As the mother of the bride-to-be, you want to do everything in your power to help make your daughter’s wedding day as stress-free as possible. While most people focus on what you can do during the planning process, it’s important to look at the big day itself. Watching your daughter walk down the aisle and into her new life is an amazing moment for any parent, but it’s also important to see what you can do to help her enjoy it as much as possible as well. There is so much to think about during the day of a wedding, and there are some steps you can take to help out on your daughter to make the wedding a truly perfect experience for her by taking some of the load off her shoulders – after all, it only happens once. Of course, you’ll first need to help yourself before you can help the bride-to-be! Wedding guest outfits are incredibly important when getting ready to attend a wedding, so be sure your outfit is on point before you dive into all the to-dos for the big day!
1. Dress For The Occasion
It’s always important to be your true self and have your own style. That said, the wedding should be about what the newlyweds want. Chances are, your daughter will want you to look a certain way, and looking at the new mother of the bride gowns together and then showing up in the one you both agreed to is a great place to start. There are many different designs and styles that will fit everyone’s preferences, so you don’t have to worry about feeling uncomfortable at all. Dressing a little bit up or down from what you’d normally wear is a small gesture, but it can go a long way in showing your support for your daughter on her big day. Depending on the wedding theme, and the bride’s dress, you might want to opt for a real statement piece, or something a bit more toned down but still elegant. The important thing is to look your best and adhere to the dress code. If your personal style is really bold, you can always add funky shoes or other accessories that you really love. Just remember that this is still your daughter’s special day, and make sure it stays her choice, not yours.
2. Consider What She Might Need
As long as the people getting married really love each other, the wedding is going to turn out great. However, you might want to look at what other brides have to say about their weddings. The things they enjoyed the most, and some things they wish they’d done differently on their big day. Since you’re the mom, you know your daughter well, and can make an educated guess about whether she might share the same sentiments after her wedding as well. Some brides note that they wish they’d taken the time to speak with more people, while others regret not bringing a pair of flats to change into after the ceremony. If your daughter is an emotional person, you might want to make sure she has tissues close by, or even a stress ball to squeeze if things get too overwhelming. No matter what, it’s always important to think about what she might need and have it on hand. The key thing here is to know when to offer it. Enjoy watching your daughter on one of the happiest days of her life, and if you notice she might need something, offer it to her.
3. Help Her With The Details
As much as the wedding is an emotional event for you, it’s even more so for the bride. That means, it’s up to you to have a cooler head. If there are still some details to sort out, like when the band will start playing or what to do with the corsages – you can help out with those. The goal here is to free up some of your daughter’s time, and ensure she has as much as possible before the official program starts. Think about what kind of things will need to be done, and try to do them around when they should happen naturally so that there isn’t a gap in time your daughter can’t fill. For instance, some brides say that the most stressful thing was doing all the photos and how much waiting around there was in between. If you can find out exactly when things will happen and show up then – it’s one less thing they have to think about on their big day. At the end of the day, the goal is to help your daughter relax and enjoy her wedding day.
4. Make People Feel Welcome
You’re going to be spending some time with the groom, his parents, and other people on his side of the family. The key thing here is to maintain good relations. Make sure that the caterer has everything they need – like glasses and plates, and that no one feels left out or uncomfortable. If you’re feeling chatty, go ahead and start up a conversation with one of the groomsmen, or even the bride’s mom. It’s important to make everyone feel welcome, so they can enjoy the day as well. Depending on how big the wedding is, the newlyweds might not have the time to talk to everyone. As the mother of the bride, it’s your job to see if anyone is feeling a bit left out or bored and go talk to them for a bit. Maybe even introduce them to people they’ll enjoy spending some time with. By doing this, you’ll help your daughter keep the atmosphere high and add to the joy of the day.
5. Let Her Run The Show
Being there when something needs to be done is amazing if you’re up for it. That said, it’s important to remember it isn’t about how you think something should be done. It’s not even about whether you’d really like to do a certain thing. Always make sure you’re doing what the bride wants you to, and that you’re not imposing your own will on her. If she wants something done in a certain way – go with it! This isn’t the day to be arguing about who does what and when. The bride is probably running on very little sleep and has a lot of things going through her head. Let her take the lead, and you can step in if she really needs you to. Otherwise, let her figure things out and do what she wants – it’s all part of the experience.
When it’s all said and done, the biggest thing you can do for your daughter on her wedding day is to show her how happy you are for her. The look on her face when she sees you in the audience, or when she’s walking down the aisle will be unforgettable. Let her know that no matter what, you’re always there for her. And most importantly, have a good time! Weddings are a joyous occasion and as the mother of the bride – it’s your job to make sure everyone else has fun too.
