Congratulations! Your baby just got engaged! Unless you’ve been through this before, you are probably wondering, what do I do now? You are a very significant part of the big day. (But I didn’t have to tell you that.) My daughter recently got married, and someone said to me, “You are the second most important person here!” Maybe the third most important, after the groom, but I owned it, and it gave me confidence.

Traditionally, there are specific duties for the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom. But traditions are evolving, and your role may vary depending on your relationship with your child and your level of involvement in their special day. So whether you’re the mother of the bride or the mother of the groom, here are my tips and a few things to keep in mind as the wedding planning begins. They are roughly in chronological order.

1. Extend congratulations to the (other) parents.

It’s traditionally the responsibility of the groom’s parents to get in touch with the bride’s parents to offer their congratulations after the engagement. Reaching out and connecting is important because your families will soon be joined. It doesn’t matter who makes the first contact these days, but if you’re the bride’s parents, wait a few days, allowing the groom’s parents to honor this tradition. After that, feel free to initiate contact with the groom’s family. It’s also a great time to set up a “meet the parents” if you haven’t yet had the honor.

2. Discuss wedding details and establish your roles.

Traditionally, the bride’s parents will plan and pay for the entire wedding, and the groom’s parents will take care of the rehearsal dinner. If this is the case, the bride’s parents are the official wedding hosts and will make most of the decisions. However, the bride’s family is not always the exclusive host of today’s weddings. Many couples pay for their own wedding, and it’s becoming more common for families to share expenses and responsibilities.

It’s in the best interest of everyone involved that roles are discussed and established from the start. Once the engagement is announced, try to set aside a time to outline a game plan and discuss details such as dates, venue, theme, budget, number of guests, and how costs will be divided. Ultimately, the best thing you can do is ask the couple how they would like you to be involved. They might already know exactly how they want things done or may be open to ideas. Be supportive and receptive to whatever they ask, and remember- it’s their day. We cover communication and how to talk to your daughter (or son) in our post How to Be the Perfect Mother of the Bride or Groom.

3. Manage your guest list.

Creating and editing the guest list can be one of the most stressful parts of wedding planning. Once it’s been determined how many guests you are able to invite, put your list together and collect addresses. Prioritize your list, make cuts if needed, and always stay within the parameters that were set by the couple. Keep track of your replies and follow up with any of your guests who are late to RSVP. This blog post will give you more details on planning a Wedding Guest List, covering all perspectives.

4. Dress shopping with the bride.

Every girl dreams of the day she gets to choose a wedding dress. As a mother of the bride, you’ve been dreaming about this special day too! This is an intimate time for you and your daughter, and though you may not agree with her style choices, tell her she will be a beautiful bride and always offer positive feedback. You can, of course, be honest, but make sure you build her up in the process.

My daughter and I had the magical dress-shopping experience I had always dreamed of. I was that “typical” mom, wanting her in a ball gown with lace even though she wanted a sleek, minimalist dress. I also made the classic “not too revealing” comments. We had fun joking about it, and she was a good sport. In truth, I wanted her to choose something she loved and that expressed her. I supported her choices and let her take the lead. When she tried on the dress that I knew would be the one, I could read it on her face, and yes, I teared up. Follow the bride’s lead, and you too can have that magical mother–daughter experience.

What I wanted, and…

… what she chose – it was perfect!

5. Find your dress.

I’m not going to lie – this is hard!

It’s best to begin looking for your dress several months before the wedding. Traditionally, the bride’s mother would purchase her outfit first and let the groom’s mother know what she is wearing. First, find out what the bride wants you to wear. She may have specific guidelines, or she may give you free rein. Once you know the bride’s wishes, consider the date, location, and theme. You want to pick attire that fits the wedding’s venue, season, and formality. Finally, since the mother of the bride and groom will be in photos together, it may be practical for you to work together in choosing your attire. Try to coordinate your look with each other and the bridal party.

Now that I’ve been through this process, I want to share how difficult it is – News flash – it’s harder than picking out your own wedding dress! I know that sounds crazy, but I’ve polled other moms, and most agree it’s quite stressful (photo pressure, plus most of us don’t look the same as we did in our 20s or 30s). Start early and be patient; you may have to try on a lot of dresses.

During my search, I found a few retailers that provide a good selection of dresses for any style of wedding. I found my Sachin & Babi dress (seen below) at Neiman Marcus, but you can also order directly from Sachin & Babi. Teri Jon specializes in event dresses and offers a great selection, particularly helpful if you have a color range already chosen by the bride. Other great options include Macy’s, Dillards, and Nordstrom. They have dresses in all price ranges.

6. Share your traditions.

Research any family, religious, or cultural traditions that could add a special touch to your child’s wedding day. There may be a song or poem that could be included in the ceremony or a traditional folk dance or ethnic dish that may be part of the reception. You could also offer an heirloom as the bride’s “something old” or “something borrowed.”

7. Be mom.

Being supportive is the overriding theme for all of my tips. Wedding planning is a time of great joy sprinkled with some frustrating moments, so do your best to take on the role of Encourager. Offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on when the bride (or groom) is frazzled or upset. Make it your goal to alleviate the stress of wedding preparations, not add to it. There may (OK, will) be times when you need to disagree. Talk everything out calmly. When the wedding is over, you’ll still be their mom, so put your relationship with your child ahead of your personal expectations and opinions.

8. Spread the word about the wedding registry.

Including registry information on a wedding invitation is a big etiquette no-no. So, as mom, it’s your job to let family and friends know where the happy couple is registered. Or keep it simple and refer them to RegistryFinder.com, where they can easily find all of the couple’s registries in one place.

9. Play hostess.

Do your best to make out-of-town guests feel welcome and comfortable. If the wedding is in your hometown, ask the bride if she would like you to check out local hotels and reserve a block of rooms. As the wedding gets closer, coordinate with the bride to ensure guests are informed about all wedding events and local activities that might interest them while they’re in town. This can be done by email, sharing a wedding website, or providing welcome bags with great info for your guests.

Enjoy this exciting time together!

Enjoy this exciting time together, and don’t panic if there are tense moments (there probably will be). Plan ahead, remain calm, and forgive easily. Follow the lead of the bride and groom, and remember, it’s not about your expectations for their wedding; what’s important is that your child’s marriage and your relationship with their spouse has the best start possible.

And if you’re a bride reading this, be sure to check out our Ask A Real Bride article on ways to honor your mom on your wedding day–we’ve got lots of ideas for you!

Photo Credit: All wedding photos are from my daughter’s wedding and were taken by Ashley Plante of Analog Wedding.