Your precious little girl is all grown up and leaving home to start her own family with the man of her dreams. You are naturally under a great deal of pressure, and counting your pennies in anticipation for that hefty bill. Being the parents of the bride can take a huge emotional toll, but look at it from this point of view: you are not losing a daughter, you are gaining a son in law.
Being the parents of the bride is by no means an easy job – not only is it a major role, but a role that has changed significantly over the years. Once upon a time parents of the bride did most of the wedding planning, and thus realised their own dreams and lived vicariously through their daughter’s wedding. These days, your daughter will very likely have her own vision of the perfect wedding – which may be drastically different from yours.
Follow the following tips if you want to carry of your role as parents of the bride with perfect aplomb:
Have the money chat
In her initial excitement, the bride to be may be thinking the sky's the limit. Talk with your partner, then have a talk with the bride and groom to be to talk about the wedding finances. Be clear about how much you're willing to contribute to their wedding budget.
Organise the Guest List
Quickly draw up the guest list for your side of the family, and later, close to the date of the wedding, call any of your guests who are late in RSVPing. Reserve hotel rooms for your out of town guests well in advance, since this will help to get the best deal on reservations.
Wedding Logistics
Traditionally, it is the bride's family who foots the majority of the wedding bill, so you do deserve to have some say in the wedding, within reason of course. Help the couple choose the location of the ceremony and reception that reflects both their style and your budget. This also includes the selection of vendors such as the orchestra, the caterers, etc. The earlier you decide on these details, the better it will be since it means that you will have time to shop around and negotiate vendor’s quotations in order to get the best deals and discounts. This is also a time for mother and daughter bonding, and helping the bride pick out a beautiful wedding trousseau will do just that.
Dress for the Occasion
Have a chat with the parents of the groom and you all can together decide how to dress in a way that will complement the attire of the bride and groom to be.
Most Important Tip
The wedding is a very stressful time for the bride to be, marking one of the most important transitions in an individual’s life. It is natural for her to be stressed out and irrational/ emotional behaviour is to be expected. As the parents of the bride, try to be understand and supportive as your daughter prepares for the biggest day of her life.