Just what every mother of the bride needs to help her deal with the emotional, logistical, and financial challenges of her daughter's big day! What premarital advice should a mother give the daughter who knows more about sex and stock portfolios than she does? Can the groom's step-grandparents march down the aisle as part of the wedding procession? How can a cousin get ordained on the Internet to perform the ceremony? This witty, brass-tacks survival manual for the 21st-century mother of the bride provides sharp, sensible answers to these and myriad other questions. Hilarious anecdotes and practical advice abound as the lifestyle editor for The Washingtonian shares wise counsel and helpful hints from a mom who's been there as well as chronicles some ill-fated nuptials (as a primer for what not to do). From deciphering the mysteries of wedding food to learning to understand florist-speak, from picking a suitable mother-of-the-bride outfit-without looking like a Red Hot Mama or, worse, your grandmother in lavender and lace-to keeping a sense of humor when some of what can go wrong does, this down-to-earth guide makes a perfect gift for every mother determined to give her daughter the wedding of her dreams.