Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Antiquated tradition...?

Goodness. It's been a while since I've updated the old blog. I've been busy! And the Big Day is definitely on the brain. Less than 40 days know (I think) until the wedding. I'm definitely excited to get married...but, I cannot wait for a vacation! I am counting down the minutes to June 15 when we pack up the car and drive to the beach. And since Steve will be driving the entire way, I am counting down the minutes until I can sleep in the car and read books while Steve deals with vacation traffic. :)

I am still in a quandary about changing my name, though I am leaning towards the switch. I was greatly persuaded after a Judge repeatedly called me "Attorney Brassier" in court. Nothing spells humiliating like being called a woman's undergarment in front of other lawyers! We'll see.

My newest debate concerns who will walk me down the aisle. Tradition says it's the father of the bride so that he may "give away" his daughter. I suppose we like to forget the fact that fathers once used daughters essentially as currency to pay off debts or buy their way into a higher social status. In fact, one of the originations of the bridal veil was so that the groom wouldn't know who he was stuck with until it was time to kiss the bride! (No veil here!) Moreover, the symbolism of being "given away" kind of makes me nauseous.

Don't get me wrong-I adore my Dad. We are alike in a lot of ways-we look alike, we love nerdy historical fiction, and we both know everything! But, my parents have always been equal partners-both work, both "parented" me, both cook, etc. So why wouldn't I want both with me when I walk down the aisle (that is a fantastic sandy beach) to make my own lifetime commitment? Plus, it's a symbol of the joining of two families, and the start of a new family-the one I've chosen. I think having just my Dad walk me down the aisle overshadows the role and involvement my mother has had in my life.

I know having both parents walk the bride down the aisle is a Jewish tradition. To me, it just makes sense. There's certainly nothing wrong with tradition, but I don't know that I must mindlessly follow it just because it's a wedding tradition.

Am I crazy?

3 comments:

Jamie said...

Forget the laws of tradition and do what makes YOU happy. June 19th is your day!

katy said...

tough call, though I favor tradition here :)

Sarah said...

if i were a mom, it would be an enormous honor for my daughter to ask me to be apart of something so significant. just sayin. :)