Not without Dad's Approval
Not without Dad's Approval
July 22, 2005Posted By weddings
More articles on the Weddings topic: Wedding Traditions
Getting the Bride's Father's permission is a long held tradition that these days has dropped in popularity. Not in the Indian state of Gujarat, however. In that region, getting Daddy's permission is the law.
The government has asked courts not to register marriages without the written consent of both parents, and the courts have complied - turning away as many as 20 potential marriages daily.
It's a small gesture, and one that can be extremely uncomfortable for the groom. There are countless excuses for not doing it - Dad might say no; the groom feels silly doing it; the parental relationship is not the greatest; etc. A bride doesn't want a husband full of excuses, and a father does not want his daughter marrying a man who cannot muster up the courage or take the time to do things the right way.
I don't necessarily think it should be a legal requirement, but if nothing else the very first step in a wedding should be taken with the proper ettiquette in mind. The only time a groom should not ask the father-in-law for permission is at the request of the bride-to-be. If her wishes surrounding this issue are in question, then a longer courtship is in order.
