Watching your daughter walk down the aisle or your son marry that special lady in his life can be bittersweet. On the one hand, you’re excited that your child is starting their life with the person they love, but it might feel like you’re losing them a little.
Even though you know you’re not, it can be hard to get that message through to your heart. If you’re a mom struggling with your child getting married, there are things you can do to cope.
Take a look at a few ways you can make your son or daughter’s wedding day special and get through it all in one piece.
1. Spend Quality Time with Your New In-Laws
Before the big day, carve out some time to spend with your new son-in-law or daughter-in-law. Blending families is never easy, but prioritize taking the time to get to know each other. Take them out to lunch or go get mani-pedis. Or you can always ask your son or daughter what their soon-to-be husband or wife would like and take it from there. And remember, you’re not losing a child — you’re gaining one. So embrace the change and do your best to make things as easy as possible for everyone.
2. Buy Them a Meaningful Wedding Gift
Another way to make your child’s wedding day special is to buy them a meaningful and practical gift. If it’s your son getting married, get him a personalized handkerchief, keepsake box, classic watch, personalized poker set, or toolset. Conversely, if your daughter is tying the knot, get her a luggage set she can take on her honeymoon, some bridal lingerie(that emphasizes romance and intimacy), a piece of fine art, a cheese board, or a wedding photo keepsake. Whatever you decide on, make sure it’s something from the heart.
3. Be Willing to Step Back on Wedding Decisions
If you weren’t able to have the wedding of your dreams, you might be tempted to try and arrange for your child to have the perfect ceremony and reception. However, that could be detrimental to your relationship with your child and your new in-law. In that vein, avoid making any decisions about the wedding planning — unless your opinion is asked for by the bride or groom-to-be. After all, you don’t want to risk putting a damper on your relationship with your child or their new spouse.
4. Plan a Great Engagement Party
Even though your son or daughter may have to downsize their bachelor or bachelorette party plans considerably, you can still help plan a great engagement party to celebrate the union of your child and their soon-to-be spouse. Start creating a small guest list and decide on what types of food and drinks should be served. Then, start thinking about the date, so you can send out the invitations and give people enough time to make plans to attend. Most importantly, let your guests know there will be strict social distancing and mask-wearing protocols in place.
5. Set Up a Wedding Website
Are you a tech-savvy mama? Setting up a wedding website for the bride and groom can be a great way to offer a bit of help. As such, use the wedding website to inform guests about the engagement party, provide a link to the gift registry, advise about any dress codes, and detail any changes to the wedding itinerary or venue.
Preparing for the Big Day
Watching your child tie the knot is a life-changing experience, one that can seem scary and overwhelming at times. But with the above tips in mind, you’ll be well-prepared to deal with all that comes with such an exciting time in your child’s — and your — life.
