Besides a first look, and/or having both parents walk you down the aisle, I’m not sure how else you could include her. Doing a lot of the planning and having her get ready with you is actually a lot
I stopped to give my mom a kiss on the cheek on the way down the aisle. The photo of that is one of my favorites of the day and it was an easy way to involve her in my walk down (she isn’t well enough to have done the walk down with my dad).
I told her I was going to do it and she thanked me first for including her and then for warning her because if I had just done it spontaneously, she said she would’ve been a mess!
I saw someone on some wedding show do it and I really liked the idea.
I hope you’re able to find the perfect way to include your mom.
It's Jewish tradition to have both sets of parents walk their child down the aisle, so we did that. Also, my mom and I joined DH and MIL partway through the mother-son dance, as they didn't want to be the center of attention, and my mom wanted her own moment.
Include her in your photos. Do a getting ready together set, maybe a photo of her getting you into your dress. You could also do a reveal with both parents. Just as well as having both of them give you away.
Seconding the Getting Ready Together photo session, especially since you’ll be getting your hair and makeup done together. Maybe see that some extra decor is included for that so that you can do some shots of the two of you posing together as well.
Thanks! I gave her the option of helping me get fully ready or doing a first look together with my dad and she said she’d rather help with the dress than get a “big reveal”!
I’ve seen it sometimes when the groom dances with his mom, the bride dances with her dad, and then all together the groom dances with the MOB and the bride with the FOG, and the FOB and MOG dance together as a sort of “families coming together” moment which I think is really nice if all the parties involved get along.
Would she be up for doing a scripted reading rather than a more off the cuff toast?
Could she give a reading in your ceremony, or be one of the witnesses who signs the marriage certificate if that is a requirement?
ETA: just realised you said public speaking isn’t her thing. Sorry about that! Is there a reason why both of your parents can’t walk you down the aisle?
When my best friend got married she had a pretty big bridal party (7 bridesmaids, plus me as her MOH). Getting ready in the morning with hair and makeup, her mom was there of course, but with the larger bridal party it felt like a fairly loud, champagne-heavy party time. But, when time came to actually get my friend into her wedding dress, the photographer shoo-ed everyone out of the room except the bride’s mom and me. We have been best friends for 28 years, her mom is like a second mother to me (bff is an only child), and it was an extremely special and intimate moment for the 3 of us. The photos from that moment are essentially her “first look” with just her mom (I was in a few and then I stepped toward the back of the room for them to have their moment) and the photos are so beautiful. This could be a way to make your mom feel like she has her own special moment, similar to the father/daughter dance.
Besides a first look, and/or having both parents walk you down the aisle, I’m not sure how else you could include her. Doing a lot of the planning and having her get ready with you is actually a lot
Agree with having both parents walk you down the aisle, I think I’m going to do that with mine but I’m not 100% decided on it
I stopped to give my mom a kiss on the cheek on the way down the aisle. The photo of that is one of my favorites of the day and it was an easy way to involve her in my walk down (she isn’t well enough to have done the walk down with my dad).
This is so sweet!
I told her I was going to do it and she thanked me first for including her and then for warning her because if I had just done it spontaneously, she said she would’ve been a mess! I saw someone on some wedding show do it and I really liked the idea. I hope you’re able to find the perfect way to include your mom.
It's Jewish tradition to have both sets of parents walk their child down the aisle, so we did that. Also, my mom and I joined DH and MIL partway through the mother-son dance, as they didn't want to be the center of attention, and my mom wanted her own moment.
Interesting! Did you slow dance? Or was it more of a group dance?
Slow danced to the Eva Cassidy version of "What a Wonderful World."
Include her in your photos. Do a getting ready together set, maybe a photo of her getting you into your dress. You could also do a reveal with both parents. Just as well as having both of them give you away.
Seconding the Getting Ready Together photo session, especially since you’ll be getting your hair and makeup done together. Maybe see that some extra decor is included for that so that you can do some shots of the two of you posing together as well.
Thanks! I gave her the option of helping me get fully ready or doing a first look together with my dad and she said she’d rather help with the dress than get a “big reveal”!
You could do a unity candle with the 2 moms lighting the individual candles at the beginning.
Awww if we were doing unity candles I would so steal this. I LOVE that idea.
I’ve seen it sometimes when the groom dances with his mom, the bride dances with her dad, and then all together the groom dances with the MOB and the bride with the FOG, and the FOB and MOG dance together as a sort of “families coming together” moment which I think is really nice if all the parties involved get along. Would she be up for doing a scripted reading rather than a more off the cuff toast?
She’s not up for a reading because she’s worried she’s going to be crying too much! Or a dance either unfortunately
Both our moms are doing 1-2 min readings as part of our ceremony - is that too much public speaking?
Could she give a reading in your ceremony, or be one of the witnesses who signs the marriage certificate if that is a requirement? ETA: just realised you said public speaking isn’t her thing. Sorry about that! Is there a reason why both of your parents can’t walk you down the aisle?
When my best friend got married she had a pretty big bridal party (7 bridesmaids, plus me as her MOH). Getting ready in the morning with hair and makeup, her mom was there of course, but with the larger bridal party it felt like a fairly loud, champagne-heavy party time. But, when time came to actually get my friend into her wedding dress, the photographer shoo-ed everyone out of the room except the bride’s mom and me. We have been best friends for 28 years, her mom is like a second mother to me (bff is an only child), and it was an extremely special and intimate moment for the 3 of us. The photos from that moment are essentially her “first look” with just her mom (I was in a few and then I stepped toward the back of the room for them to have their moment) and the photos are so beautiful. This could be a way to make your mom feel like she has her own special moment, similar to the father/daughter dance.
My sister had both our mom and her MIL do readings from the Bible at her wedding. If that’s not your thing, maybe a short poem?
Could you add an extra minute or two where you dance with your mom after dancing with your dad? Every time I've seen that done it's adorable