The Bride's Mother

Traditionally, the bride's mother carries the responsibility for the social side of the event and as the hostess she will issue the invitations to the ceremony and to the reception afterwards. Her most important role though, is to support her daughter in all the stages of the planning of the wedding, even if her daughter's plans are somewhat different to the ones she may have chosen herself.

On the day itself, she should:

• Help the bride with her hair, make-up and dress
• Leave home about 10 minutes before the bride, either travelling in a car to herself, or with the chief bridesmaid and any young attendants

At the ceremony, she will:

• Be escorted up the aisle to her seat in the front row on the left-hand side by the chief usher
• Be escorted by the groom's father to the vestry for the signing of the register
• Process out after the ceremony on the left-hand side of the groom's father following the bride and groom and their attendants, with the bridegroom's mother and the bride's father behind them

At the reception, she should:

• Stand in the receiving line and greet the guests - her place is at the head of the family line-up, welcoming the guests as they arrive and introducing them to the bridegroom's parents
• Make sure all her guests are being well looked after and included in the event