Does the mother of the groom do anything at the wedding? (2023)

Does the mother of the groom have any responsibilities?

Traditionally speaking, the mother of the groom is responsible for planning and hosting the rehearsal dinner with the grooms' father (typically) the night before the wedding. This is one of the biggest mother of the groom responsibilities, so make sure you start planning the dinner about six months in advance.

Traditionally, the groom's parents' financial responsibilities include paying for the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon. In some parts of the country, it may be tradition for the groom's family to pay for the alcohol at the reception.

While this speech has traditionally been given at rehearsal dinners, it's not unusual for the mother of the groom to speak at the wedding reception, either. If you're struggling to put words on paper to express the joy, happiness, and love you have for your son, you're not alone.

It is a thoughtful gesture to exchange gifts on this special occasion. The mother of the groom expresses her affection and welcomes the bride by giving her beautiful, thoughtful presents.

As the wedding begins, the groom's mother will be escorted down the aisle, to the first pew, right-hand side, by the head usher or a groomsman who is a family member. A nice touch includes the groom escorting his mother down the aisle. As the groom's mother is escorted to her seat, her husband will follow along behind.

The Best Colors for a Mother of the Groom

"Wear a flattering color that compliments the color palette of the wedding," advises Valiente. For example, jewel tones and earthy hues are perfect for fall nuptials, while formal gowns in navy or silver would be ideal for black-tie weddings.

The wedding protocol for the mother of the groom during guest-list planning is to politely ask how many guests she's permitted to invite. According to Swann, it's important that the mother of the groom is allowed a voice in the wedding guest list discussion because a wedding is about two families coming together.

Common mother-of-the-groom presents include photo gifts, jewelry and cute wedding day essentials. You can also think outside the box and give her something practical that celebrates one of her hobbies. To help you get inspired, we've rounded up a variety of unique mother-of-the-groom gift ideas.

THE ETIQUETTE

She offers these guidelines to wedding-goers wherever they might be: A distant relative or co-worker should give $75-$100; a friend or relative, $100-$125; a closer relative, up to $150.

How much money should groom's parents give?

Parents of the bride and groom collectively contribute about $19,000 to the wedding, or about two-thirds of the total cost, according to WeddingWire. The bride's parents give an average $12,000, and the groom's, $7,000. Just 1 in 10 couples pays for the wedding entirely on their own, according to TheKnot.com.

Who picks out the mother-of-the-groom dress? You're responsible for picking your wedding day outfit—you'll be the one wearing it, after all. Despite this, the mother of the groom is still encouraged to talk about potential wedding outfits with the child-in-law's parent(s) and the couple.

Dear Son, your wedding day will come and go; but all I wish you to have boundless love and happiness throughout the whole life. May you both be strong enough to face all the obstacles and sorrows in your life with a smile in your face and love in your heart!

The mother of the groom can give a speech or just a toast at the rehearsal dinner, as she is one of the hosts of the event. There are some details that a speech should include, such as special memories, stories about the couple, and of course, the toast.

She can spend a little time with both the bride and groom.

If that's the case, she may want to start her morning with the bride and her group, then leave once she has her hair and makeup done. After, she can head to the groom's getting-ready area to help him prepare for his walk down the aisle.

So do you have to invite her along on your wedding dress search? The choice is really up to you. If you'd rather share this time with just your mom and, say, your sister, then do it. You can have a private moment with your fiancé's mom at the wedding if you want, before the ceremony begins.

Traditionally, groom's mother walks down the aisle with an usher or a groomsman. But for non-traditional ceremony, it could be anyone, her husband, any close relative or even she can walk alone. In case she's walking with the groom, then it is also OK as discussed above.

It is widely accepted that the mother of the bride gets to choose her outfit first. She has first call on colour and style and after she has made her decision the mother of the groom can go out and choose her outfit.

On your actual wedding day, one of the major responsibilities the mother of the groom can take on is making sure that the people at the wedding they know (family and friends) are taking their seats at the ceremony on time, are all set with transportation to and from the venue, and don't get lost, especially if you're ...

The mother-son dance is a popular tradition for the groom during wedding reception celebrations. The groom will take his mother out on the dance floor for a special dance together for this tradition. It is a time for the groom to focus on his mother and create a special moment together one-on-one.

Does the mother of the bride sit before the mother of the groom?

The mother of the bride is the last person seated before the officiant, groom and best man take their places at the altar. She can walk alone or be escorted by her son, son-in-law or another relative. She is seated on the left side in the first row.

If a wedding and rehearsal dinner invitation specify a theme or dress code, it must be respected. If the fine print says 'black tie', then the mother of the bride should wear a full-length gown (the same goes for the mother of the groom).

Tradition calls for corsages to be given to mothers of the bride and groom. For a different approach, pin a flower in her hair or give her a small nosegay to carry. While lilies and roses are classics, incorporating each mother's favorite flower or one that complements her ensemble is a thoughtful gesture.

On average, guests in 2022 are spending around $150 per person on a wedding gift. When considering an appropriate amount to spend on the wedding gift, the main factors are your relationship with the couple, how fancy is the reception, and how many pre-wedding activities are you invited to.

On average, the bride's parents usually spend 44 percent of the overall budget, while the couple contributes 43 percent and the groom's parents pop for about 12 percent.

The bride and her family pay for all professional services, including food and decorations. The groom's family pays for the DJ or band and liquor.

If you're looking to follow tradition, then it's the groom's parents' responsibility to host and pay for the rehearsal dinner. Some party expenses include drinks, food and venue rental fees. Since the groom's family is paying for the rehearsal dinner, they control how it's organized.

The bride's parents traditionally pay for the wedding cake, along with the rest of the wedding reception costs, but you don't have to follow this historical precedent. Many couples today may choose to pay for their own cake, or the two families may split costs for the cake and other desserts.

In the mid-range, they cost about $200 to under $800 for a dress or suit from a higher end department store or bridal store.

What do I say at my son's wedding?

Traditionally, the bride will choose the song for her and her father while the groom will choose the song for him and his mother. This becomes a special tribute to the parents – sort of a gift to the mother and father.

The groom's family provides the flowers involved in a wedding ceremony. That includes the bride's bouquet, the groomsmen and usher boutonnieres, and the corsages and mini bouquets for the both mothers and grandmothers.

The groom's family provides the flowers involved in a wedding ceremony. That includes the bride's bouquet, the groomsmen and usher boutonnieres, and the corsages and mini bouquets for the both mothers and grandmothers.

THE ETIQUETTE

She offers these guidelines to wedding-goers wherever they might be: A distant relative or co-worker should give $75-$100; a friend or relative, $100-$125; a closer relative, up to $150.

She can spend a little time with both the bride and groom.

If that's the case, she may want to start her morning with the bride and her group, then leave once she has her hair and makeup done. After, she can head to the groom's getting-ready area to help him prepare for his walk down the aisle.

Groom. Traditionally, he walks down the aisle solo but some grooms prefer walking down the aisle escorted by both parents. Other grooms prefer a more subtle approach by entering the ceremony from the side of the venue (following the officiant and followed by the groomsmen) to take his place at the altar.

Another crucial role of the groom's parents is to help cover for any other wedding budget. Some of the areas they support include paying for the engagement party, marriage license, bride's bouquet, rehearsal dinner, honeymoon, corsages, and groom's accessories and attire.

The groom might opt to escort his mother down the aisle and to her seat in the front row, followed closely behind by the groom's father. This gives the groom an opportunity to give his parents a hug before taking his place at the altar.