Wedding Day Photo: Moms Light Unity Candle Together

Mother of the Bride, will your new Mr. and Mrs. use a unity candle in their ceremony? If they’re still undecided, you might show them the photo above and see if they might catch the vision for something similar for their own wedding.

Having you, MOB, and the groom’s mother light your daughter’s and son’s respective candles while holding hands provides not only a sweet wedding ceremony photo, but it also sets the tone for the families to be united right along with the bride and groom. If you and the groom’s mom share this feeling of unity, why not showcase your joy and commitment with a beautiful photo like the one above?

Some couples want both the moms and dads involved in the lighting of the unity candle. Our daughters and their grooms fell into that camp. This approach can also provide a great photo opportunity. Just let your sweet couple put their own creativity to work to decide exactly how it could be done and what kind of shot they’d like the photographer to take.

So MOB, if the unity candle decisions haven’t been made yet, why not use this photo to start the conversation? May unity, love, and joy abound for your families!

*Also take note that the mothers in this photo are wearing dresses of different lengths—and unity can still reign, right?

*You might also like to read Wedding Photo Idea: A Shared Faith.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out last week. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Flickr photo by Corey AnnCreative Commons License

Night Shoot Engagement Photos

Mother of the Bride, when your darling daughter and the love of her life start talking about engagement photos, they might want to consider a night shoot.

Lights always make for beautiful photos—whether city lights, candlelight, twinkling lights, stars, or sunset. Lights add a special touch of romance. And what better time for a touch of romance than for engagement photos?

If your happy couple would like to have some daytime shots as well, check with your photographer and see if he or she would be willing to split the photo session into two 30-minute sessions, one night shoot and one day shoot. You never know unless you ask, right? He may charge a small extra fee to split the session, but it probably wouldn’t be too much more.

So MOB, why not suggest an engagement shoot at night? If you do, I see fantastic photos—and a very pleased couple—in your future!

*You might also like to read Engagement Photo Idea: Frame That Moment!Engagement Photo Idea: Playground Fun, and Engagement Photo Idea: Bike Fun!

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early February. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me

*Flickr photos by Christopher.F PhotographyCreative Commons License

Fun Wedding Day Photo of the Groom and Groomsmen

Mother of the Bride, how about this fun photo idea for the groom and his groomsmen? Suggest this shot to your soon-to-be son-in-law and I guarantee it will be a hit. Every guy wants to be celebrated like this at some point in their lives. Why not on his wedding day?!

Just ask the photographer to have the groomsmen lift the groom to their shoulders like the victorious hero he is. After all, he did it! He proposed, he made it through the wedding preparations, and he actually said “I do.” He got married!

This will be the groom’s chance to shine, MOB. Let the boys have their fun and capture it with a photo!

*You might also like to read Wedding Photo Ideas Roundup That Star the Groom.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. One lucky subscriber will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Flickr photo by Ryan Smith Photography, Creative Commons License

Wedding Guest Book Photo Booth Idea

Mother of the Bride, is your daughter looking for something fun or especially memorable to do instead of a traditional wedding guest book? Here is an idea that may just be an answer to her bride-to-be prayers: a guest book featuring photo booth photos of your wedding guests!

A photo booth wedding guest book provides not only a super fun visual record of those attending the wedding, but it gives the guests a chance to include a personal message as well. As opposed to the formal feel of the traditional sign-your-name-on-the-line-provided guest book we usually see at weddings, a photo booth guest book takes on an almost yearbook feel. Fun and memorable!

Photo booths for reception fun are great, too, as they allow the guests to take memories home with them, but the photo booth for the wedding guest book will be for the benefit of the bride and groom.

The bride and groom are so distracted on the big day (imagine that!) that many times they don’t have solid memories of those who attended. After the newlyweds have returned from their honeymoon and things have calmed down a bit, the photo booth guest book will allow them to review who was in attendance and to notice details they may have missed on their wedding day.

So go ahead and mention this clever guest book idea to your daughter, MOB. She may decide it’s one of your best ideas yet!

*You might also like to read Providing Photo Booth Fun for Wedding GuestsWedding Guest Book Ideas, and Guest Book Idea: A Guest Tree.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. One lucky subscriber will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Flickr Photo by paperladyinvitesCreative Commons License

Wedding Registry to Consider: Williams Sonoma

Mother of the Bride, has your daughter considered setting up a wedding registry at Williams SonomaSince it’s not one of the standard registries that most brides think of, setting up a registry at this amazing cooking (and more!) store might not have occurred to your darling bride-to-be.

Williams Sonoma offers top-of-the-line quality products that any newly married couple would be lucky to own. Since many of the items fall outside the price range most newlyweds’ own purchases, what better way for your sweet girl and her beloved to begin to acquire these wonderful kitchen and home products than by receiving them as wedding gifts?

Like with most other registries, your daughter can create a Williams Sonoma registry online, but if she’d prefer, they also offer free in-store or virtual registry consultations. Even if she doesn’t feel like she needs a consultation, she might like to visit a store to see their products first hand. It always helps to see and handle items in order to choose what we like best, doesn’t it?

MOB, suggest the Williams Sonoma registry to your daughter and offer to visit a store with her. And then do your best not to want to buy everything in sight for yourself!

*You might also like to read Bridal Shower Idea: A Cooking Class!

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early November. Sign-up is FREE! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*My photo