Wedding Planning Help and a Holiday Blogging Break

December 5, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, with all things Christmas in full gear now, I’ve decided to take a blogging break until after the first of the year. Like you I’m sure, I want to focus on faith, family, and friends over the next few weeks. We need to make the most of our precious time and do what’s really important, don’t we?

So allow me to go ahead and wish you and yours a very merry Christmas—and I wish all the best to you and your daughter as you continue preparing for her big day. May the following help you as you do just that!

Here are five resources from yours truly:

  1. Read my book Mother of the Bride: Refreshment and Wisdom for the Mother of the Bride. Allow me to be your friend for the journey!
  2. 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.)
  3. Use the Search bar. Simply type in any topic you’d like to find some ideas or info for and see what comes up!
  4. Check out my Pinterest page. Among other things, it features eighteen wedding-related boards!
  5. Glance through the roundup posts I’ve written. They are listed below. 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 and Brides.  And if she wants a rustic wedding, check out Rustic Wedding Chic.

Hope this helps you and your sweet bride-to-be 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, comes out in early February. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Flickr photo by Daniel Y. Go, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: Above and Beyond, advice, bride, Christmas, encouragement, help, Mother of the Bride, Mother of the Bride book, preparation, rest, variety, wedding Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wedding Cake Idea: A Gift Box!

November 7, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, are you or your bride-to-be daughter on the hunt for a unique wedding cake idea? I might have just what you’re looking for today!

How about a wedding cake that looks like a gift box? The one pictured above is just one example of a multitude of possibilities. The fresh flowers make a lovely topper, but a ribbon and giant bow would look great too. As long as your cake designer coordinates the design with the wedding colors, the details can be up to you. And I’m willing to bet your designer will have some great ideas too, right?

Be sure to share this idea with your daughter, MOB. Who knows, the hunt just might be over!

*You might also like to read Unique Wedding Cake Idea: Word Search Cake! and Wedding Cake Idea: A Crepe Cake!

*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 earlier this month, but 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 Graceful Cake Creations; Creative Commons License

Filed Under: bride, cake, creation/creative/creator, decorate, food, Gift, Mother of the Bride, preparation, Uncategorized, variety, wedding Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wedding Weekend Tip for Your Amateur Photo-Taking

October 3, 2023 by Leave a Comment

The last thing the Mother of the Bride wants to do during wedding weekend is take photos. Of course, MOB, you’ll have a professional photographer for the day of the wedding, but precious photo opportunities will abound all weekend long. Like any sentimental mother, you won’t want to miss a single shot, but it’s hard to be in the moment and enjoy everything fully if you’re busy capturing it all on your camera.

Here’s a tip that will free you up not only to live the moments as they unfold but will also take one big responsibility off your shoulders: Ask a family member that’s not in the wedding party to be in charge of taking photos at each event the entire wedding weekend. A sister is an excellent choice because she’ll probably understand what might be important to you as the mother of the bride. You’ll then be able to concentrate fully on carrying out your MOB responsibilities and also enjoy all those once-in-a-lifetime moments as they happen.

Be sure your designated amateur photographer understands the importance of his or her role. Ask them to take shots of anything and everything a devoted MOB would want pictures of—decorating day and all that it entails, the rehearsal and dinner following, the bridesmaids luncheon or other pre-wedding events, moments the extended family spends together, and of course fun shots of the wedding day that your professional photographer might not get. It’s always nice to have the day recorded from various vantage points, and your trusty volunteer will make that possible.

And you, Mother of the Bride? Just be in the moment and enjoy!

*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.

*Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Filed Under: advice, blessing, bride, celebrate, family, focus, help, memories, Mother of the Bride, photo fun, preparation, serve, wedding Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wedding Keepsake Photo Including the Invitation

September 19, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, here’s a keepsake photo that’s easy to forget on wedding day: one that features the invitation. The photographer will take shots of the programs, the tent cards for the reception tables, and place cards for the bride and groom, but if a copy of the wedding invitation is not on hand on the big day, chances are you’ll miss getting a professional photo of it.

In the photo above, I love how the wedding invitation is featured along with the bride’s rings and shoes. What a beautiful shot capturing these precious elements of a once-in-a-lifetime day!

MOB, don’t let the invitation get overlooked. Take a moment right now to add it to the list of shots you’d like the photographer to take. You and your sweet couple will be glad you did!

*You might also like to read Turning the Ordinary into Keepsakes, Add Sparkle to the Bridal Garter, and Craft It: Bridal Keepsake Box.

*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 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.

*Flickr photo by shannylynne, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: advice, bride, keepsake, memories, Mother of the Bride, photo fun, preparation, stationery, treasure, variety, wedding Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wedding Planning Advice: Give Yourself the Gift of Easy

September 5, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, if you’re like I was while in wedding planning mode, you’re all about saving a dollar or two (or ten!) every chance you get, right? Your mental calculator runs non-stop, causing you to continually feel the pressure of mounting expenses. You begin to look for every way you can to save a little money. But you know what? Sometimes it’s not worth it.

My first time around the MOB block, I decided we should forgo the pre-cut tulle circles we wanted to use for making the favors—little bags of chocolate candies tied with pretty ribbon. In an attempt to save some dollars, I decided we could cut our own circles of tulle.

Big mistake. At a time when both the bride and I had more to do than we had time, we had to push ourselves even more. Yes, believe it or not, the tulle circle-cutting fairies did not show up at nighttime to cut the circles for us.

My decision to cut costs ended up costing us in other ways—in time, in stress, and in weariness. The dollars saved were definitely not worth it.

Learn from my mistake, dear MOB. Carefully weigh all the costs before making more work for yourself or the bride. Sometimes the best thing you can do is give yourself the gift of easy.

*You might also like to read A Simple Wedding Expense Tip, Mothers of the Bride Need Prayer, and Gather Photos Early for Wedding Day Slide Show.

*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 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.

*Flickr photo by FutUnBeidl, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: advice, balance, bride, encouragement, Gift, giving, help, kindness, learn, life, money, Mother of the Bride, preparation, rest, simplify, stress, time, wedding, wisdom Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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