Wedding Traditions: Giving Away the Bride

Traditionally, the father gives the bride away.  The origin of this custom is simple and not very pleasant: in the days of yore, the father was literally turning over his property (the bride!) to the groom.  The custom has grown to represent the parents' approval of the union.  Elaine loves her father a lot, and he'll be walking her down the aisle... but there won't be any "giving her away."