Keep in mind that your wedding day not only marks a significant change in your life, but it also changes the lives of your family. She cooked for you, she fed you, she even changed your dirty diapers (and will never let you forget it!).

In lieu of Mother’s Day, let’s explore a few ways to make sure you involve your mom in your wedding plans… after all, her baby girl is getting married!

That can be a hard pill to swallow for some mothers, so make the process easier by showing her some love during the planning months.

Below are a few ideas I put together to help you out!

1. Let her help!
Whether you actually want your mother’s help or not, you’ll find that the less you resist the better off you’ll be. I’ve seen this theory tested with brides with overbearing mothers and brides with fabulous even-tempered mothers. The key is planning. Make a note of things your mother is great at and keep looking for ways to let her put her talents to good use. If she’s crafty, ask her help on a few DIY projects you have planned. If she loves to chat and communicates well, appoint her “Bridal Party Coordinator,” giving her the tremendous job of making sure the bridal party is aware of important dates and deadlines.

2. Get sentimental
As I’m sure you’re aware, emotions run wild during the planning process, for both you and your family members. Don’t shy away from it; embrace it! Tap into your emotions and give your mom a sentimental gift – something that’ll remain valuable to her for years to come. Idea: Find a double photo frame and put a picture of the two of you from when you were both younger on one side and leave the other side blank. Explain that a wedding day picture of the two of you will go on the other side. You can engrave it with the wedding date or a saying such as “I’ll always be your little girl.”

3. Have a party
I think it’s a great idea to bring people together when you’re planning your wedding. It’s a great opportunity to bond with your friends and family, and even a few people that you may not have room enough to invite to the wedding. Here’s an idea: Host a party with your bridesmaids and their moms. You can pretend that it is a wedding shower, and then surprise them by saying “Actually, today is all about you, moms!” Serve them tea, show slideshows, and tell funny stories about each of the moms. Send them home with a pampering pack of spa products. If you don’t have lots of friends with moms around, it can just be a tea party for the two of you. Prepare her favorite treats, and honor her and have a great time!

4. Give her the gift of your time
A gift certificate for an activity that the two of you like to do together that she can use in the future. Moms sometimes worry that when their daughter gets married, she won’t have much time to do mother-daughter activities. So give her the gift of your time! Whether its tennis lessons, an hour at a pottery studio, or a big bag of spring bulbs with the promise to plant them together, your mom will love the idea of spending time with you.

5. A picture is worth its weight in gold
A photo album is always nice, but sometimes it’s a pain to fill it and use it. A great alternative to a blank album is a pre-stocked album with pictures of you and your mother over the years – she’ll love it! A fun variation on this is a Photo Cookbook, a blend of favorite recipes and family photos – this will take a bit more effort, but you’ll end up with a family heirloom.
Tip: Be sure to capture all your activities on camera while you are planning and partying with your mom. A collection of photos documenting your journey to “I Do” will make a great gift for your mom after the wedding day!

© 2005-2009 Full Bloom Weddings & Events

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Danielle Carter is the owner and lead event planner of “Full Bloom Weddings & Events” a full service wedding and event planning company that takes great pride in offering quality service and professional assistance for brides at any stage in the wedding process. If you’re ready to jump-start your wedding planning with a little (or alot) of help, visit www.fullbloomweddings.com for a FREE Report: The Top 10 To Do’s To Kick Start Planning Your Wedding