:: The Father of the Bride ::

In every wedding the Father of the Bride always touches my heart in some way. They obviously are all different people, short, tall, thin or a pasta bellied, but on the day of their daughters wedding they all have the same look. The look of craziness with 10 girls getting ready at once, the look of eagerness to help; pop the champagne, clean up the mess from the flowers etc. or whatever he could do to make his daughter and wife happy and most importantly calm. He also bears the look of pride, a little anxiousness, and perhaps a pang of sadness, even if the daughter he is "giving away" has been self sufficient for years before she walks down the aisle.

I always keep an eye on the father of the bride on the morning of a wedding. With all of the craziness (even the most organized days are filled with a little chaos and a lot of excitement), he often gets overlooked. He is usually dressed in a handsome tux as only takes him 28 seconds to be ready and waiting to see his daughter walk down the stairs or out the bedroom in the most beautiful gown she will ever wear. He is typically very quiet, sometimes gazing out the window, possibly pacing a little without even realizing it. I have to imagine his feelings are very similar to what they were the day his little girl was born, but now he gets the honor of walking her down the aisle to the person who will care for her just the way he has all the years of her life.

I also get the privilege of being the last person in the back of the ceremony with the father of the bride and his daughter. As I fluff her dress, check to make sure her hair is just right, her veil is centered and perfectly draping where it is supposed to, he stands there proud yet stoic and perhaps a bit nervous, but he'll never show it. This is is sometimes where he will choke out an "I love you", if he doesn't its because there is no way he could get the words out without completely losing it. It's a quiet moment but a big one and definitely my favorite one of every.single.wedding. not when the doors open, just before that. It gets me every time.

Once his bride is down the aisle, they say I do, wedding bells are metaphorically rung - its party time. I personally LOVE when the father of the bride says a little speech before dinner, welcoming the guests, a little something to the new in laws, a small story of his bride and a toast to the newlyweds, oh and bonus if they tell the story of being asked for his blessing before the proposal. That's awesome and everyone is equally touched and amused.

After dinner and a little dancing, his last moment with the glowing bride is upon them, the father/daughter dance. This could be song that he knew he was going to dance with his daughter to since she was in diapers, or a song that she knew she was going to dance with him since she started planning her wedding at the age of 8, or something they went back and forth discussing over the phone, in person or email during the entire engagement. Either way it's a special couple of minutes, one that should not be overlooked, rushed, or hurried. {{ Be sure to check out today's blog on The Wedding Loft page for my Top 5 Father/Daughter dance songs. }}

Having a father of the bride is a typical situation. Sometimes the "father of the bride" role is played by the mother of the bride, by the "step" father of the bride, by a brother or uncle of the bride. These people are equally important and take their role very seriously both on the day of the wedding and every other day, and are honored and humbled beyond belief. Whomever is the person to escort the bride down the aisle is always someone extremely special to that bride, someone who has gone above and beyond any role they played in her life. I remember one very special bride being escorted by her mom, just as she aligned herself with the big beautiful church doors while I fluffed her dress, the shortest quietest little whimper came out, she couldn't hold it in, I remember what she said (which I will never repeat) and I remember knowing that her dad while not there in person was right there with them in spirit. And yes, after the doors closed the tears I was holding back may have leaked from my eye(s).

Below is a very small handful of the father of the bride moments that I had the pleasure and honor of witnessing!

My 2013 Brides may recognize this beautiful  bride - Client turned Assistant!Photo Credit: Laura Dee Photography — My 2013 Brides may recognize this beautiful bride - Client turned Assistant!
Photo Credit: Laura Dee Photography

I absolutely positively adore when then first look with their dad is just as important as the first look with their fiancé. This was the best moment ever that I saw only in pictures.

OK - there's a lot of photos of Mr. C, but I couldn't help it. That guy in the blue shirt is singing a song that he helped write for his daughter Caitlin. I could usually keep it together at a wedding, but there was not a dry eye in the house or the tent rather. Both of mine included.