Pass this on to your mother and future mother-in-law.
Responsibilities of the Mother of the Bride
First and foremost, be a warm listener, chief cheerleader, constantly complimenting, and otherwise a source of support for your daughter.
Help the bride find the wedding dress of her dreams, as well as other wedding attire.
Help look for wedding and reception locations, particularly if the wedding is taking place in your home town and not theirs.
If you haven't already met, contact the groom's parents and arrange to meet.
Choose your mother-of-the-bride dress as soon as possible, then let the groom's mother know what you have picked. If possible, send her a swatch of the fabric and/or pictures so that she can look for a gown that will compliment yours.
Discuss the wedding budget with your daughter and her fiancé, including what you are willing to pay for, and the ideal total number of guests.
Quickly draw up the guest list for your side of the family, and later, close to the date of the wedding, call any of your guests who are late in RSVPing.
Reserve blocks of hotel rooms for your out-of-town guests, and possibly other guests as well.
Help spread the word about where the couple are registered.
Act as hostess at the wedding and reception, making sure guests are comfortable. This also includes standing in the receiving line, sitting at the parents table, and making sure the bride has greeted all her guests.
Attend the wedding shower and rehearsal dinner.
Possibly escort the bride down the aisle, and/or participate in other parts of the ceremony such as unity ceremonies.
Help your daughter will any other details she asks you to!
The Role of the Mother of the Groom
While customs vary from region to region and even from family to family, these are generally the things expected of the mother of the groom:
Plan and host the rehearsal dinner.
Draw up the guest list for the groom's side, after finding out how many guest you are allowed in invite.
Call any of your guests who are late in RSVPing.
Attend the bridal shower, and bring a gift.
Help the father of the groom make a toast at the rehearsal dinner.
If there is a mother/son dance, help choose a song for it, and dance with your son at the wedding.
Other nice things BOTH mothers can do:
Offer to help research wedding vendors, sites, and resources.
Introduce yourself to the in-laws family, and help introduce the rest of the families to each other. Help your
son/daughter with any family traditions.
Offer to help with such things as craft projects, making welcome bags for the guests, and arranging seating charts.
These more time intensive projects can often use an extra pair of hands, as long as they are supportive and
nonjudgmental.
Help spread the word about where the couple is registered.