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The
mother of the groom is often at a loss as to exactly what role she plays in the
marriage of her son. This is even more true when she has not participated
previously in a wedding for a daughter or other sibling. The following rules of
etiquette are shared to increase the joy and fulfill the traditional
responsibilities of the mother of the groom.
Her responsibilities include:
The first rule of etiquette to be followed upon
receiving news of the impending nuptials is to initiate contact between the
families. Introducing herself and her husband to the bride's parents is her
first responsibility. This may be as simple as making a call to the bride's
mother and telling her how happy she is about the engagement or an informal
invitation to dinner at their home. If preferred, dinner at a nice restaurant
is always in order. This may be with or without the couple in attendance.
If the parents live far away, a friendly letter
is appropriate. A snapshot of the family and maybe even one of her son as a
small child is always welcomed by the bride's mother and is a kind gesture.
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
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