[Freddy]

Happy Thanksgiving!

My son has just become engaged. I understand that it is my duty as mother of the groom to contact the bride's family, offer congratulations and extend an invitation to get together for drinks or dinner. I would like some advice as to properly handle this given the particulars to our situations. My son's father and I are divorced. We live in different states (not within reasonable driving distance). Further, neither of us live in the same state as the bride or bride's family. We do know the bride's family, as we used to live in the same state.

What do you suggest as an appropriate way of extending ourselves to the bride's family?

Thanks.

[Etiquette Now]

Dear Freddy,

Yes, it is traditional for you, as mother of the groom, to reach out to them. However, due to the way people live today--couples live together before marriage, wait until their older to marry...etc--these traditions are not nearly as important as they once were. It is a nice gesture though. So, you could simply call the bride's parents to express your joy and mention that you'd love to "get together" when they are in town.

Best wishes,