• If not for her, you wouldn't have your groom so give her thanks.grand parents at home image by Daria Miroshnikova from Fotolia.com
  
  Whether the mother of the groom planned and paid for half your reception or did little more than lick a few stamps, it's a kind gesture to give her some sort of gift. The gift should come from both her son and her new daughter-in-law as a gesture that you're all family now. Give her a gift during the rehearsal dinner or find a quiet moment alone with her.
  
  

Jewelry

• If you're giving her a gift before the wedding like at the rehearsal dinner, choose a piece of jewelry that she can add to her wedding ensemble if she wishes. She may already have chosen a special necklace or pair of earrings that she wants to wear, so choose a brooch that she can pin to her dress. Try to find out what she's planning to wear in advance so you can make sure it will work with her dress. If you're giving her a gift after the wedding, jewelry is still appropriate. Just choose something that suits her taste, such as a necklace made with beads in her favorite color.
  
  

Framed Invitation

• Have a copy of the wedding invitation professionally matted and framed to give to her. You can also write a note of thanks and appreciation for her and have it matted just under the invitation, or you can have a small silver plate added to the frame and engrave it with a simple message. Another option is to buy a double frame that has spots for two photos. Put the invitation in one frame and a photo of the groom and his mother in the other.
  
  

Spa Day

• If she has been very involved in planning for the big day, she's bound to need a relaxing break. Give her a gift certificate to a local spa so she can treat herself to a day of massages and manicures after the wedding is over. The bride may want to buy a certificate for herself too and offer to accompany her new mother-in-law to the spa when she gets home from the honeymoon so they can spend a day bonding.
  
  

Book

• Buy her a book about motherhood. Look for a book of quotations and sayings or a book of short stories about mothers. You might also choose a novel about good mothers, such as "Little Women" or another book that you loved as a child. Write a personal message on the inside cover. Tell her why this book makes you think of her and how much you appreciate her presence in your life and her help in getting ready for the wedding.