The Role of the Mother of the Bride
The role of the
Mother of the Bride during the planning and
wedding day is both traditional and practical. Along with the
Father of the Bride, she hosts the wedding
and reception, paying most of the associated bills for food, beverage, décor and
entertainment. As an official hostess, she often helps make decisions about the
wedding theme, and offers input on the gown, the
attendant attire and the hiring of each wedding professional. As a courtesy, she
is offered the opportunity to contribute names to the guest list.
While the
Mother of the Bride may host an
engagement
party for the couple, etiquette dictates that she may not host a bridal shower.
She may, however, attend a shower for her daughter that is hosted by a friend or
family member.
The bride’s mother often helps choose
the wedding invitations, and may even address them herself. She may collect
responses and create a master list of guests and works with the couple on the
seating chart and
table assignments.
Before the wedding, the
Mother of the Bride attends the final gown
fittings, making note of any handling or bustling instructions from the
seamstress. As the wedding day approaches she also attends the rehearsal and
rehearsal dinner.
On the wedding day, the
bride’s mother offers personal support. She should
keep the bride on time yet as stress-free as possible. She can help the honor
attendant coordinate the bridal party as they get ready and helps the bride
dress, making sure she has her “something old, something new, something
borrowed, something blue” and sometimes, the “sixpence for her shoe”. She wears
a corsage or carries a nosegay, is escorted down the aisle last and is given a
seat of honor at the
ceremony.
She appears in formal photos taken before or after the
ceremony.
After the wedding, the
Mother of the Bride, in conjunction with the
Father of the Bride, usually accepts
responsibility for gifts received by the newlyweds, and personal items like cake
knives, toasting glasses and the guest book. She follows up with vendors
regarding any outstanding balances and coordinates the return of personal items
to the bride and groom. She will also usually write her own set of thank you
notes to the professionals who served on the wedding day.
Looking for the perfect way to say
thanks to your
mom
for all she’s done for you for the wedding day? Visit
Advantage Bridal
today for our extensive collection of
mother of the bride gifts.
- For the Bride
- Bridal Brooches & Pins
- Bridal Garters
- Gloves
- Bride & Bachelorette Sashes
- Hair Accessories
- Handkerchiefs
- Headpieces and Tiaras
- Veils
- Slips and Body Shapers
- Wedding Socks
- Bustiers & Bras
- Bridal Lingerie
- CLEARANCE Ed Hardy
- Body Shapers
- I Do Shoe Stickers
- Jewelry
- Purses & Money Bags
- Bouquet Jewelry
- Something Blue
- Personalized Shoe Bags
- Emergency Kits
- Shawls, Furs & Pashminas
- Ceremony Accessories
- Will You Be My Cards
- DIY Invitations
- Flower Girl Baskets
- Ring Pillows
- Unity Sand Sets
- Unity Candles & Stands
- Wedding Signs
- Wedding Accessory Collections
- DIY T-Shirt Transfers
- Fun Wedding Stuff
- Cake Toppers
- Monogram Cake Toppers
- Bride and Groom Figurine Toppers
- Personalized Cake Tops
- Traditional Cake Toppers
- Anniversary Cake Toppers
- Cake Top Initials
- Birthday Cake Toppers
- Reception Accessories
- Personalized Hand Sanitizers
- Wedding Favors & Supplies
- Guest Signature Mats
- Toasting Flutes
- Cake Tops & Monograms
- Cake Servers
- Renaissance Pewter Accessories
- Placecards & Table Numbers
- Napkins & Matches
- Dance Floor Decals
- Groomsman Accessories
- Money Dance Bags
- Bow Ties for the Guys
- Bridal Shower