Bride reveals why she chose to have her dad AND stepdad walk her down the aisle

A woman has revealed how both her father and stepfather walked her down the aisle on her wedding day.

According to bride Amy Walkinshaw, 31, as soon as she got engaged to Ryan Walkinshaw, 31, she knew she wanted both men involved in giving her away.

Amy was raised by her father, Andy Collins, 58, a machinist, and her stepfather, Jeff Bennett, 64, a project manager – who has been in her life for the past two decades.

She wanted to honor both father figures at their wedding last weekend at Prested Hall in Colchester, Essex.

So she asked her dad Andy to go and surprise Jeff by grabbing him from the audience to walk downstairs with him and Amy.

Amy said she knew she wanted both men to be involved in giving her away once she got engaged (Photo LR: Amy’s stepdad Jeff Bennett, her dad Andy Collins and Amy)

Amy, a student studying psychodynamic practice at the University of Essex, said: ‘Jeff has been in my life for 20 years, he’s like a second father to me.

“I always imagined that if I got married, I’d ask him to escort me and my dad down the aisle.

Jeff didn’t know it was coming either – you can see the shock on Jeff’s face in the video, I knew how much it meant to him.

“The most important thing about getting out is showing that there doesn’t have to be animosity.

Touching moment: Amy’s dad Andy (pictured, right) grabs stepdad Jeff’s (pictured, left) hand so they can walk down the aisle with her

Amy says she wanted to “honor both father figures” at her wedding (Photo LR: Bride and Groom Amy and Ryan Walkinshaw)

“You can ask a stepparent without upsetting your birth father too.”

Amy said Jeff and Andy didn’t know each other very well because they live far apart.

But Andy “agreeed right away” when she asked if Jeff could also escort her down the aisle, she said.

On that day, Amy’s younger half-sister, Macenzie Collins, 23, watched the emotional moment.

Big day: According to Amy (pictured with husband Ryan, as the two exchanged vows during their wedding), she had “always thought” that if she got married, she would ask Jeff to walk her down the aisle with her dad Andy

Amy (pictured with husband Ryan) says she couldn’t have imagined Jeff not being involved in her big day as he’s such a big part of her life

Macenzie, a meeting and events assistant, said, “Me and my sister have lived 150 miles apart since I was born, so we don’t see each other much.

“So it was really nice to share that moment with each other.

“I don’t know Jeff very well either, but that just made it more special that we were all there together as a blended family.”

Amy added, “I asked my dad to escort me down the aisle right away because he’s my dad.

“But Jeff is also such a big part of my life and I couldn’t imagine not doing it with him.”