Being the mother of the bride means stepping into a role filled with love, support, and a touch of wedding magic.
As the mother of the bride, you play a unique and essential role in your daughter’s wedding journey. From offering support to following time-honored etiquette, your duties are more than just responsibilities—they’re opportunities to help create memories that will last a lifetime.
Mother of the Bride Duties: Etiquette Tips for a Memorable Wedding
As the bride’s mother, you’re the go-to person for support and advice since you’ve already had your wedding day and know the drill. You’re there to provide comfort and encouragement to the bride during a time that can be stressful, help ensure family traditions and wedding etiquette are observed, and make sure every guest feels comfortable and enjoys the celebration.
Though you won’t be walking your daughter down the aisle or giving a wedding speech, you’re not just an extra person in the process. The journey to the big day is filled with excitement, emotion, and important tasks. Here are some critical duties to be prepared for:
Have A Meet And Greet With The Groom’s Parents
The initial meeting sets the tone for future interactions and the overall dynamics of the relationships, so dress nicely and bring a small gift as a gesture of appreciation. The get-together is an opportunity to get to know them while bonding over common interests, which will help you form a more fulfilling relationship.
Even if you feel pressured to present yourself in a certain light to impress your future son-in-law’s parents, it’s important to stay true to yourself. The idea is to get to know one another before the wedding day so you’re not complete strangers.
Help The Bride Pick A Dress She Loves And Feels The Most Beautiful And Confident In
Tradition holds that the mother of the bride chooses her dress first, followed by the mother of the groom. The outfits should complement each other in the sense that it’s totally unacceptable to have one mother in a floor-length dress and another in a mini-skirt. You’ve got to feel confident, comfortable, and like yourself.
Your ensemble must be polished but not stale, memorable but not over the top, and unique but not eccentric. Therefore, you must pay special attention to the details before deciding on the ideal dress. As you search tirelessly for the mother of the bride dress that gives you that “wow” feeling, consider the season and harmonize with the wedding theme and venue.
If your daughter needs assistance in choosing the perfect wedding dress, you should lend a helping hand. She’s free to find a gorgeous gown that makes her look and feel amazing or just one that leaves her speechless. You’re one of the few select people who get to see the bride’s dress before the big day, meaning it will be an emotional time for you, and the feelings are so strong that they bring tears to your eyes.
Shopping early gives you the opportunity to secure what you want, but if you’re working on a short time frame, remember that most designers have rush options, and best-selling styles are immediately available.
Discuss And Outline The Wedding Budget, Along With The Bride’s Father
The budget helps the couple plan the wedding within realistic financial means and avoid overspending. When building a wedding budget, take into consideration the venue, rental fees for tables/chairs, catering, beverages, wedding favors for guests, flowers and décor, transportation, and so on. The bride’s family traditionally pays for the wedding.
Still, these days, couples and their families split the bill. There’s no right approach, which means you can do whatever you and the bride are comfortable with. Grandparents can chip in, but it really depends on each individual family tradition.
If Guests Don’t RSVP On Time, Remind Them To Respond
Invitations always deserve a gracious response, but people often fail to RSVP because they feel embarrassed they can’t come and don’t want to say so. If you purposefully gave a deadline and are still missing some responses, wait until the last minute and then start reaching out via text, email, or whatever communication channel you prefer.
Be polite to avoid awkward situations. Suppose you don’t get an answer. In that case, feel free to reach out again, kindly hinting that you need a headcount as soon as possible. Attention must be paid to the fact that writing “and guest” on the invitation can be interpreted in different ways, so it’s best to be specific.
The big day is fast approaching, and there are so many missing RSVPs. If you maintain communication leading up to the deadline and have clear and persistent messaging, you won’t let tardy responses get you down. But what if someone turns you down? It might seem harmful and mean, but you and your daughter shouldn’t take it personally because an invitation is just that , it’s not an obligation. While most people will do everything within their power to be there on the wedding day, the truth is that you’re likely to receive a few “nos.” Resist the temptation to ask someone why they can’t attend the celebration.
Offer To Help With The Bridal Shower Even If You’re Not Supposed To
Close family and friends gather together to celebrate the couple and mark their new life together. You’re not supposed to host the bridal shower. It’s the responsibility of the maid of honor, but you can provide emotional support throughout the planning process and help with food decorations and favor bags.
It’s the little things that count, so to make the event special, you can add personalized tags to let attendees know they’ve been recognized. Above all, it’s important to respect the bride’s wishes. Your daughter may prefer to have their friends handle the bridal shower anyway.
Show Support All the Way
All things considered, the mother of the bride is the pillar of support and organization, and you must navigate a multifaceted role that encompasses both practical and emotional elements. The list of the mother of the bride duties is short, but there’s a lot more you can do if you have the time and patience, such as making the seating chart or taking countless photos of the big day to help the bride remember the celebration.
There are no rules about gifting. If you’re already financing the wedding, that alone is a huge gift, but if you’re a sentimental person, you can give your daughter a scrapbook filled with photos and mementos and it all depends on you.
Jessi is the creative mind behind The Coffee Mom, a popular blog that combines parenting advice, travel tips, and a love for all things Disney. As a trusted Disney influencer and passionate storyteller, Jessi’s authentic insights and relatable content resonate with readers worldwide.