mywedding.com

Dads have traditionally gotten away with writing large checks and walking daughters down the aisle as their official wedding duties. Typically it's the Mother-of-the-Bride and the Bride herself who take on the bulk of wedding planning and nuptial tasks. But it can no longer be assumed that brides have the "All American Nuclear Family" to take on the traditional wedding planning roles. Some brides are planning weddings with one parent, no parents, or jointly with her fiancé. And it doesn't stop there. In my case, my in-laws paid for half of our wedding. The old rules just don't apply any longer.

So in this era of non-traditional, DIY weddings why not include dear old Dad in actual wedding planning activities? Dad will feel more connected to the process and less like an ATM. I don't know about your Dad, but mine likes to keep busy and express his fatherly love through his actions and willingness to provide for his family. And believe me, at my wedding, this worked out for everyone! I had my Dad doing everything from setting up tents to folding napkins in the days before the big event. It was great! He's a guy who gets the job done and gets it done right. We still look back on this time fondly and feel closer because of it.

In honor of Father's Day (ahem…this Sunday for those of you who still need to get a card) I've put together a list of jobs Dad can do in preparation for your wedding. But the sky's the limit when it comes to putting dad to work. Think about your Dad's personality. What is he good at? Is he a builder? Is he good with numbers? Is he a computer genius? Wedding Planning is a great time to utilize the greatest talents of the ones you love.

• Handy Dad--Have dad help decorate, set up tables, chairs, and tents.
• Techie Dad--Have him create maps and directions to wedding events for your invitations and to post on your free mywedding.com wedding website.
• Sporty Dad--Need someone to entertain the kids at wedding events? Well, your dad raised you didn't he? Let him organize a game of kickball or tag to keep all the kids busy and happy.
• Dad of All Trades--Have dad run errands: Pick up invitations, make calls to vendors, lick stamps, pick up guests from the airport, etc.
• CEO Dad--Let him serve as the proverbial "General Contractor" on the day of the wedding. He can direct workers in implementing the master wedding plan and make sure all goes smoothly. Let him be the point person for any questions about set-up, etc.
• CFO Dad--If he's paying for the wedding and he's a numerical genius, then let him keep track of the wedding budget. This could save you a lot of headaches and make dad feel useful.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!