Christian Womens Blog

Christian Womens Blog by Laurie Cole of Priority Ministries

Laurie Cole

Author, Speaker, Teacher

Pre-Wedding Day Tour at The Cole House

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Exciting news! We’re planning a wedding at the Cole House!! On May 31, our youngest son, J.J. will marry Rachael Ratz — the wonderful, beautiful answer to our prayers. And since they’ve decided to tie the knot right here at our house, we’ve got LOTS of work going on around here. That’s why today . . .

I’m taking the day off from teaching on my porch to take YOU on a pre-wedding day tour around my house AND to ask for your very best mother-of-the-groom/bride/wedding hostess advice. Help me out, glo girls! With only 36 days until the wedding, I really need your wisdom and encouragement.  So click play, join me for the tour, and be sure to share your #1 piece of advice. Thanks! See you on the porch AND on the tour!

Your sister,

LaurieSigWhat’s your #1 piece of mother-of-the-groom/bride or wedding hostess advice? Thanks for sharing!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. wow, it took a year to plan my daughters wedding. She had hers November of 2012 at Butler’s Courtyard and guess who married them, Roy Guel. It was a perfect wedding. Her 2 year old son, one and only, Justin Douglas Whitehouse ran up to the alter with the rings, on his queue!!! I love the traditional weddings, and wedding march. Look for the perfect dress ASAP. That was so important to me. God Bless and good luck, it will all work out great.

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  2. Laurie, oh my goodness! I have no advice because I haven’t been in your shoes yet. Your place is lovely and it was so fun to take a tour this morning. But 36 days?!?! I am going to be praying for you! I know it is going to be lovely. Blessings to you sweet friend! I remember when JJ was just a little boy… I’m sooo happy for you and Bill and your family!!

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    • No, there’s a groom getting married there, too. Both people should be considered. Today we need more brides and grooms who plan for the marriage, not just the wedding. I hope you son and daughter in law to be have a wonderful day and a long and happy marriage. Tell them to hire a good photographer and videographer. When the day is a blur, it will be nice to go over all the little details and live it again more slowly.

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    • Laurie,
      Because I had one of the best Mother-In -Laws anyone would ever want to have, here is what my advice would be for you. Truly love her, make her your friend, never give her advice unless she ask, speak highly of your son….but listen if she wants to talk about her marriage….but never take sides. Praise her cooking and her decorating style and eventually her ability as a mother. Never try to tell her how to parent (if she ask,you can share some advice…but only if she ask.) Never be in competition with her for your sons affection. Remember her on all occasions, buy her special little “just because” gifts.
      My DIL is a special friend of mine because I followed what my MIL taught me by her example. Congratulations

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  4. Praise God! What a blessed event and a beautiful memory everyone will have because of where the wedding will take place! My advice—ENJOY, for this is the Lord’s doing and we are glad!

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  5. Well, Laurie, I am THRILLED to hear this wonderful news. The place looks great! I will be praying for you and your sweet family. Praise God, great things He has done and will continue to do in the life of your J.J. and his precious bride-to-be.

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  6. My kids aren’t even 2 yet, so I’m not to the wedding stage yet :P, but I have been a bride, and I’m ALWAYS hosting parties and things at my house. The biggest thing that has blessed me in enjoying things and not being stressed is knowing that the biggest thing I can do as a hostess is be peaceful. Things will go wrong, things won’t always end up where they should, things may run out, but that’s okay! Enjoy the blessings that are there, enjoy the beautiful home you have, enjoy the lovely people around you, and if you’re enjoying yourself, everyone around you will enjoy themselves too. 🙂

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  7. Congratlations JJ and Rachael!!!!!! Love is wonderful!!!!!!
    Plenty of Food, Pictures Pictures Pictures
    Love Melinda

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  8. Laurie,
    Congratulations to you all! What an exciting time it is…

    My advice as the “Mother of the Bride” three times over is this:

    Enjoy this moment in time! It will only happen once.
    In order to do that, you shouldn’t try to do everything. Believe me, on the day of the wedding, you want to enjoy being the Mother of the Groom, not the Caterer, not the Decorator, not the Maid or the Hostess, etc.
    Let others do that for you, either through a company that specializes in doing that or friends/volunteers.

    Lastly, video tape the wedding. It goes by so quickly! A video will be a treasured gift for many years to come.
    My prayers will be with the Cole family!

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  9. God will give you the strength to do the “details” that will keep you busy and somewhat stressed. My one piece of advice is to breathe and enjoy this time. You’re creating a special memory for your son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. It will be a special memory for you, too, since it is right there at your home. Try to relax a bit and take it all in. It will be over before you know it.

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  10. God bless u all. Looks like u have things under control. What a beautiful marriage setting-in a garden like the first man and woman. Get it done early. Allow yourself the last week to just rest and relax and take care of only the things that may come up. Ur ministry is a blessing to so many. Have a beautiful wedding with God, family and friends. May He bless JJ and Rachael with a long happy life together.

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  11. What an exciting season at the Cole household…

    My daughter, Susan, had a wedding at her home/outside last August for our grandson. (thankfully the weather was great) and it was perfectly beautiful. I have forwarded this email to her, and I am sure she can offer some insights.
    My daughter in love is like another daughter, so I now have two girls to love.
    Your home is beautiful and we are so excited for your family. Let this be a wonderful “memory making” time as you enjoy preparing for your son’s important day.

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  12. Laurie,
    Congratulations!!! Will be praying. What an opportunity to have the wedding at The Cole’s!! Use your new wedding spiral, list, and keep it nearby. Label a page or two for each day. List grow longer the closer May 31.#1 Most important tip, each day, and all day. Start, Stop, and continue to cling to the LORD, as you all work through the daily list and chores. ENJOY THIS TIME. Pace yourself. Can’t get sick in 14 days when the crunch really tightens up. Allow family and friends to help. Guard your energy. When stress rises and you have to fly the white flag, that’s okay. Find a closet, Kleenex and stay until His peace that passes ALL understanding passes. When May 31 arrives, enjoy, and those minor desires on the list that didn’t get done, is just fine! The Lord is in control the next 35 days. So, do the best you can with this opportunity, with Him, and leave the rest in His Hands, giving Him full glory. We will be praying, holding your arms up in prayer. Standing in the gap!!! Go Girl!! PRAYING FOR EACH OF YOU!! Available if need arises.

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  13. My advice: take full advantage of friends that offer to help!!! Don’t do like I did and feel like that since I was the mother of the bride, I had to do it all! That’s why God has blessed us with friends!!! Also, if you have any loved ones that aren’t with you anymore like we had, we sit up a table with old quilts and had pictures set out of our family members and special friends that had passed away. since my daughter is a scrapbook nut, she had several of her scrapbooks on that table for everyone to enjoy. It was a very special way to honor our loved ones! Also, if you plan to have small children attending, set up a table somewhere that’s for them; go to the Dollar Tree and pick up all sorts of puzzles, crayons, coloring books, etc. and have it available for them to have something to do. Trust me – this is one of the best things we did! LOL Instead of using an expensive caterer, you can ask all those friends that want to help, to actually do the food for the reception. Make SURE you have someone to coordinate what dishes are being brought and the actual placement of the food. Put dishes at different heights to add interest! Use different plates and bowls; we did and we also used quilts on the tables to give her wedding a really country, homey effect. It worked! Journal it all, take pictures of everything and remember to BREATHE!!!!!! Have a wonderful time!!!!!!
    Debbie Lindley, Little Rock, AR

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  15. Allow your son to leave and cleave as the Bible teaches, which means we in-laws must stay out of our children’s business unless they ask, and after all the advice we’ve given to them through the years, this will be hard, but it must be done because I know from experience how the in-laws can come between a husband and wife.

    Clarlyn, Sagemont church, Houston

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  16. 2100 GRAYSON DR APT 924
    Dear Laurie,
    As the mother-of-the-bride two years ago, and planning an outdoor wedding at the groom’s parents home, make sure you have a backup plan, a plan B just in case of rain!!!!!!!
    Rita Faber

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  17. My lovely niece Laurie,

    What advice could I share with someone who’s such a role model for any woman/daughter/wife/DIL/mother/grandmother, etc, etc??

    All I could say would be to assign jobs & accept HELP! Make sure the guys have plenty to do! Don’t wear yourself out. Like the ladies have already said, get as much done as early as you can. Treat yourself to a day (or 2) at the spa &/or beauty shop! (I’m remembering the beauty shops we used to draw when we were kids!) Try to get a good night’s sleep, if that’s even possible! When the big day arrives, relax & take it all in! Have your trusted friends take care of any last minute issues or loose ends. Then you can be YOU, the wonderful, gracious woman that you are!

    Congratulations to JJ & Rachel, & best wishes for a long happy life together.

    Take lots of pictures! Don’t forget closeups of THE DRESS, & flowers!!

    Be FABULOUS!!

    I love you!
    Kristi

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  18. Congratulations!! How exciting!! I have not been a mother of the bride or groom yet, but from events I have hosted I would just say Pictures are the most important. My oldest daughter is eighteen and I have been working on a letter for my future (not that she has met Prince Charming as of yet)son in law and for my daughter on their wedding day. Letters of blessings and love for them as they enter into the most blessed adventure of marriage. Just with words of wisdom from the Bible, things I have learned how to make marriage easier, and prayers I have prayed for each of them. I think that would be a touching gift they would cherish.

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  19. Find time to have a movie night with hubby, son, and future daughter and watch “Father of the Bride”. Such a funny movie that puts weddings and relationships into perspective. The wedding will be over soon but relationships will last a lifetime. Best wishes.

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  20. Congratulations to all!!!!
    I know everything will turn out beautifully. And here’s a thing to remember. Some of the fondest memories many bride & grooms have are of the things that didn’t go “”just right””. Try as you might there may be glitches but the most important thing you all WILL have is the spirit of love surrounding you.
    Get the most important thing that both the bride & groom “”must have”” established & then work down from there.
    Color schemes, real flowers or not, groomsmen & bridesmaids, flower girls, ring bearer, bridal cake, grooms cake, invitations, matching Thank You note cards as in will guest bring the wedding gifts the day of the wedding & will there be a pre-wedding dinner with both parents & the list goes on. But today many couples are stepping outside of what has been traditional & are creating their own “new tradition”. It’s all so exciting & the “once in a lifetime” day to remember. Ladies….what am I missing? Honeymoon plans……add to to help get the list started. Love & All Gods great blessings to y’all. I’m/we’re here to give a helping hand however y’all need

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  21. This brings back so many memories of the fall of 2005 when we were getting ready to host Traci and Rich’s wedding at our home. It is a wonderful occasion, and my congratulations to you all! My advice is to make a list, and check it off one task at a time. Then take a deep breath, and make a promise to yourself to enjoy every minute of it! I told Bill that you all are welcome to borrow the tiki torches that we used at their wedding. Again, congratulation!! It’s going to be great!

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  22. First of all let me say how much I love your home and grounds!!!! I’ve never been in any wedding plans but my own but I can offer one small bit of advice. I love flowers so I would advice to start fertilizing now if you havn’t already. And be sure the fertilizer you put around a plant is beneficial for that type plant. For instance hibiscus and plumeria and gardenia all have specific needs in fertilizers so using the wrong type can actually inhibit blooming. I’m no horticulterist but I’d be happy to help if you so desire. Much love and congratulations to you and your family! This will truly be a day you all will treasure for the rest of your lives!

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    • yes, and ck. with a nursery. If you are having heat , fertilizing even flowers can burn. I would suggest wetting down all your flower beds, lawns the night before, then in the cool of the morning or cool evening put down the fertilizer. Then wait a couple days and give it a good watering.

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  23. Beautiful place for a wedding!!
    The one thing we did with our daughter (married 2 years), was document EVERYTHING!!! Pictures of them after he gave her the ring,engagement pictures, pics the day we shopped for the dress, laughing, crying- from trying on dresses to the lunch afterward,every bridesmaid trying on her dress, every shower, doing invitations, had the gal at the post office take our picture holding the hundreds of invitations,all of the work we did on a little house they leased-painting,cleaning, eating, laughing, shopping for the wedding night attire, making goofy pictures of my daughter wearing an “old lady” gown with a high neck that she texted to her soon to be husband, more laughing, pictures with the florist, caterer, salesman at the furniture store where they purchased a sofa and bedding, moving day (for him) as he got everything ready for after the wedding. I could go on and on, but the main thing is when I get lonely for my baby daughter, I pull out the pics and remember the special unforgettable time we had planning the wedding and every time I find myself in tears-like I am right now-such a blessed, sweet, precious time. Enjoy the moment. you are making memories of a lifetime!!

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  24. Wedding: we haad a young pastor getting ready to get married. he carried a white note pad and people shared with him , he would write what they had shared. I would say to the Bride and Groom remember your wedding Vows. They are a covenant between Each and God. Second I would have photos taken of the bride and groom. Pictures are memories you will never forget. So often pictures are of the bride. And yes pictures of the parents and any grandparent that is part of the family.
    Third the wedding will go so fast, you might forget what went on. Have cameras on tables and a cute not beside it for someone to share memories by taking pictures. You never know what pictures will capture their hearts as wedding guests. Pray for the bride and groom a Blessing with anointing oil a few days prior to the wedding. Have a blast. I had surgery months before my youngest daughters; the dr. goofed and I could of died. I was able to leave the hospital for the wedding, but I was not able t enjoy it like I would of , if I was not under med. I would of never been able to attend the wedding. God provided a miracle because I entered the hospital July the wk of the 4th and the wedding was in Aug. The dr. said I would not be leaving the hospital for some time and would probably not be able to go to the wedding. But God knew my heart and I was able to come home and see my daughter walk down the aisle. May God richly bless this couple as their wedding soon arrives May 31.

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  25. Congratulations, Cole family. I have never been the mother of the bride or groom. I am sure everything will be fine. Thank you for a lovely tour of your home.

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