Must the Father/Daughter Dance Be With Dad?

I was raised by my stepfather and feel much closer to him than my biological father. They’re both going to be at my wedding. When it’s time for the father/daughter dance, whom should I dance with?

Since your stepfather has been a huge part of your life, it’s perfectly fine for you to share the traditional father/daughter dance with him. Just make sure to be considerate of your biological father’s feelings. Find a song that captures how you feel about your stepdad without snubbing your birth dad. Skip tunes like ”My Girl” and ”My Father’s Eyes” and go for generically happy songs like Louis Armstrong’s ”What a Wonderful World” or Nat King Cole’s ”Unforgettable.” You may want to have the DJ or band leader announce the father/daughter dance with something like, ”And now the bride will dance with her stepfather.”

You should definitely ask your birth dad to dance, but you don’t have to make a big production out of it. Do what makes you comfortable: Follow the stepdad dance with another generically sweet song, but invite your guests to join you on the floor; have your new husband dance with his mom while you dance with your birth dad; or spontaneously grab your birth dad for a dance as the night progresses, the party’s roaring, and you’re more relaxed.