Question: I am getting married soon, and I just heard that your parents should not walk you down the aisle if they are divorced. My parents are divorced, and I really want them both to walk me down! What’s wrong with their doing so? Is there any way around this?

Answer: This custom is not mentioned in Shulchan Aruch, although it is brought in later sources. It is not clear what the reasoning for it is, although it would seem that the idea is not that parents who are divorced should not walk a child down. Rather, a person who is currently married to a second spouse should not do so. I have seen many prominent Rabbis who are not makpid (strict) with this ruling. You should discuss this issue with the Rabbi who will be performing the wedding.

Mazel Tov!

Rabbi Y. Benyowitz