The Mother of the Bride Guide: A Modern Mom's Guide to Wedding Planning

by Katie Martin

Overview

A contemporary guide for today's mother of the bride!

Congratulations! Your daughter is engaged! Now it's time to start planning the big event. The Mother of the Bride Guide will help you get your daughter down the aisle in style. With expert guidance every step of the way, wedding planner Katie Martin explains all you need to know about:

• Getting the most out of Pinterest and wedding-planning sites
• Meeting the future in-laws
• Navigating sticky situations, like ex-spouses and former family members
• Mastering social media etiquette
• Knowing when to speak up—and when to keep quiet!

This practical guide covers everything you need to make sure your daughter has the perfect—and stress-free—day of her dreams.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440598296
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	11/04/2016
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.90(d)

About the Author

Katie Martin is an award-winning and internationally known wedding and event designer, speaker, and author. She is the founder of the wedding planning and design firm, Elegance & Simplicity, where she has planned, coordinated, and designed weddings and other large events in more than twenty countries and several destination cities throughout the US. She was founder and Editor-in-Chief of EcoBeautiful Weddings, the first and only online and on-demand print magazine focusing on sustainable weddings. As seen on CNN, NBC, and CBS as well as in The Washington Post and other newspapers, magazines, and blogs, she is internationally recognized as the number one expert in sustainable and eco-friendly events. Katie is the author of The Everything Wedding Book, The Everything Mother of the Bride Guide, and The Mother of the Bride Guide, as well as and countless print and online articles.

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Chapter 1 She's Engaged! 9

Start Spreading the News! 10

Tweet, Text, or Post? 12

Communication Central 13

Whose Wedding Is it? 15

Time to Party 18

Getting Your Act Together 20

Chapter 2 Your New Son-in-Law 23

Your New Son-in-Law 24

Time to Make New Friends 26

Meeting the Other Mother (the Infamous MOG) 27

Planning with Patience 30

Blending Family Traditions 32

Chapter 3 Expenses and Budget 37

Traditional Expenses 38

Oh, How Times Have Changed! 40

Finding the Money (It Doesn't Grow on Trees?) 44

Destination Decisions 47

Plan for Post-Wedding Expenses 50

Tips on Tipping 51

Chapter 4 Mother of the Bride Duties 55

What You Need to Do and When 56

Prepare, and Then Prepare Some More 57

Don't Be a Momzilla 59

Don't Forget Dad 60

The Down and Dirty Tasks 62

Recruiting Help 64

Thinking Outside the Box 68

Chapter 5 How to Plan a Wedding 71

Do Your Homework 72

Feeling Green? 74

Ceremony and Reception Basics 76

Photography and Videography 80

Entertainment 83

Flowers and Décor 85

Transportation 86

Accommodations 87

Don't Forget the Little Things 89

Chapter 6 Managing Social Media 93

Keeping It Social 94

Blogs 96

Pinterest 100

Facebook 102

Instagram 104

Twitter 105

Tumblr 105

Google+ 106

Wedding Apps for the Big Day 107

"Unplugged" Weddings 108

Chapter 7 Parties (and More Parties!) 111

The Perfect Party Planner 112

Be Gracious (Even When You Don't Want to Be) 114

The Bridal Shower 116

The Bridesmaids' Luncheon 121

Bachelorette Party 123

The Welcome Reception and Rehearsal 123

The Post-Wedding Reception 124

Brunch 124

The Host/Hostess Speech 125

Chapter 8 What to Wear 127

Simple Rules for Getting It Right 128

Your Perfect Dress 130

The Bride's Dress 135

Be Aware When Buying 138

Chapter 9 Special Circumstances 141

Family Dynamics 142

The Ex-Family Reunion 145

Stepmother of the Bride 147

Take the High Road 149

VIP Guests 152

Second Weddings 153

Same-Sex Weddings 155

Chapter 10 Whom to Invite 159

Dividing Up the Head Count 160

Invite Basics 160

Second Weddings 163

Should You Make a B List? 165

Finding the Perfect Invitation 166

Chapter 11 Cost-Cutting Strategies 177

Saving Basics 178

A Rose by Any Other Name 180

Saving on the Dresses 184

The Bar Tab 187

Saving on Invitations 190

Save by Going Green 191

Other Budget-Friendly Options 192

Chapter 12 The Big Day 195

Don't Overschedule Yourself 196

Pre-Wedding Prep 197

Make a List and Check It Twice 198

Heading to the Ceremony 201

The In-Between 203

The Reception 205

Hostess with the Mostest 207

MOB Tips for the Big Day 209

I'd Like to Make a Toast 209

Appendix A Planning Timeline 211

Appendix B The Bridal Emergency Kit Checklist 215

Index 219