(The Lutheran minister) noted that the custom of fathers walking their daughters down the aisle "is not a Swedish tradition. It has been imported from American and British films."

So if the bride really wants to honor the work her parents did to raise her, she just better not do it near a feminist Lutheran minister!

This practice doesn't have to signify chattelhood, or being a "man's property". It can signify the bride's passage into adulthood, and is generally a poignant moment for the brides and fathers involved!

(I never had a father to do this. I walked alone to my husband. But if I had a strong relationship with a father figure, I would want them to participate in my portion of the ceremony.)

My mom has officiated at marriages. She had even done several where the mother 'gave away' the bride. But it was more like clasped hands, and words to the effect of: this woman has raised a daughter, and recognizes that the daughter is now an adult. She frees her to choose her life path. The daughter takes a few steps alone, towards her beloved, and takes his/her hand. All cry now! Very powerful and meaningful.

That is meaning of the ceremonies we observe. They have powerful meaning to those participating and watching.

I would hope if I was ever to have kids, my hubby and his daughter would want to share a moment on a very important day! And I know hubby feels the same!

My dad walked me down the aisle but I'm pretty sure that was more to make sure I didn't bolt at the last second. :D

I wonder if they'd allow both parents to walk the daughter down the aisle, is it the act of "giving away" as it's referred to here or is it specifically that it's the father "giving" the daughter away.

Interesting that they can practice non-sexism in churches in Sweden, hope that starts to spread through the rest of the world.

So wait,
The ministers can refuse to do something because they think its sexist.
Thats retarded, Why should anyone have to leave their wedding plans up to the discretion of some super sensitive pastor's.

I got married (in Sweden) this summer. The minister was very open to our wishes and everything. He did however say that he would prefer if the father didn't walk my wife down the aisle for the reasons stated in the post above. We didn't care because we had no plans on doing that anyway.

My sister on the other hand, got married a month later, her minister told her the same thing and she was devastated. She had always pictured our dad leading her down the aisle but the minister refused. So they did a little father/daughter drop off right outside the church before she and her husband walked in together.

My father-in-law didn't "give" my wife away to me. He was her escort. When I took my wife's hand he looked at me and gave me a wink. I did not nor ever will consider my wife as property.

The tradition goes a lot further back than American and British films. It goes back thousands of years. Yes, at one time the bride-to-be was considered property. The groom-to-be had to pay the family for the privilege of marrying the daughter. Later it was more symbolic of an approval of the family. that is exactly what I consider it. It shouldn't be up to the priest, it should be a choice made by the bride.

My 10-year-old just mentioned that she would want me to "give her away". That made me a happy Daddy.

Sorry, double posted, ignore this! No, really, just ignore it. Okay, you can stop reading now, this doesn't mean anything. Hey, stop it. Move on, nothing to see here.

Shouldn't the bride be able to have her wedding any way the hell she wants?

I'd punch that minister in the face.

No really.

Ok I wouldn't. I actually do tend to have feminist tendencies, but this is bullsh**.

I can imagine a father would be looking forward to this sentimental moment, no? And rob him of it? And the bride of her imagined wedding? Not gonna happen.