| The Perfect Image NEWSLETTER Issue 7 May/June 2001 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| CONTENTS * Mother of the Bride - what to do (duties) * Mother of the Bride - etiquette on dress |
| WHAT TO DO Traditionally, it is the Mother of the Bride who advises the bride on suitability of the style of wedding when in the early planning stages and although couples have firm ideas on how they want to be married, it is often left up to the Mother to make appropriate arrangements. Mothers are there to help/advise on ceremony and reception venues and to help finalise the details for the couple. Mothers help make up the guest list and help address invitations. It is usually they who have to placate friends and relatives who may not be invited. Planning the menu for the wedding reception is a time consuming task often left to the mother of the bride. She makes sure that the brides ideas are carried out. In between all the preparations she has to make tactful suggestions to guests regarding gifts she knows the young couple need. |
| Mothers can assist in the selection of the wedding gown, accessories and attendants attire, bearing in mind, body shapes of everyone and skintone for colour selections. Once the Mother of the Bride has chosen her dress, she consults with the groom's mother on her choice. The Mother of the Bride is the hostess at the wedding reception, and is the last one seated at the ceremony and the first one to greet guests in the receiving line. Remember the bride and groom have their own ideas on their wedding, so don't force your ideas on them. Be there to encourage and advise, and help your daughter have her dream day. |
| In days gone by parents paid for the wedding, so had a bigger input into guest numbers, etc but these days with some couples living together before marriage, they have their own plans and ideas. Brides, if you are expecting some financial help from your parents, you need to discuss budget planning and contribution with them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| Etiquette for the Mother of Bride and Mother of Groom outfit |
| Both Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom need to wear a frock style they are both comfortable with, in colours that suit their skintones, in styles that suit their body shape, but there are some rules of etiquette to keep in mind. Look for how formal the wedding party will be and follow that lead. Is the bride having a theme that she wants mother's to be a part of? Get an idea from the bride on her feel for her day. How formal, casual or traditional does she want her wedding day to be. |
| Start looking for colours and styles as soon as the bridal gown and attendants have chosen their gowns. Keep away from any version of white, and black is not a good choice either. Look for frocks that complement your colouring, but don't clash with the wedding colours. Either both mothers wear a hat, or none at all. It is out of place for 1 to wear a hat, and 1 not to. Dress lengths need to be in similar vogue - not 1 very short, and the other to the floor, etc. The Mother of the Bride chooses first, then lets the Mother of the Groom know of her choice, and perhaps even helps her with her choice. The dresses should complement each other but not be the same. |
| If the wedding is formal both mothers should wear floor or tea-length dresses. Semi-formal or informal can be any length but both mothers need to be complementing, the whole bridal party feel/look, in the bride's eyes. Have a small bouquet or corsage to finish your "look". |
| More details on frocks appear on my web sites |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| MAKEUP SPECIALS for this month email for details click here |
|