1. Some brides choose to have their father walk them down the aisle only halfway and then walk the other half by themselves. This symbolizes the bride's transfer from dependence to independence and that she has a new life of her own. This is pretty safe since it still involves the father of the bride.

2. Some have their mother and father both walk them down the aisle. For some brides, this is a way to include her mother in the process while still holding on to tradition. While this may be also seen as an attempt to go against a "male dominated society", it still should be accepted by most if you are worried about it.

3. Another thing that is becoming more popular is the groom meeting the bride halfway. It's not only cute, it symbolizes the strong union between them. Again, it may seem improper to some strict traditionalists, but who's paying for the wedding?

4. Some brides choose to have only their mothers walk them down the aisle. Some brides and their mothers are so close that tradition is a non-issue. They just want to honor their mothers for their love and hard work.

5. Walking down the aisle by oneself is relatively new and you have to be careful. It is not so much the break with tradition that may cause trouble as it is the bundle of nerves you may feel when walking down the aisle alone. A test run may help you, but it is not the same as the real thing! Everybody is "ahhing" you, your fiancé is looking at you as if he is seeing an angel from heaven and you are excited on top of all that. If you are not the shy type and still want to take a go at it, plan your wedding early so that you are not stressed out. And try not to think about what could go wrong!

6. Some brides may split it up between two escorts. For example, you could have your uncle walk you down partly and then have your father walk you down the rest of the way. This way everyone gets his turn to shine.

7. Walking together with you fiancé is not something out of the question. It is the ultimate demonstration of partnership, commitment and independence. If you are one of the brides who are aiming to break with tradition this could be a good route.

8. A bride who does not have her father with her anymore may still want someone who is like a father to her to escort her down the aisle. She may choose her uncle, brother, godfather or even a close friend of her father to "represent" him. In this case it is good idea to get your escort's approval way in advance and talk to friends and family about how they feel to gauge how this may look if you are afraid of offending anyone.

Above all, it is your day. I know you might be afraid of offending someone, but it is your day and most of the time your friends and family are not that "strict". Even if someone else is footing the bill, it’s you who will have the most vivid memories of your day and it's you who will have to live with it.

Victoria Williams is the editor of http://www.nuptialparadise.com. A Wedding Planning magazine with tips and ideas on planning your wedding. You can also get wedding software and self-help books at nuptialparadise.com/weddingplanningtools.php.

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