Mother of the Groom Duties
Your Son Is Getting Married: What's Your Job?
Although the parents of the bride traditionally take on a large percentage of the parental duties associated with a wedding - including the bulk of the financial burden - there's no doubt that a wedding day is a big event for the groom's parents as well. The mother of the groom plays an important role before and during the wedding.
Mother of the Groom Duties Before The Wedding
- Introduce bride to groom's family: Although there's a good chance your son's fiance has met many members of your family before the engagement was announced, hosting a dinner to welcome her into the fold is a nice gesture. If the bride hasn't met much of your family, this is a great way for everyone to begin to get to know each other before the wedding.
- Discuss what expenses you'll be covering: With wedding trends changing and families having different traditions, it's important to make sure that expectations about who is paying for what are clear between the couple and both sets of parents. Some expenses that are traditionally paid for by the groom's parents include: rehearsal dinner, drinks at the bar during the reception, tuxes for the groom and male attendants.
- Provide guest list to bride: After talking to the couple about how many guests they plan to invite, you'll be responsible for giving the bride a list of family and friends you would like invited to the wedding. Include addresses and some designation of "priority guests" in case the couple needs to shorten their guest list.
- Attend bridal shower and bring gifts: It's common for the mother of the groom to be invited to multiple bridal showers, including those hosted by the bride's family. Proper etiquette suggests that you attend all of the pre-wedding parties and bring a gift to each.
- Plan and host the rehearsal dinner: This event is usually held the night before the wedding day and includes the couple's immediate family and bridal party. You may also invite guests that have arrived from out of town to attend the wedding. A mother of the groom speech may be given at this time to thank guests, acknowledge the bride's family and say a few words to the couple, especially your soon-to-be-wed son.
Mother Of The Groom Wedding Day Duties
- Be on time for pictures: Chances are that you'll be included in a variety of professional photographs, including photos with your son, the couple, and family. Make sure you know when and where you need to arrive for photos.
- Stand in receiving line: A receiving line made up of the bridal party and the couple's parents may be formed immediately following the ceremony or at the beginning of the reception. The mother and father of the groom typically stand next to the parents of the bride.
- Dance with the groom: The mother/son dance traditionally takes place after the couple's first dance and the father/daughter dance.
While these duties are common, they are by no means the only involvement that the mother of the groom can have in her son's wedding. You may be asked to participate in candle lighting before the ceremony, read select scripture during the wedding, or make a speech at the reception. As with any wedding traditions, each couple and family gets to decide what they will and will not incorporate into their event. Be aware that the bride may have her own traditions to add to her wedding day and that cooperation between both families is almost always required when planning weddings.
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