|
The
importance of providing an accurate and timely guest list can neither
be over emphasized, nor the importance of sticking to the guidelines
given her as to the number of guests she many invite. Remember to
include zip codes.
It is the bride's
mother who will first select a dress for her daughters wedding. A gown
of complimentary color and similar styling is then chosen by the mother
of the groom. She must wear long if the bride's mother wears long or
short if she wears short. The color should not match the bridesmaids,
nor the brides' mother, but compliment both.
Reservations
for out-of-town guests, invited by the groom's family, are the
responsibility of the mother of the groom. It will be much more
convenient if a block of rooms are reserved at a nearby hotel, which is
near her home.
It is the responsibility
of the groom's parents to host the rehearsal dinner. This can be as
simple as a salad potluck with paper plates in the backyard or as
elaborate as an exotic dinner with live entertainment in the finest
restaurant. Everyone who takes a part in the ceremony is invited to the
dinner. It is proper etiquette to invite the spouse or significant
other of those participating, and the parents of children in the
wedding.
Scheduled family photographs,
prior to the wedding, will dictate the groom's parents time of arrival.
If photos are not scheduled to be taken before the ceremony, the
arrival should be no less than one hour before the appointed time
As
the wedding begins, the groom's mother will be escorted down the aisle,
to the first pew, right-hand side, by the head usher or a groomsman who
is a family member. A nice touch includes the groom escorting his
mother down the aisle. As the groom's mother is escorted to her seat,
her husband will follow along behind. However, if the parents are
divorced, the father of the groom will have been seated previously, two
pews behind the mother.
The role as
mother of the groom, in the ceremony, may include lighting the family
candle on the altar, along with the mother of the bride. Family candles
are lit after the candle lighters have left the altar area, and prior
to the entrance of the wedding party.
The
first official duty of the mother of the groom, during the reception is
to stand in the receiving line greeting guests and introducing her
friends and family to the bride and her family. Traditionally she
stands between the bride and her mother. If the fathers of the couple
choose to stand in the line, she will stand between them. |