wasn't giving away, it was just my dad having a special moment with me before I became a part of my own family that FH and I will create together.

It wouldn't be a quaker marriage, just the license. It's something you can do in Pennsylvania and I believe a couple other states. It's also considered a 'Self-Uniting Marriage', it's so you don't have to have an officiant. We are still doing research on it, we have a while until the wedding. More curious as to different ways of "entering" for the ceremony. @Emily

My father is accompanying me down the aisle (FH and I like the tradition) but we are not having him "give me away". I mean, I am 40 years old and have been married before (my FH jokes that if there was any giving away it should be my nephew as my sister and I lived together with my nephew before I moved in with my FH).

I like that idea…however I'm afraid I'll be nervous on my own and trip with everyones eyes on me! Haha @Rebecca

I'm thinking of walking with both my parents, and I don't think of it as them giving me away. It's kind of cheesy, but I think of the walk as a symbol of their guidance - my parents guided me throughout my life and helped mold me into the woman I am today - the woman FH met and fell in love with :]

I do like the idea of walking in together for the exact reasons you stated!

That's so sweet @DanieGee But I've already talked to my mom about something like that, either her and my dad or just her and I (we are super close) and it's not something she wants to do. She has arthritis in both ankles and is afraid of loosing her footing and ruining it…I said it would make for great pictures! haha

A wedding without an officiant doesn't sound legal to me....

Http://pennsylvania.usmarriagelaws.com @AugustBride - Quaker/ Self-Uniting License fee varies by county. If you want this type of license, you need to inform the clerk before you begin the application process.

Hi We are walking down the aisle together. It's important to me, it has been from day one! I think it's a beautiful sign of unity and equality in the marriage. I love seeing brides being walked down by their dads too, don't get me wrong. It just isn't for me! We will walk down together, and our parents are standing at the front, then we will each hug them then…GET MARRIED! Do what makes you happy and comfortable. I can't wait to have him by my side.

I think walking in together is a nice way to begin your marriage. I wasn't ok with being given away either, so we sort of adapted from a couple of traditions and DH walked in with both of his parents and I walked in after him with both of mine, and they stood behind us while the officiant welcomed everyone. Then he asked "Who promises to support this couple in their marriage?" and our parents all said we do and gave us hugs (DH and his dad did a high-five), and went to sit in the front row.

Hey there... Walking down the aisle with your husband is pretty cool. However, what a lot of people are missing (as well) is the fact that whether you walk down the aisle with your father, brother, by yourself, or what not, the point of walking down the aisle without your FH there, is so he sees you for the first time in your gorgeous dress (waiting for you), seeing that glow in your face, knowing ITS YOU making the decision to be with him for the rest of your life (with those final steps your taking towards him), that look on his face when he first sees you, knowing you're walking to him, becoming a part of him in the most personally physical/spiritual, beautiful way you possibly can... A bond that's "Till Do Us Part"... ..... Its the metaphor and the symbolism behind it... Although, if you can't already tell, I'm a mushy gushy romantic.... so that might not be your thing... he he.... If you're more like the "I'm marrying my best friend, my partner, my sidekick...." type, then walking with him is fun, new, different, rare, and awesomely cool... So it just depends on you honestly .... Hope this helps.... My perspective is also coming from someone who doesn't have a father to walk her down the aisle with.... so.....???? But, if you and your FH prefer that... THEN DO IT!!!! . It's your day, not anyone else's...

I'm not crazy about the "giving away" and I don't like where it came from, but it means a lot to my dad to walk me down the Aisle, so I shall. What is said at the end, we haven't discused yet.

I really don't want to hurt my dad's feelings either, I'm the third child (all girls), and my middle sister moved to India and married someone we never met last year. Since my parents have no passports they didn't exactly get to be there, so I know he would take it even harder if he couldn't walk me down the Aisle and possibly "give me away."

Besides, I'm too independent for anyone to ever consider me property, so I don't think it's going to change how anyone views me or my FH treats me.

I really like the walking together idea-- I've never seen it, but really like the symbolism of you two together.

We are walking down together.His parents are going to walk down together, then my parents, then us.

If you want to acknowledge your parents, but not have the sexist "giving away," you could follow the method that is traditional in Jewish ceremonies: Both of the groom's parents escort him, and both of the bride's parents escort her. No one gets given away, but both bride and groom acknowledge the contribution of their parents (not just their fathers).

But there is also nothing wrong with just having the two of you walk together.