Because she’s been there since the beginning of your story.
There’s something sacred about the role a mom (or mother figure) plays in your life — and when your wedding day arrives, that truth can feel even more powerful.
Whether your mom has been your go-to cheerleader, your soft place to land, or simply the person who knows how to calm you with a look… there’s no one quite like her.
And your wedding day? It’s a chance to pause and say: thank you.
To honor her presence. Her love. Her impact.
Whether she’s standing by your side or being remembered with tenderness, these are some of the most meaningful ways you can honor your mom on your wedding day — in ways that feel personal, intentional, and beautifully you.
1. 💌 Write Her a Letter (and Give It to Her Before the Ceremony)
You’re going to be feeling everything on your wedding day — joy, nerves, excitement, love — and sometimes the most beautiful way to express that is on paper.
Take time the week before your wedding to write a heartfelt letter to your mom. Tell her what her love has meant. Thank her for the parts of your life she helped shape. Share the ways she’s influenced the partner you are today.
We’ve captured so many teary-eyed moments between moms and their children when these letters are exchanged. It’s quiet, intimate, and unforgettable.
Pro tip: Include it as part of a “getting ready” gift box and ask your photographer to capture the moment she reads it.
2. 👗 Do a First Look With Her
You’ve heard of the first look with your partner — but have you considered one with your mom?
Whether it’s just the two of you, or you include grandma and your siblings, a first look with your mom is always full of emotion. You’ll see it in her eyes — the realization that her baby is getting married. And for you? It’s a moment of grounding in the whirlwind of the day.
Let her take in your dress, hug you tight, and just be with you for a few moments before the day unfolds.
3. 🧵 Incorporate a Piece of Her Wedding Dress or Jewelry
This one always gives us chills: weaving a physical piece of your mom’s past into your present.
You can:
- Sew a swatch of her wedding dress into your own dress lining
- Wrap her veil or lace around your bouquet
- Wear a necklace, brooch, or bracelet she once wore
Not only is it beautiful — it’s symbolic. A literal thread of connection that binds your family’s love through generations.
4. 💄 Have Her Help You Get Ready
There’s something deeply special about the quiet, steady hands of a mom helping her child get dressed on their wedding day.
Invite her in to:
- Zip your dress
- Pin your veil
- Fasten your earrings
These may seem like simple acts, but when they’re captured on camera and lived in real time, they’re the kind of moments you’ll treasure forever.
5. 💐 Include Her Favorite Flower in Your Bouquet
Whether she’s present or being remembered, this is a subtle and beautiful tribute.
Adding her favorite bloom — whether it’s lavender, garden roses, or tulips — is a quiet way of saying: you’re with me today. Your florist can even place it somewhere that’s visible in photos or explained in your ceremony program.
6. 🕯️ Light a Candle in Her Honor (If She’s Passed)
For those whose moms are no longer physically present, honoring their spirit is still so deeply meaningful.
We’ve seen couples light a candle at the ceremony altar, leave an open seat in the front row with a flower, or display a framed photo near the guestbook.
There’s no “right” way — just your way.
The way that lets her be part of your day in a way that feels loving and intentional.
7. 🎶 Choose a Song That Reminds You of Her
Maybe it’s the song she used to hum while cooking. Maybe it’s the song she always danced to at family weddings. Maybe it’s your song.
Whether it’s for a first dance, ceremony entrance, or just something special added to your playlist — music has a powerful way of saying things our voices can’t.
We’ve seen mother-child dances that have guests tearing up, and ceremony walks that feel soaked in memory and love because of the song choice.
8. 📖 Read Something She Wrote or Said
A quote from a birthday card she once gave you. A line from a note she left in your lunchbox. A piece of wisdom she always offered in times of doubt.
Include it in your vows, have your officiant read it, or display it on signage near your ceremony entrance.
These tiny details often make the biggest emotional impact — for you, and for everyone who knows your bond.
9. ✨ Let Her Wear Something That Makes Her Feel Radiant
Don’t underestimate how much it means to a mom to feel beautiful on your big day.
Ask her if she wants help picking something out. Let her know she matters, too. Offer to get her hair and makeup done with you, and celebrate this special day together.
The confidence, joy, and radiance you’ll see in her face? That glow? It’s priceless.
10. 🖼️ Display a Photo of Her Wedding Day
Framing a photo of your mom on her wedding day (or one of you with her when you were younger) is such a sentimental touch.
You can place it:
- At the welcome table
- In your dressing room
- Beside your guest book
- Or in your reception space
It’s a reminder of her journey, her love story — and how yours is now part of that same legacy.
11. 📸 Take a Portrait Together — Just the Two of You
We always, always make time for this.
Your photographer should know this photo matters. Whether it’s posed or candid, make sure you take a moment just the two of you — without distractions — to hug, smile, and be captured together.
This photo? It’s the one that will go in both of your homes. It’s the one you’ll pass down someday. Make time for it.
12. 💕 Simply Say Thank You
The day moves fast. So fast.
But when you’re standing there, veil in hand or shoes in place, ready to step into your next chapter — pause for a second. Look her in the eye. And say it.
“Thank you.”
Those two words, spoken from your heart, are more meaningful than any gesture or gift.
And if she’s no longer here to hear them? Say them anyway. Whisper them to the sky, the breeze, the sun. We believe she’ll hear you.
🌿 Your Wedding, Your Way — Her Love, Always With You
Your wedding day is about you and your partner — but it’s also about the people who’ve shaped your hearts along the way. Your mom may have been your guide, your friend, your biggest fan — and honoring her on this day is a way of bringing your past into your future.
So whether it’s a letter, a dance, a flower, or just a shared look across the room — we hope you take a moment for her.
And if we’re there with you on that day? We’ll make sure you don’t forget it.
📸 Because it’s not just about capturing the wedding — it’s about preserving the heartbeats in between.
