Aside from having your Dad walk you down the aisle on your wedding day, there are many things that you can do to commemorate or involve dad a little more than you typically would. There’s a lot of old traditions that go with the handing off of the bride: the father is giving away his daughter. The ancient custom was that the father was literally giving you away to your husband with a dowry.

Many of these ancient traditions, we can either embrace and adjust accordingly, or scratch altogether. But there are a lot of really cool and meaningful ways to incorporate special and unique things to make sure dad feels loved, especially when his baby girl is leaving the nest. Well, you have been out of the nest for a while, but he’s handing you off and giving his blessing.

In no particular order, here are some awesome ways to incorporate dad into your wedding day or do special things for him, so he feels like he’s not just giving you away.

***Disclaimer: this can be replicated for whoever is significant in your life. The father figure can be replaced with anyone significant to you, whether they are family or not. For instance, I’m also doing a lot of these things with my brother, who is a big part of my life. I want to do something special for him on one of my biggest days. I’m doing something special even with my brother, who I want to dance with at the wedding.

It’s your wedding day so you can do this in any order and whatever specifications you want. These are just tips so that you have something to keep in mind or to put on your to-do list as you’re planning your wedding.

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The biggest is dad walking you down the aisle.

It is a very traditional part of the wedding. The father is walking you down the aisle to present you to your future husband. While that is still a tradition, it doesn’t have to happen that way. You can have a father, stepfather, uncle, cousin, or brother.

If you are blessed to have your father beside you, that is HIS moment. Your family and friends will acknowledge him as the support role that is bringing you into the marriage. A father figure is who we all look up to as children and emulate who our future husband will be like.

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2. Father-Daughter Dance

Then, of course, there’s the father-daughter dance, which is special on its own. You can make it even more significant by choreographing something. Some amazing dance studios will do private lessons, so dad doesn’t get up there and has two left feet, and you’re only doing a box step. Make it fun! Maybe have a song that the two of you remember from your childhood or is special to the two of you.

3. Daddy Daughter First Look

Something I made sure to include in my wedding timeline is a daddy-daughter first look. Of course, you can do a first look with the groom, so that way before the ceremony, you guys have time to take photos together, the same thing I want to do with my dad. He’s the one who is going to be walking me down the aisle. So I do feel like I want to have a special moment with him so that he can see me for the first time and we can have some time to take some photos, get a little emotional (because I know it’s going to happen) and then collect ourselves and walk down the aisle.

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4. Before Dinner

I love including a father in a toast before the reception dinner. If you’re religious or want to say a blessing or a prayer before everyone gets up to eat or before dinner is served, this is a perfect opportunity to include dad. He can be the one to say the grace, to say the welcome and thank you for coming, and be the one to introduce the bride and groom.

5. Save Dad a Seat

Many things may already be included in your list but not necessarily highlighted, like escort cards or reserved seating. If your dad is going to be walking down the aisle, do make sure that you save him a seat when he gets to the end. It rarely happens, and most of the time, when you have a wedding coordinator, they’re very keen to make sure that they have a seat saved. But just in case as a reminder, make sure you put a reserved sign on dad‘s chair. Put his name real nice, use calligraphy, or give him a special cushion. I’ll make sure to have a seat reserved for him right at the front.

6. The Food

I love the idea of incorporating things throughout the ceremony or the reception; you can do a signature cocktail for him, a specific food, or an appetizer that he is obsessed with.

7. A Gift

If you’re trying to stick to a more traditional timeline or methods of doing things, a gift is a fantastic way to show how much he means to you. There are 1 million different things that you could do for dad. I love special cufflinks, a personalized tie, a handkerchief that matches the bridal party colors, or maybe embroidered with a cute message, “I thank you, and I love you.”

I even love the idea of an empty frame with a placeholder for a photo of the two of you after the wedding; that special gift is going to mean something, and he can even take it with him and use it on the big day. Just make sure to tell your photographer (Me) that these little special details are there, so that I know to make sure to take some photos of them.

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Needing a photographer for your wedding to capture those special moments with Dad and more? Check out my website for testimonials of many brides that I’ve helped capture their special day. HERE