– Ask a Real Bride – Help! My In-Laws Keep Adding Wedding Guests!

September 19, 2024

The trickiest part of planning a wedding is often the guest list. Determining who gets an invitation is often a collaborative process between the couple and their parents, and when one set of parents is paying, that collaborative process becomes a very delicate dance. This month’s wedding etiquette question comes from a bride trying to […]

Finding the Perfect Mother-of-the-Bride (or Groom) Dress

July 2, 2024

As a mother, your child’s wedding day is a milestone you’ve been thinking about since long before your son or daughter had their first crush. It’s a special time that marks a new chapter for your child, their partner, and your family as a whole. When you think about it that way, deciding what to […]

9 Wedding Tips for the Mother of the Bride & Mother of the Groom

January 23, 2024

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 […]

– Ask Cheryl – Mother of the Bride meets Mother of the Groom – Is a Gift Appropriate?

January 9, 2024

Some personalities love giving gifts to make others feel welcome—but is this practice ever over the top? Hi Cheryl, I’m meeting the groom’s mom for the first time at the bridal salon where my daughter is selecting her wedding dress. I want to make the groom’s mom feel comfortable and welcomed. Do I give a […]

How to Plan Memorable Rehearsal Dinner

October 11, 2023

From backyard barbecues to rooftop hotels, you can choose some fabulous places to have your rehearsal dinner, making it the perfect kick-off for your wedding weekend. This popular wedding tradition is usually held the night before, right after the ceremony rehearsal. Its purpose is to gather the most important people to the bride and groom […]

– Ask a Real Bride – How Do I Ask My In-Laws to Contribute?

July 20, 2023

If you’re not yet part of the Ask a Real Bride Instagram community, you have to join us: brides to be, mothers of the bride and groom, bridesmaids, and anyone who loves weddings will find daily etiquette Q+A’s, fun videos, and quick tips to make wedding season more enjoyable! Week after week, brides (and sometimes […]

How to Be the Perfect Mother of the Bride (MOB) or Mother of the Groom (MOG)

June 20, 2023

Every wedding year comes with a classic list of “dos” and “don’ts,” and the Mother of the Bride (MOB) and Mother of the Groom (MOG) have their own, too. If you’re unsure how to handle the wedding year of your soon-to-be-wed son or daughter, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. We’ve even tapped our resident wedding […]

– Ask a Real Bride – Ways to Honor Your Mom at Your Wedding

June 6, 2023

While the bride and groom are obviously the stars of their wedding day, the third most visible role belongs to the father of the bride: he often escorts the bride down the aisle, gives a speech at the reception, and shares a dance with his daughter while everyone looks on. The irony? In the lead-up […]

– Ask Cheryl – Do the Groom’s Parents Give a Gift to the Bride’s Parents?

April 11, 2023

Hi Dana, It is rarely “wrong” to give someone a gift, but it might be awkward in this case. It’s not customary for the groom’s parents to give the bride’s parents a gift at either the rehearsal dinner or the wedding. Traditionally, the groom’s parents host and pay for the rehearsal dinner. I don’t recommend […]

– AskCheryl – If Paying for the Wedding, Should Parents-of-the-Bride Have a Role in the Planning?

December 28, 2021

Today’s question is from a newly minted Mother-of-the-Bride. She and her husband are paying for their daughter’s wedding and want to know their role in wedding planning. Dear Cheryl,My husband and I are paying for our daughter’s wedding. We are trying to help them find a venue, but they don’t want us to be involved. […]

The Best Dresses for the Mothers of the Bride and Groom

July 1, 2021

Trust me. I get it; shopping for a mother of the bride/groom dress can be hard! How do I know? I was frantically searching for one for my son’s wedding this time last year! From color to trend to what looks best on you, it’s just HARD to find one you love! We all dream […]

– Ask a Real Bride – How to Handle Your Mom and the MOG

July 30, 2020

I’m the person that cries at weddings, and for years, the moment that always brought me to tears was the bride’s entrance. Now that I’m a mom, I break out the tissues even earlier: I can’t help but shed a tear when the mothers of the bride and groom are escorted down the aisle.  And […]

– Ask Cheryl – Should the Mother of the Bride Be Invited to the Bridal Shower?

July 28, 2020

As the Mother of the Bride, you should have a place of honor at most of the wedding and pre-wedding events, including the bridal shower. But what if you (the MOB) and your other daughters (the sisters of the bride) have not been invited to the bridal shower? Dear Cheryl, My daughter’s fiancé’s aunt is […]

Discover Macy’s Wedding Shop

June 14, 2018

I have a confession: I wish someone had told me just how much detail is involved in wedding planning before I’d gotten engaged. I was blissfully unaware of just how many decisions I’d have to make—both large and small—for not just myself but for my family, my wedding party, and my future husband. Now that […]

– AskCheryl – Should the Mother-of-the-Groom Host a Bridal Shower?

April 25, 2016

In this week’s AskCheryl question, our mother of the groom wants to know if it’s her responsibility to host a bridal shower for her future daughter-in-law. Hi Cheryl, I saw your email after googling bridal shower etiquette and wanted ask you a question. I am the mother of the groom and would like to know if throwing […]

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