Where Should the Mother of the Groom Get Ready?

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That pre-wedding girl time is critical. You get to get all dolled up, surrounded by the women who know you best and love you the most. It's a time for happy tears, champagne toasts, and cute photos galore, all topped off with the moment you get into your wedding dress. And while Mom, Sis and your bridesmaids will definitely be on the VIP list of who's getting gussied up in your suite, what about your future mother-in-law? She is, after all, a woman, and she's about to become a major part of your life (if she isn't one already). So should she join you all for your pampering session? Our experts weigh in.

If you have a good relationship with your future mother-in-law and are getting married in a fairly central/accessible location, by all means, invite her to join you. You can either have her come up to your hotel suite for the entire morning to hang out, or she can stop in when it's her turn in the makeup chair, sip on a little bubbly, and then head back to her room to finish getting ready. Does your fiancé have a sister who isn't in the bridal party? You should invite her along, as well!

If you're getting ready at a local salon, you should also invite your mother-in-law to be a part of the excitement. Again, encourage her to hang out for as long as she'd like, since you and your 'maids might be there for a while!

Planning a wedding in your hometown and getting ready at your parents' house? Who you invite to get ready with you might depend on how much space you have. If you have the room, keep the group as inclusive as possible. Tight on space? You might need to narrow down the guest list, or consider heading to a salon instead.

 

While your mother-in-law doesn't have to get ready with you the morning of the wedding, inviting her is a super sweet gesture, and a way to acknowledge that, in a few short hours, you'll be family.