Every little girl fantasizes about her wedding day, and every mother dreams of the day her little princess marries her prince. With all those years of the bride and the mother of the bride each building up their own expectations, it’s no wonder that the actual wedding planning can become stressful.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” was my own personal experience as the MOB. With the heightened excitement and emotions, my precious daughter and I sometimes found ourselves frustrated and in tears. Two of my best friends, who each have fabulous relationships with their daughters, agreed. ” The worst fight my daughter and I ever had in our lives was during the wedding planning stage over a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes!”

So be encouraged, current and future MOBs and Brides! When your special time comes and you find yourselves in a disagreement over shoes, flowers, or the budget, take a few deep breaths and give each other a hug. Weddings are a celebration of love, so focus on love. Love for your mom/your daughter, the groom, the wedding party members, love of romance and of happily ever afters. Then the stress of the Jimmy Choo shoes, boutonnieres, and the decorations can all fade away, just as the focus on a camera can zoom in and focus on one object causing the rest to fade away into the background.

Photos by Daniel Perry