Your Father/Daughter dance is a tradition rich in history. This dance truly symbolizes one of the last times a Father would be able to share such an intimate moment with his daughter – it was his chance to “say goodbye” after giving away his daughter in marriage.
The symbolism behind this dance is what makes it sentimental. With so many families being blended now, as a result of remarriages, it could mean that Dads' are sometimes people who come along much later in a person’s life.
Here are a few suggestions we have about how to handle the Father/Daughter dance:
1. You and Dad have a very special bond, and this is such a special and emotional day for him. You don’t want to choose a song that’s going to make both of you cry, but if that happens, it’s really quite fine, and a very common occurrence – everybody will understand the tenderness of the moment. Talk to your dad about it and make sure he is comfortable with the song and with dancing to it. If you’re both really nervous about it, it won’t feel natural, so perhaps you could drag your dad to 1 dance class, it might be a lot of fun for the two of you and you’ll definitely be more confident about your special moment.
2. So you and your dad are not “really close” but you recognize that this dance is respectful and a nice moment and you choose to do it. Do something lighthearted and fun, not a really sappy song. Perhaps you can even combine this dance with the Mother/Son dance song, if your fiancé and his mother don’t mind.
3. You and Dad are not traditional types, you both like Rock Music etc. No problem! Pick a song you both like, and have a ball. It’s so much more authentic when you allow yourself to be yourself on your wedding day, and trust me, your guests will appreciate that.
4. You have 2 or more “Fathers”. There are times that daughtersare closer to step-parents than their biological ones. Again, it’s ok. If you’re close enough with both of them, you dance with both of them. You can pick 2 songs and just dance to a few minutes of each song and the DJ can fade out of one song and introduce the next Dad to the dance floor for the 2nd dance. No one feels uncomfortable when something is done tastefully. By not making this a huge deal, this isn’t a huge deal, it’s just a nice way of having a special moment with your dad or dads
5. Your Dad has passed on. Several Brides chose to dance with another male friend or family member who has been a positive influence on their life, including several Brides who have chosen their brother(s) to have a special dance with. In one case, a Bride danced with several of the men in her family who each gave her a rose in honour of her father who was there in spirit. This is a very touching moment, but, if you do not wish to draw any attention to this touchy subject or you don’t want to risk an emotional roller coaster, simply allow for a few tasteful words about him and have a great time at your wedding, knowing that he would have wanted that for you.
Visit our blog to see how a Bride's family pulled together for her, after her Dad passed away just before the wedding:http://klerksdorpweddings.co.za/klerksdorp-weddings/blog/father-daughter-wedding-dance(have tissues on hand - this is beautiful!)