Mother of the Groom Responsibilities

Most commonly the Mother of the Groom is unsure of the role she plays in her son’s wedding.  Traditionally, there are several responsibilities you, as the Mother of the Groom, can fulfill and become an important part of the preliminary wedding preparations.

• Your first responsibility is to contact the bride’s family and introduce yourself to them, if you don’t already know them. This doesn’t have to be formal,  a pleasant phone call will be adequate.  A dinner invitation at your home or one at a nice restaurant will be a welcome gesture of friendship.
• If the bride’s parents live far away, making a dinner invitation impractical, some photos of the groom during parts of his life would be a nice gift to receive.  You may also suggest that the bride’s mother exchange a few photos of her daughter’s life with you.
• Your guest list should be sent to the Mother of the Bride as soon as possible.  It should be accurate and include the correct zip codes.  If you have been given guidelines for the number of guests you can invite, be sure to abide by them.
• You are responsible for making reservations for your out-of-town guests.  You can probably get suggestions for likely hotels or motels near the wedding site from the bride’s mother.  As soon as you know who will be attending the wedding, you should make the reservations.
• The rehearsal dinner is also your responsibility.  It doesn’t have to be a fancy or catered event.  A simple backyard buffet or barbecue will do the job.  You should invite everyone involved in the wedding ceremony, including their spouse or significant other.  If children are taking part in the wedding, their parents need an invitation also.
• If you plan to attend the bridal shower, buy a gift and offer to assist the Mother of the Bride.  If you cannot attend the shower, send your gift early enough to arrive for the party.
• If your son wants to blend some family or ethnic traditions into his wedding day, help him make arrangements and decisions.
• Since it is not considered good manners for the couple to solicit gifts, find out where they are registered and tell your family and friends about it.

Weddings are joyous occasions for all involved.  The planning can take
months to accomplish and make the wedding day a glorious event for all involved.  As the Mother of the Groom, you will have a special place in both the ceremony and at the reception. Offer to assist the Mother of the Bride in anyway you can.  Otherwise, enjoy the start of a new family and dream of your future grandchildren!