Make Your Mom Feel Extra Special At Your Wedding

A wedding is a monumental experience for everyone involved, and it's essential to make the mother of the bride or groom feel special. Here are some ways to honour and include her in the celebrations: involve her in the planning process, such as choosing flowers or making favours; include her in getting ready on the day; give her a gift; display photos of her wedding day; wear something of hers, like a piece of jewellery or her veil; have her walk you down the aisle; share a dance; or let her give a speech.

Involve her in the wedding preparations

Involving your mother in the wedding preparations is a great way to make her feel special and valued. Here are some ideas to include her in the lead-up to the big day:

Wedding Planning and Crafting

Your mom can be your go-to person for wedding planning and crafting. If she's a creative type, enlist her help in making wedding favours, escort cards, décor, hand-lettered signage, or even assembling welcome bags for guests. She can also help with addressing and stamping invitation envelopes. If she's more of an organiser, ask her to create a wedding planner or spreadsheet to keep track of tasks. This is a great way to tap into her skills and make her feel useful and involved.

Choosing Flowers and Bouquets

Deciding on wedding flowers can be tricky, so why not include your mom in the process? Invite her to help choose the flower arrangements and include her favourite blooms in your bouquet or wedding décor. You can also incorporate her favourite flowers into the corsage or nosegay she'll wear or carry on the day. This is a thoughtful way to make her feel special and add a personal touch to the floral arrangements.

Choosing Wedding Attire

If you're wearing your mother's wedding dress or veil, she can be involved in redesigning or altering it to suit your style. You can also borrow a piece of her jewellery, like earrings or a bracelet, or wear a family heirloom passed down through the generations. If you're not wearing something of hers, she can still help you choose your wedding attire, offering her opinion and support during the process.

Wedding Day Preparations

On the day of the wedding, your mom can help you get ready. She can assist with putting on your dress, jewellery, or veil, and adjusting your sash or tie. This is a great opportunity for some private mother-daughter moments before the ceremony begins. You can also include her in the pre-wedding pampering sessions, like hair and makeup, and treat her to a relaxing spa experience.

Wedding Rehearsal

The wedding rehearsal is another opportunity to involve your mom. She can be there to offer support and guidance as you run through the ceremony. If you're exchanging letters with your partner before the wedding, you can also exchange letters with your mom, expressing your love and gratitude. This will create a lasting memory for both of you.

Wedding Breakfast/Brunch

On the morning of the wedding, you can share a special meal with your mom, perhaps a wedding day brunch or breakfast. This is a chance to create a calm and intimate moment before the festivities begin, and it will make her feel valued and appreciated.

Involving your mom in the wedding preparations is a wonderful way to strengthen your bond and create lasting memories. It's also a great opportunity to tap into her skills and expertise, making her feel useful and valued during this important time in your life.

Wear something of hers

Wearing something of your mother's is a great way to make her feel special on your wedding day. Here are some ideas to incorporate her wardrobe into your wedding attire:

Something Borrowed

If you're sticking with the tradition of wearing something borrowed, why not borrow something from your mom? It could be a meaningful way to include her in your special day and make her feel loved and appreciated. Consider borrowing a piece of jewellery, a wedding accessory, or even a piece of clothing she wore on her own wedding day for an extra special touch.

Something Old

Another wedding tradition is to wear something old, which could be something of your mother's. Perhaps there's a family heirloom you could incorporate into your outfit, such as a piece of jewellery or a brooch that can be added to your bouquet. Wearing something old symbolises the bride's connection to her family and can be a heartwarming way to include your mother in your celebrations.

Include Her in the Planning

If you're considering wearing something of your mother's, include her in the planning process. Discuss different options and ask for her input. This will make her feel valued and involved in your wedding preparations. It can also be a fun bonding experience for both of you as you decide on the perfect item to wear.

Sentimental Value

When choosing what to wear, consider selecting an item that holds sentimental value for your mother. It could be a piece of jewellery she reserves for special occasions or a garment with a meaningful story behind it. Wearing something your mother cherishes will undoubtedly make her feel special and create a lasting memory for both of you.

Style and Comfort

While you want your mother to feel special, it's also important to consider her comfort and style preferences. Discuss with her what she would feel comfortable wearing and ensure that her outfit aligns with the time of day, formality, and colour scheme of the wedding. This will help her feel confident and elegant on the day.

Include her in the bridal party

There are many ways to include your mom in the bridal party and make her feel special on your wedding day. Here are some ideas to consider:

Involve her in the planning process

While planning your wedding, enlist your mom's help and input. This could include making the invitations, putting together favours, and playing bridal shower games. She will appreciate being included in these special moments leading up to the big day.

Include her in the bridal shower

The mother of the bride often plays a significant role in the bridal shower. You can involve your mom in planning or hosting the bridal shower, and be sure to take a few minutes to thank her for her support during the event.

Ask her to be your maid of honour

If your mom is your best friend, consider asking her to be your maid of honour. She can help with planning, be by your side during the ceremony, and offer support throughout the day. This role will make her feel valued and loved.

Get ready together

On the morning of the wedding, have your mom join you and your bridesmaids as you get ready. This can include doing hair and makeup together, and you can even get her a cute robe and a custom hanger to serve as keepsakes.

Walk down the aisle with her

Traditionally, the father of the bride walks her down the aisle. However, you can break tradition and invite your mom to accompany you or even walk down the aisle alone to highlight her importance in your life.

Dance with her at the reception

Traditionally, the father-daughter dance is a highlight of the reception. But why not share a special moment with your mom too? You can dedicate a song to her and dance together, creating a memorable experience for both of you.

Including your mom in the bridal party is a wonderful way to honour her and create lasting memories together. These suggestions will help make her feel loved and appreciated on your special day.

Give her a gift

There are many ways to make your mum feel special at your wedding, and giving her a gift is a great idea. Here are some thoughtful and meaningful gift ideas to show your appreciation and make your mum feel loved on your big day:

Jewellery

A piece of jewellery is a timeless gift that your mum can wear on the wedding day and cherish forever. It could be a bracelet, earrings, a necklace, or a pendant. If you want to incorporate the "something borrowed" tradition, you can borrow a piece of jewellery from your mum, such as her wedding earrings or bracelet, and return it to her as a gift after the wedding.

Accessories to Complement Her Outfit

You could gift your mum an accessory to complement her Mother of the Bride outfit. This could be a scarf, a shawl, a handbag, or even a pair of comfortable shoes to dance in!

Sentimental Gifts

A heartfelt, handwritten note or card expressing your love and gratitude is a meaningful gift that your mum will surely appreciate. You could also give her a personalised or customised gift, such as a handkerchief embroidered with a special message, a picture frame with a sentimental photo, or a hankie with a sweet message like, "To dry your eyes while you stand by my side."

Experience Gifts

Treat your mum to a pampering experience, such as a spa day or professional hair and makeup services. You could also gift her a special meal, such as a girl's lunch with your mother-in-law or a post-wedding mother-daughter brunch.

Family Heirloom or Keepsake

If your mum has a family heirloom or a sentimental piece of jewellery, you could ask to borrow it for your wedding day and return it to her as a special gift. This could be a piece of jewellery, a veil, or even a patch of fabric from her wedding gown sewn into your dress.

Flowers

Flowers are a classic gift for a reason! You could give your mum a beautiful bouquet, a special wrist corsage, or a nosegay to carry or wear during the wedding.

Photo Gifts

A photo gift is a wonderful way to evoke memories and show your mum how much you care. You could create a photo display of her wedding day pictures or family photos, including some of your favourite mother-daughter moments. Alternatively, you could recreate a special photo from her wedding day and gift her the recreation as a keepsake.

Remember, it's the thought that counts, and your mum will surely appreciate any gift that shows your love and gratitude.

Dance with her at the reception

Dancing with your mother at your wedding reception is a great way to make her feel special and show her how much she means to you. Here are some ideas to make the moment even more memorable:

Choose a Sentimental Song

Select a song that holds a special meaning for both you and your mother. It could be a song that reminds you of your childhood, a tune by her favourite artist, or a song with lyrics that reflect your relationship. If you're stuck for ideas, classics like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King, and "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts are popular choices for mother-son dances.

Add a Personal Touch

Consider adding a twist to the traditional dance by incorporating a fun routine or choreography. This could be a simple routine or a fully choreographed performance—whatever suits your personalities. If you're not much of a dancer, you could also opt for a slow and relaxed tempo instead.

Make it a Special Moment

The mother-son dance is often a highlight for both the groom and his mother, so make sure to give it the attention it deserves. You could have the DJ or band introduce the dance with a short speech or announcement. This can also be a great opportunity for you to say a few words about your mother and express your appreciation for her.

Include Other Family Members

If you have other family members who you'd like to honour, such as grandmothers or stepmothers, you can include them in the dance as well. You could ask them to join you on the dance floor partway through the song or even dedicate a separate dance to them.

Create a Memorable Keepsake

Capture the moment by taking photos or videos of the dance. You could even ask your photographer or videographer to create a special edit or montage of the dance, so you and your mother can relive the memory whenever you want.

Remember, the most important thing is to choose a song and style that reflects your relationship with your mother. Whether you go for a traditional slow dance or an upbeat routine, the key is to make it personal and heartfelt.

Frequently asked questions