Gift Idea for Newlyweds and Other Couples Plus Wedding Planning Help During My Blogging Break

December 1, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, with Christmas coming, are you looking for a meaningful gift to give to your daughter and her beloved? Even if they won’t be married by Christmas, you can still give them a couples gift that will help them on their coming newlywed journey.

Our Daily Question: A Three-Year Journal for Couples is a 365-day guided journal that poses a question a day designed to stimulate conversation. I haven’t seen the book myself (it’s brand new on the market), but for the past few years I’ve personally been using The Daily Question: My 5-Year Spiritual Journal. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed answering each day’s question and then looking back to see my answers from the previous years.

 Our Daily Question works the same way as The Daily Question journal I use. What fun it will be for newlyweds to see how their answers may change over the course of three years. They may enjoy the exercise so much that they’ll want to get another one! And just think—this is a gift you can keep in mind for other couples as well. Remember, Christmas is coming!

With that in mind, it’s time for me to take a holiday blogging break—but not before I leave you with some great wedding planning help. I’ll be back with my weekly posts starting Jan. 5th, but in the meantime, I hope you’ll find lots of helpful ideas and info as you take advantage of today’s post.

Here are four resources from yours truly:

  1. Look through the list of Favorite Posts on the sidebar and click the links to the ones that spark your interest. (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find the sidebar items.)
  2. Use the drop-down feature in the Archives to spot some posts that might be especially helpful to you at this stage in your Mother of the Bride journey. You’ll find the Archives on the sidebar too so use the directions above to find it if you’re on a mobile device.
  3. Check out my Pinterest page. Among other things, it features eighteen wedding-related boards!
  4. Glance through the roundup posts I’ve written so far. Roundups can be very helpful:

Wedding Photography: Bridal Portrait Roundup

Roundup: Popular Mother of the Bride Blog Posts

Bridal Bouquet Roundup

Wedding Cake Roundup

Wedding Registry Roundup

Wedding Photo Ideas Roundup That Star the Groom

Finally, if your daughter is in the beginning stages of gathering ideas and investigating her options, try Martha Stewart Weddings, Real Simple Weddings, and Brides.  And if she  your daughter wants a rustic wedding, check out Rustic Wedding Chic.

Hope this helps you and your sweet daughter, MOB!

*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 with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early February. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Flickr photo by wuestenigal, Creative Commons License

Leave a Comment Filed Under: books, bride, family, fellowship, Gift, giving, groom, growth, holidays, inventory, joy, learn, life, listen, love, memories, Mother of the Bride, new thing, opportunity, pair, team, tradition, unity Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just Married Getaway Vehicle and Photo Idea

May 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, have your soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. given any thought yet to a getaway vehicle? Here’s a fun idea to share with them—and just in time for the spring and summer weddings that are upon us.

A bicycle as a getaway means is sure to provide for fun as well as memory making. Whether one built for two or a ten-speed big enough for the groom to carry the bride in front, joy and laughter will abound when the bride and groom breeze away on two wheels. All you need to do is make sure a Just Married sign is attached to the bike so the photographer can snap a super cute photo too.

Chances are the newlyweds will only ride a short distance before needing to change forms of transportation, but the memories will have been made and the fun photos captured by then. They’ll need to have their other means of transportation waiting for them at the appointed time and place along with someone else to pick up the bike. The bride and groom can simply hop off, sneak in a kiss or two, and then take off on the next leg of their honeymoon journey.

Fun idea, right, MOB? Your happy couple may not know it yet, but a bike may be just what they need for their perfect getaway. Here’s hoping!

*You might also like to read Just Married Sign and Photo Idea, Wedding Day “Just Married” Photo Idea, and Honeymoon “Just Married” Photo Idea.

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

*The current 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 and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Flickr photo by Rachelgnatiev, Creative Commons License

Leave a Comment Filed Under: adventure, bride, celebrate, fun, groom, laughter, memories, Mother of the Bride, photo fun, preparation, signs, team, travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mother of the Bride—An Info Source for Gift-Givers

April 16, 2019 By Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, did you know one of your MOB roles requires you to be the go-to source for all kinds of gift-giving information? As your daughter’s wedding day draws closer, friends and family will call on you time and again for insider info. You will be asked everything from where the couple is registered to what colors they’re using in their master bath.

Instead of hemming and hawing because you’re clueless on some of the answers, why not be prepared with an inside-scoop list? Grab your MOB planner/journal—and also the bride-to-be—and make a list of the following items and their answers:

*Where is the couple registered?

*Couple’s address after the wedding

*Names and addresses of ceremony and reception sites

*Dates and places of bridal showers

*China brand and pattern

*Crystal brand and pattern

*Flatware/silverware brand and pattern—formal and everyday

*Dishes (everyday) brand and pattern

*Cookware

*Living room colors

*Kitchen colors

*Bedroom colors

*Bathroom colors

*Size of bed

*Favorite themes or collections

*Hobbies

There you have it, MOB—your personal gift-giving ideas cheat sheet. Now all you need to do is fill it out. Enjoy your insider-info role!

You might also like to read A Planning Journal for Your Mother of the Bride Notes, Mother of the Bride – Needed and Loved, and You Are Appreciated, Mother of the Bride!

*Hope this slightly revised post from May 2014 helped you today!

*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 May. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive a $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.) p.s. Sign up by 4-24 to get in on this issue’s giveaway. If you subscribe after that date, you will be included in all future Life Notes giveaways.

*Flickr photo by vidalia_11, Creative Commons License

Leave a Comment Filed Under: advice, Gift, help, Mother of the Bride, organize, preparation, serve, variety Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Wedding Inspiration Cards by Author Cheryl Barker

October 10, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, did you know I’ve written some wedding-themed cards? I wanted another product to offer at bridal fairs along with my book Mother of the Bride so with the critique help of my daughter Kristin and the design expertise of Stephanie Wheatley of Wheatley Design, I created my original Wedding Inspiration cards. I’m so pleased with how they turned out. I think you’ll love them too.

The five cards I have available are printed on high quality cardstock so they make wonderful gifts and/or personal resources. I mentioned them a few months ago but had never done a feature post on them so I decided it was time to rectify that. You can include the cards in gifts or give them as a gift by themselves. I don’t sell envelopes with them, but they do fit perfectly in any business size envelope.

You can click on the photo above to see a larger version of the picture, but I’ll list the titles of the five Wedding  Inspiration cards for your convenience:

A Mother of the Bride’s Prayer

A Bride’s Wedding Day Prayer

Praying for Newlyweds

For the Newlyweds

Life Lessons from the Mother of the Bride

Most of the titles are pretty self-explanatory, but Life Lessons from the Mother of the Bride features lessons that anyone can benefit from and For the Newlyweds is perfect to include in a wedding gift or to send to the new couple in the days or weeks following the wedding.

The cards sell for $3.00 each and are available directly through me. Just contact me with your order and we’ll work out the details of payment and mailing, etc.

I hope my Wedding Inspiration cards will be a blessing to all who receive them—and I hope that will include you, MOB! Talk to you soon!

*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 (new or current) will receive $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*My photo

Leave a Comment Filed Under: bride, celebrate, Gift, groom, Mother of the Bride, new thing, prayer, variety, writing Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Prayer for the Newlyweds

February 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment

4813708804_b236e8f1a1_zMother of the Bride, here is a prayer you can tuck away for the days and months following the Big Day—a prayer for your sweet newlywed couple. Prayer is one priceless yet simple way you can continue to gift your darling daughter and her new husband after they are married. Hope this prayer gives voice to the beat of your heart!

A Gift of Prayer for the Newlyweds

Thank you, Lord, for joining the lives
of this couple so dear to me,
this man, this woman, so deeply in love
pledging themselves to total union.
Lord, give them wisdom to model their love
after your very own,
may love and forgiveness flow without limit,
may kindness be their guide.
Bless them, Lord, beyond their dreams
grant them memories that make them smile,
give them vision to make a difference
to serve loved ones and strangers alike.
Gift them, Father, with many years
living life side by side,
growing even more deeply in love—
this man, this woman, united.

Give the gift of prayer, MOB. It’s a gift that will make a difference.

*You might also like to read Mothers of the Bride Need Prayer.

*I thought Valentine’s Day was the perfect day to share this encore post from 2015. Hope you enjoyed!

Copyright © Cheryl Barker

*If you read this piece publicly or print it out, please give attribution by saying it’s by Cheryl Barker, author of Mother of the Bride. Thanks!

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter which includes a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out the first of the month. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Villa Amor in Sayulita, Creative Commons License

Leave a Comment Filed Under: bride, Gift, groom, love, Mother of the Bride, prayer Tagged With: , , , ,
Next Page »