Be ready...it's going to be emotional

Last week I was talking to a Father of the Bride. His daughters wedding was almost a year out. We were discussing expenses, "complaining about all the little details", etc- typical guy talk about weddings. Very light and very friendly.

I said I know it is a year out but I want to give you two small bits of advice about your walk with your daughter down the aisle. His demeanor changed pretty quickly. You can see it every time in a Dad's eyes. His entire body language changed: we were going to talk about a time that he has thought of for his daughters entire life... the walk down the aisle. We often joke about how long mom's and daughters have been thinking about getting married and all that it involves. For Dad's (and I recognize that not EVERY Dad fits this...) it is much less about the whole wedding and very much about that long walk down the aisle to "give away" our daughter to this man that has "invaded" our lives. Just kidding... grooms. He got serious but more important; he also started to get emotional. I am not talking about a boo-hoo moment but the look in his eye was one I see alot (and also experienced). The look said; this is important; this is going to be special; and I am not quite sure how I am going to handle it or react.

My advice for him was that when it was time to walk down the aisle to go ahead and clear every one out of the room so you can have a very, very special moment alone with your daughter. At the Piazza we have a bridal suite with a flat screen that allows you see what is happening in the chapel. A bride can literally "watch her wedding". Once the grandparents, mom's start to walk down the aisle they can watch it. My suggestion is that you should "shoo out the brides maids, flower girls, maid of honor" in those last moments so you can just spend some quality time with your daughter "watching her wedding unfold. For me it was a time to tell Christine I loved her, tell her just how beautiful she really looked and to pray with her. It was also a time to watch her wedding before we walked down the aisle. It is an incredibly special moment and one that every Dad should get.

By the time I was done with that story his eyes were "misty" and like most Dad's it is pretty easy to put yourself in that position no matter how far out the date might be. Personally I loved the dreaded walk down the aisle. I was proud and a little bit sad both at the same time. Believe it or not, I actually liked the Father/Daughter dance even more but we will leave that for another post.

Get ready to be emotional. Trust me you will love it.

PS: The second bit of advice I gave him is that there is no reason to be nervous when you are walking your daughter down the aisle. The reason? No one is looking at the Dad....