10 Ways to Honor Your Mom and MIL on Your Wedding Day

Family members are an amazing asset to have during the wedding planning process. They provide additional love, support (both financial and emotional), and often an extra hand when needed. Moms–whether your mother or your partner’s–tend to go above and beyond for their child’s wedding. This is why it is so important to honor your mom on your wedding day.

While moms can be considered “overbearing” when it comes to weddings, it is really because they are so excited their daughter or son is getting married. If I’ve learned anything about moms and weddings over the years, it’s that mothers want what is best for their child and will do everything they can to ensure “best” is what they get. Perhaps, after all, you’re not the only one who has been dreaming of this day!

At HauteFêtes we love finding fun ways to include your mom and mother-in-law in the wedding planning process, as well as involve them in your big day. So, here are the top 10 ways to honor your mom on your wedding day.

1. Make Time for Mother-Daughter Pictures

One of the sweetest times you will have to spend with your mother on your wedding day is when you are getting wedding-ready: having your hair and makeup done, putting your dress on, and doing the “big reveal” for your bridesmaids once you are all “done-up.” 

This intimate moment is a perfect opportunity to carve out one-on-one time with your mom. You can ask your wedding photographer to do a special mother-daughter photoshoot of your mom helping you get ready for your special day.

2. Give Your Mom a Special Wedding Day Gift

It is likely your mom has put her heart and soul into your wedding day. You can recognize all she has done for you with a special gift. 

It does not have to be elaborate. The more sentimental the better. Some ideas for a gift for your mom on your wedding day include a handwritten note, a framed picture of you and her, or even a special “thank you” speech at your reception. Let her know all that she means to you.

3. Help Your Mom Say “Yes” to Her Dress

You can fancify your wedding flower bouquet and honor your mom at the same time! If it is alright with her, take a piece of fabric from her wedding dress–lace, beading, a sleeve, or a ruffle–and incorporate it into your bouquet design by asking your florist to wrap the stems with the material. Your bouquet will feel that much more sentimental to you.

4. Wrap Your Bouquet with a Swatch or Beading from Your Mom’s Wedding Dress

You can fancify your wedding flower bouquet and honor your mom at the same time! If it is alright with her, take a piece of fabric from her wedding dress–lace, beading, a sleeve, or a ruffle–and incorporate it into your bouquet design by asking your florist to wrap the stems with the material. Your bouquet will feel that much more sentimental to you.

Bouquet with beading

5. Invite Your Mom to Special Wedding Planning Parties 

If you choose to partner with a full-service wedding planner like us here at HauteFêtes, we are going to take care of all the wedding logistics for you. However, you will still have some tasks to complete yourself. Use these moments to invite your mom to help and make it a special occasion where you spend time together. 

For example, if you are planning to give gift bags or welcome gifts to your wedding guests, you may consider putting them together yourself to save money. So, get your mom involved! Plan a wine night for you, your mom, and some of your bridesmaids to stuff gift bags for your guests. Your mom will love being included.

6. Incorporate Your Mom’s Wedding Attire with Your Own

One way to honor your mom on your wedding day is to wear her wedding dress. However, if her dress is not what you envisioned wearing down the aisle, take a look at what else your mom wore on her wedding day. Consider wearing her wedding veil or jewelry, or possibly a memento passed down from generations. By exploring your options together with your mom, you can find something to wear that honors her and your family when you get married. 

You may also consider doing the same thing with your mother-in-law. When honoring her by wearing a piece of her jewelry or a family heirloom that is passed down, you will recognize the old adage of “something borrowed” at the same time.

7. Invite Your Mother-In-Law to Design and Plan Your Rehearsal Dinner Together

Inviting your mother-in-law into the rehearsal dinner planning process is a lovely way for her to play host to a portion of the wedding. This also creates an intentional space for you two to spend time together before the wedding.

Rachel and mom

8. Include Your Mom in Your Wedding Ceremony

Interestingly, American wedding traditions offer more time for father-daughter interaction at the wedding than mother-daughter. So, we encourage you to create some of your own wedding traditions to honor your mother.

For example, make your mom feel special by inviting her to light a unity candle or perform a special reading during the ceremony.

9. Invite Your Mom to “Give You Away” As Well

Did you know? In the Jewish tradition, both parents walk the bride down the aisle. Even if you’re not Jewish, you can adopt this cultural tradition to honor your mom on your wedding day and have your mom and your dad walk you down the aisle. 

To create even more mother-focused wedding moments, opt to have a mother-daughter wedding dance, too!

10. Honor Your Mom On Your Wedding Day Even When She is No Longer with You

Your wedding is a time of joy, happiness, and love. However, if you have lost your mother, grandmother, or a loved one–whether recently or years ago–your wedding may prove to be a poignant reminder that they are not there to celebrate with you. 

There are so many uniquely beautiful ways to remember your passed loved ones on your wedding day. 

  • Consider leaving one chair empty. You can decorate it with photos of you and your loved one together so their memory is still present during your wedding. 
  • Consider attaching a photo in a locket to your bouquet to have their memory close to you while you walk down the aisle. 
  • Consider incorporating a design motif into your wedding decor, such as butterflies or birds, or a poem that represents the memory of your passed loved ones.

Plan Intentional Ways to Honor Your Mom at Your Wedding

Whether you want to have a mother-daughter photoshoot, include your mom in the ceremony, or honor passed loved ones through your wedding design, let your wedding planner know early on! 

At HauteFêtes we love finding unique and creative ways to honor your mother and mother-in-law at your wedding. Whether you know how you want to do it, or are looking for more ideas, we can help. Inquire today about our full-service wedding planning offerings. 

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