Long distance Mom

Every time you sit down to plan, video chat her, and make her feel like she is actually there. Or when you're trying to choose between things, send her pictures and ask her opinion. I would just try to run all your ideas by her, and let her know you are thinking about her and want her there to help, the best way she can at the moment

You're lucky that she wants to be involved. My mom lives 3 miles away from me. We haven't spoken in almost 3 years. My MOH met with her without me knowing it several months ago and thought she had convinced her to reach out to me, but she still hasn't. I won't be the one to bend because she wronged me in a lot of different ways before I cut ties. I'll be married in 25 days and she won't be there.

Technology helps a ton. My mom was with me for my first dress fitting and for all the subsequent ones the attendants are happy to video chat with her. I send her song ideas, accessory options, cake pics- you name it( sometimes it's probably too much). I also made sure to go home and do my first round of dress shopping with her.

I live across the country from my mom (and have since I was 18), but she's co-planning the wedding with me (she lives near the event city so basically doing all of the site visits and whatnot) and we talk multiple times a day. I do feel bad about not experience dress shopping with her though, but she's seen pictures and videos and I plan to get her input before I buy anything Just keep her included as much as possible!

Ohhh I had this too! I was planning a PA wedding from MA. My mom is in PA. I would call her send her lots of pix and videos. I also saved some planning for when I was home with her. I would make back to back venue tours, tastings, and dress appointments for when I was home with her. For the couple of days I was home we lived and breathed wedding. She loved it and it helped her feel included.

I live in Germany and my Mum lives in Australia so I totally get it. I've been emailing her a lot about wedding stuff (boring things and exciting things and asking her opinion on things as FH only wants to be involved in "big decisions") (and my parents are paying). I also call her once a week and we can talk lots. I've added her to my Pinterest boards for dress, hair, flowers. She's actually coming to visit in November for two weeks (which was planned before we announced our engagement) and we're both really excited. We're going to go dress and shoe shopping together, and try to find some places that do silk flowers and get that sorted while she's here too!

I think just try to include her in decision-making or ask for her opinion on things as much as you can (and as much as you want to). When you book something you can send her an email or give her a call and share your excitement with her, and if you work out you can't do something you wanted to after all then you could tell her and share your disappointment. I've been telling my Mum all the little things as well, to make her feel like she's included as much as she can be.

If it's possible, plan a weekend for her to visit and get some things done. I did wedding dress shopping and food tasting in one weekend because my parents were visiting and they wanted to be involved. Also, if she's on Pinterest, share ideas through that. I didn't at first and my mom kept asking me to so I did and now she know what I'm talking about when we discuss decor or colors.

Awww, that's so sad and sweet. I planned my wedding while living abroad from my mom, but she never felt left out because she'd just insert herself into wedding projects, lol! Ask her opinions, give her little things to do like contribute to the guest list or look through your inspo pics, or whatever kinds of things she'd be interested in helping with. If you don't have a dress yet can you plan a trip home to go dress shopping with her for the first time? That was important to my mom.

I live in NC and my parents lives in TX. I'm going home to find my dress. I understand I will have to fly home 2-3x for alterations. But, I miss my parents, I have the vacation time and finances to fly home. I want to make them feel included in wedding planning. My mom is so excited about looking at dresses with me.

My mom lives in Morocco. I live in Atlanta. We're getting married in Florida. I text my mom every time we're making a decision. I call her a couple of times a week to chat about where we are.

When we toured venues, my FH took tons of pictures and we made a Dropbox folder that we shared with her so she could check them out too.

She's not going to be able to come back to the States until December. So we've got a whirlwind week planned where we're going to meet with the caterer I want to use, the florist, and do some cake tasting. We're also going to go wedding dress shopping that week.

TL;DR: technology helps a lot, but if there's any way you can plan one or two trips for her to come do specific planning steps with you that will mean a lot to her too.

I would FaceTime or Skype! That's what my MIL did with my SIL when we went to pick my dress. It was awesome! She lives in Hawaii. My mother and daughter ditched me. So my husband's family came and picked out my dress with me!

Just to add (how lucky you are that Mom wants to be involved). When we went to get the bridesmaids dresses my mom and daughter were there but they were more worried about finding a dress for my daughters prom multiple months away!

I think your mom would love to be involved at least by video! My SIL was!

Thank you guys so much!! I will take everything you said into consideration