I’d like to find a way to honor them – Especially my parents and his best friend – but I’m not sure what to do, or how to do it. A slide show is too funeralish and in your face. I don’t want to depress myself and all my guests. But I’m not sure either of us will have it in us to get up there and make some sort of toast or mention of them and hold it all together. I’d like something that makes it obvious we’re honoring them – but not something drawn out or depressing, I guess.

Also – is it okay to ask someone who isn’t family, to give me away in place of my Dad? Or should it be a family member? I am not really close with any of my uncles, but I do have two men in my life who are very much like fathers to me.

Is there a way I can walk down the isle without being given away?? I’ve never seen it done – could my fiance and I walk in after the groomsmen and bridesmaids, together?

Question #2: Her parents are divorced and don’t get along at all. My cousin’s dad is remarried with two children and she’s had a rough past with her stepmom. They used to fight a lot and they’ve only recently started to be polite/nice to each other. My cousin’s mom has a hard time being polite when she’s speaking to the dad and isn’t shy about speaking her mind about what she thinks of some of his decisions. Her mom and stepmom do not like each other even a little bit so we’re having trouble coming up with ideas on how to handle this situation. Lizzi (my cousin) doesn’t want to offend her dad and stepmom by not including them in the wedding planning but also doesn’t want to make her mom mad by having all of them at the same ‘events’ (i.e., dress shopping and fittings, the bridal shower, the favor-making parties, the shopping for other various things).

Any advice on anything she could do to keep the peace would be much appreciated.

Thank you.