If you are about to get married, you won’t appreciate the true magnitude of a wedding to a family until afterwards. There is so much excitement that is in the air and so many plans to make. And, there can often be a great deal of tension in the air as everyone seems to have the right idea of how YOUR wedding should be. Planning a wedding is a significant ordeal, with many moving parts and people to take into consideration. With all of the things to remember, it’s easy to forget two of the most important people that are a part of the wedding – the bride’s parents.
When you are making a checklist for your wedding, it’s always a good idea to make a few items a part of a special checklist for both the groom and the bride to check off.
The Bride’s Mother
Bride
- Remember, your mother wants to be a part of your special day. Even if you are living on your own and you are paying for the wedding yourself, ask her opinion and take her shopping with you. These are times that you both will cherish, so make every effort to include her even when it may seem a bit inconvenient or a little overkill.
- Present your mother and your husband’s mother with a rose at the wedding ceremony. It will touch them to know that you remembered her.
Groom
- Although you may be worried about your relationship with your new mother-in-law, make sure that you include her and thank her for letting you be a part of her daughter’s life. Find something special to do for her that will show her that not only you care, but you care enough to put a great deal of thought into your gesture.
- Make a point to do something special with your mother in law, such as taking her out to a private lunch or organizing an event that she would enjoy for the two of you to experience together.
The Bride’s Father
Bride
- You may see a side of your father that you have never seen before. Fathers tend to get emotional on their daughter’s wedding day as it symbolizes their little girl growing up. Make the moments that you spend with your father special, and let him know how much he means to you.
- Make a father/daughter dance part of your wedding reception, and if possible, select a song that is something significant to the two of you, not just the traditional wedding dance songs. That is a time that you are going to remember and cherish with him and you will be glad that you have done it.
Groom
- Remember to ask your future father-in-law for his daughter’s hand in marriage. This may seem old fashioned, but it shows that you respect him and his family.
- Arrange a special event for the two of you to participate in, such as a day of golf, a special dinner or anything else that your father in law would enjoy. Not only will it be a great time to strengthen your relationship, but it will show him that you thought specifically about him when you were planning your wedding to his daughter.
While at sometimes you may feel like killing your family during this process, the fact of the matter still remains; this is a special day for everyone involved. The more that you can do to include your parents in the event, while creating specialized moments, the more memorable the experience will be for everyone.
