Want to buck tradition and have your son walk you down the aisle. In this case, you may not be sure if this is the right idea or not.
Here is what you need to know about your son walking you down the aisle:
Is It Possible for My Son Walk Me Down the Aisle
Yes, your son can walk you down the aisle – there are no rules about who can and can’t walk you down the aisle as the gesture is symbolic – there are no rules about how old your son has to be, either.
Should You Ask Your Son to Walk You Down the Aisle?
This is something that you should consider carefully.
You know your son better than anyone. So, before you ask him to take on this responsibility, make sure that he is up for it.
Think about your son’s personality. Does he enjoy being in front of a crowd or performing? How does he handle being the center of attention?
If your son is very shy, he may find it uncomfortable walking you down the aisle. However, he will feel obligated to do so if you ask him to.
Keep in mind that if your son is young, he may not be equipped to overcome his shyness to walk you down the aisle. As a result, he may freeze or break down in the moment.
This is why you should discuss your son walking you down the aisle first. Let him know that it is his decision and that you will not be unhappy with him either way.
It is also a good idea to tell him that he can change his mind at any time, even the day of the wedding. This way, if he isn’t feeling up to it, he won’t feel forced to go along with the plan.
Should Your Oldest Son Walk You Down the Aisle?
This does depend entirely on you. It can also depend on why you are choosing your son to walk you down the aisle.
For instance, if you have lost your father or aren’t close to him but want an appropriate alternative, then having your eldest son walk you down the aisle is a good idea. This is especially true if your son is an adult or near adult age.
This is also a good option for anyone who wants to maintain a sense of tradition to the procession.
On the other hand, if you have been a single mother for much of your sons’ lives, then it may not feel right to choose one son over the others. In this case, you may want all of your sons’ to walk you down the aisle.
Can Only One Son Walk You Down the Aisle?
No, you don’t have to have just one son walk you down the aisle. You can have all of your sons walk beside you.
In fact, you don’t have to stick with tradition about only men walking you down the aisle. If you have daughters, they can walk right beside you and your sons.
If you do want all of your children to walk you down the aisle, you do have to think about how you are going to arrange this.
If you have two or three children, they can walk on either side of you. In case you have more, though, you are going to have to consider the fashion in which you walk down the aisle a little more carefully.
How to Have More Than One Son Walk You Down the Aisle?
As mentioned, having more than one son or child is going to require some planning.
For three children you can have one taking the lead with the two others on each side of you. With more kids, have two people in each row leading the way. It is up to you to decide who you want by your side.
This role may be the best for the youngest children, especially if they are very little. You can hold their hand to make this job a little easier for them.
Conversely, you can have the younger kids take the front while your oldest son walks you down the aisle. This works well for a more traditional procession.
A Note About Giving You Away
Now, traditionally a father walking down the aisle is seen as the father giving away the bride.
In fact, in some ceremonies, the priest or officiant will ask “who gives away this woman?” – the person walking the bride down the aisle is meant to respond.
In general, this practice isn’t as common as people are stepping away from the patriarchal idea of giving away women.
However, it is especially important to avoid this step with your son, particularly if he is quite young. Having your son ‘give you away’ can cause some anxiety on his part, even if he doesn’t vocalize it. This is particularly likely if you are getting married to someone who isn’t his biological father.
Keep in mind, the ceremony shouldn’t feel like your son is losing his mother but rather like he is gaining a new family.
One way to do this would be to drop you off at the altar and then stand with the groomsmen. This way he will not feel like he is being abandoned or left alone.
Can Your Son Walk You Down the Aisle?
Yes, this is absolutely possible – the rules around weddings and ceremony are getting increasingly fewer by the day – so, if you want your son to walk you down the aisle instead, this can be a cute and meaningful idea to include in the ceremony.
How Your Son Can Participate in Other Roles During the Ceremony
In addition to walking you down the aisle there are other ways you can involve your son in the wedding ceremony. For example you can consider having him participate in the sand ceremony where you your groom and your son each pour different colored sand into a container symbolizing the blending of your family. Another option is to have your son serve as the Best Man which would allow him to stand by your side throughout the ceremony and play a significant role in supporting you and your groom. You could also ask your son to give a hug or a kiss before passing you off to the groom symbolizing his love and support for your new chapter. Whatever role you choose for your son it’s important to make sure it aligns with his comfort level and desire to participate.