Notes from the Mother of the Bride (M.O.B.)

What a brilliant little book. I loved it, loved it! Why? Humor and sage advise, that is why. Amidst life stresses laughter is the saving grace. Her 10 Commandments for the M.O.G., mother of the groom, and the F.O.B., father of the bride, are priceless. I recited them to my husband and there was shock and whining about #4. "Thou shalt not expect an invitation to the bachelor party; thou shalt not grumble and whine about it." These things simply must be said. Then the glorious #7 " Thou shalt understand fathers never truly "give their little girl (aka the bride) away." The sage advise for the M.O.G.? "Thou shalt not expect a postwedding, next morning phone call from thy baby boy." and the very reasonable #8 "Thou shalt ferry thy son to the altar in one reasonably sober piece, especially if there has been a bachelor party the night before."Above and beyond the humor there is such heart in this little gem. The author and her husband did such beautiful heart felt things for their precious child, and we are inspired to do the same. Amidst the whirlwind, "the F.O.B. did a spendid thing: he invited B. to a weekend get-away for a prewedding father-daughter meaningful experience...there is very little room, if any, during the plan-a-thon for fathers and their little girls about to become brides to have alone time. My bride-to-be and my husband went to an island, walked on the beach, reminisced and allowed me my last sane weekend." There is such heart in this book that other mother of the bride books miss, skirt, or perhaps simply do not care about at all. A wedding isn't just having everything together, it is about coming together in heart and spirit. What gentle, great, bonding can you do that takes an event and makes it so much more? How do you fit in the loving, personal memories? This couple did such loving, thoughtful, gracious and bonding things with the daughter. Thus I am inspired with tools I would not have thought of before and for that I am truly thankful. Sweet M.O.B., for example, took her daughter and the bridesmaids for a day at the spa, another sweet bonding experience...some time out. A day of sharing, laughter, and relaxation. Brilliant! Personally, I did not know about a bridal gown mecca in New York called Kleinfeld's but I do now. My daughters and I are planning on making a weekend of New York, bridal gown shopping at Kleinfeld's, mother daughter photos sessions, Broadway plays. It will make a beautiful memory in the Book of Life. I would never have thought about it had I not read this book. This woman has class, laughter, love and inspiration flowing in her veins. I want to give my daughter more than a wedding and if you do too, then buy this gem of inspiration and sanity.Amidst all of the things that will make you laugh and cry there are short "grayed in" spots of vital information. Order extra boutineers, flowers,...have an emergency kit for the wedding, needles, thread, bandaids...wear your shoes a lot befo