Mother of the Bride Duties

Hey Mom! Congratulations your daughter is getting married. Here are some helpful responsibilities to take the pressure off of your daughter and enjoy your moment as the mother-of-the-bride.

Help bride and groom scout out wedding and reception sites and ask friends and family for vendor recommendations.

Serve as the main contact for wedding pros, especially if the wedding is taking place in your town and the bride lives elsewhere.

Help bride choose her wedding dress, shoes, and all other accessories.

Compile and submit names and addresses of your family and friends to be included on the master guest list.

Talk to the groom's family about whom they want to include on the guest list and manage the difficult task of limiting the number of guests, if necessary.

Help research family or ethnic traditions and heirlooms to incorporate into the ceremony or reception.

Determine what the bride wants you to wear on the big day and find a beautiful dress. Then, consult with the groom's mom on what you two will be wearing. You'll both feel more confident knowing you won't clash or be in the same dress.

Attend and possibly help organize the shower and the rehearsal dinner.

Escort the bride down the aisle if the bride's father isn't planning on it. In a Jewish wedding both Mom and Dad accompany the bride.

In a Christian wedding, be seated in the first pew directly before the ceremony and leave the chapel first afterward.

Stand in the receiving line to greet guests; traditionally, as reception hostess, the mother of the bride heads up the line.

Sit at the parents' table.

Dance with the father of the bride (or other escort) and the groom during the formal first-dance sequence.

Remind the bride often how special she is and that she'll be the most beautiful bride ever.

Let the bride cry on your shoulder anytime, day or night and also be there for those late night talks.