Mother of the Bride: What Are Your Duties?

Should mom be the coordinator? You decide! Whatever her role, here are risk-free duties she can do to put the bride at ease. Here are helpful responsibilities moms can handle:

• bride and groom scout out wedding and reception sites and ask friends/family for recommendations.
• Serve as the main contact for wedding vendors, especially if the bride is planning from out of town.
• Help bride choose her wedding dress, veil, and wedding party attire.
• Compile 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 from both families, if necessary.
• Help research family 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 gorgeous wedding dress. Then, consult with the groom's mom on what you two will be wearing. You'll both feel more comfortable if your elegance is in sync.
• Start looking for the perfect mother of the bride and/or mother of the groom dress.
• Jasmine Bridal’s Jade Collection, Venus Bridals and Jordan’s Caterina Collection have dresses to suit every mother’s style.
• Attend (and possibly help organize) the bridal shower and the rehearsal dinner, coordinate with the maid of honor.
• Escort the bride down the aisle if the bride's father available. (In a Jewish wedding both parents walk 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 if you plan on having one.
• Dance with the father of the bride (or other escort) and the groom during the formal first-dances.
• Remind the bride often how special she is and that she'll be the most beautiful bride in history. Remind her that everyone will remember how beautiful her wedding day is.

Let the bride cry on your shoulder or vent with you anytime, day or night (you know, your usual mom duties).