When you have a daughter, you know you will be the mother of the bride someday, but to go through the process is interesting.
My daughter’s engagement was in mid-December, so serious planning began immediately! Our first step was booking a venue – we booked a beautiful, local reception venue, Firefly Gardens.
After a fun yet exhausting ALL day search for the perfect wedding dress, Marisa found a dress that she loved at a&bé bridal in Dallas. And it is true, the bride knows when it is the right dress, we could all tell the moment she put it on too!
“I had a definite advantage as the mother of the bride, due to the fact that I have a very organized daughter who knows what she likes. Truthfully Marisa was very methodical in her planning which made the process between the two of us a lot of fun and less stressful. Marisa would always ask for my input or my perspective. Do not get me wrong, it was still a lot of hard work, but I would not have changed one thing!!”
I must admit that I let all of the vendors do all the work and heavy lifting. I did not do any of the crafting and decorating many people do these days because I really wanted to enjoy every minute of this special celebration. We turned everything over to Teresa Choate, our wedding coordinator, for that final week. After seven months of planning and organizing, things were set, and I was ready to sit back and take it all in.
All of the wedding festivities began with a fantastic bridesmaid’s brunch given by Marisa’s aunts at The English Merchant’s Inn on Friday morning followed by a wonderful dinner of yummy food and heartfelt toasts hosted by The Teeters at The Dove’s Nest that night. The wedding day started early with hair and makeup at the church for all of us. The morning was so much fun spent talking, laughing and dancing with Marisa’s amazing friends from childhood and college.
“Marisa grew up in the Central Presbyterian Church and my husband and I were married in this church in 1983, so this made the ceremony even more special. The church was gorgeous and filled with family and friends that have supported these two kids throughout their entire lives. “
You want your daughter to meet just the right person, but when it really happens, it is overwhelming. Watching her walk in with her dad was amazing. One of the most unique parts of the ceremony was allowing three very important ministers to be a part of their marriage ceremony: Presbyterian family-friend Rev. Polly Williams, Brooks’ grandfather Rev. Earl Teeter and Marisa’s cousin Rev. Stefani Reed-Meyer. This made it a very special gathering of faith, family and friends.
The reception was just as beautiful and fun as I could have ever hoped and dreamed for. The delicious food and vibrant flowers were outstanding! From their first dance, through all of the classic rock songs, to their final dance alone on the dance floor before leaving through a line of sparklers, the day could not have been better! It is surreal to now be on the other side of all of this preparation and celebration! To any future mothers of the bride, be sure to step back and take it all in and remember to enjoy every minute. This Mother of the Bride would not have changed a thing!!
– Emily Price, Mother of the Bride
