Q.
How should divorced parents walk into the reception? My mother will be alone, and my fiance's mom doesn't want to walk in with her ex who has been remarried for about 14 years. What can I do?
A.
If you feel it's going to be really awkward, there's no reason that your parents have to be presented and walk formally into the reception room. If you want to be announced for the first time as husband and wife, that's fine -- just forgo the wedding-party part of it, and you two can acknowledge your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and parents once the reception is underway. Remember, any time a wedding custom or tradition threatens to make things uncomfortable because of your family situation, it's totally fine to skip it, or modify it so that it works for you. Do what's best for you and everyone else involved.
See More: Divorce & Step Family , Basics for Moms
share your advice on this topic
Write your own tips and ideas to share with other Knotties.
KimA217
my fiance's parents have been divorced for awhile and even though his father re-married, he doesn't recognize his stepmother as his stepmother. When they enter into the hall (his mother just passed) he wants the dj to just say " and the groom's father being escorted by his wife..." it just seemed alittle easier that way...
cpalmi01
To mewaldroop89 and all others. I am a step mom and am an intergrial part of my step- daughters life. Since she cnsiders me important and part of the family I will be walking down the aisle and seated just before her biological mother. This is quite common if you have a longstanding intimate relationship with your "step" daughter. In no way is "who is the mom?" confusing. Although the idea of the mom and dad walking the bride down the aisle is nice. I am very traditional in this area. My feeling is this is a special previlige and honor held only by the father/father figures unless there is none, in which case the mom may walk the bride. Dads hold a special place on this day and in my opinion should be honored with this duty. Good luck to all!
cpalmi01
To mewaldroop89 and all others. I am a step mom and am an intergrial part of my step- daughters life. Since she cnsiders me important and part of the family I will be walking down the aisle and seated just before her biological mother. This is quite common if you have a longstanding intimate relationship with your "step" daughter. In now way is "who is the mom?" confusing. Although the idea of the mom and dad walking the bride down the aisle is nice. I am very traditional in this area. My feeling is this is a special previlige and honor held only by the father/father figures unless there is none, in which case the mom may walk the bride. Dads hold a special place on this day and in my opinion should be honored with this duty. Good luck to all!
cat_laming
Another idea would be if you have any male siblings? I attended a wedding where the bride's mother was escorted in by her elder brother, and it worked out splendidly.
mewaldroop89
MOTB, I don't think your daughter's STEP mother should be walking down the aisle during ceremony and to make things so much nicer, it would be so sweet of your daughter to let you be on one arm while her father walks her down on the other arm. It would be clear that you are the mother, and so there'd be no questions later on the receiving line during the reception.