Give your wedding guests a helping hand when it comes to finding all the places they may need for your event. From the engagement party to the reception and everything in between, you’ll want everyone to get where they need to go in a timely manner.

You could include a map and instructions in your invitation. You could include a link to your wedding website and post directions there. You could send a mass email with map & instructions attached. Where and how you keep your guests informed is really your preference for your event and style - as long as you get the word out.

If you aren’t sure of all the twists and turns from site to site or don’t want to post each set of directions, you can also refer your quests to Dial Directions (it’s a free service!). They can even call on their cell phones as they are driving.

You might also choose to use a company like Distinctive Directions who provide specially created wedding maps.

Looking for more help? Hitweddings.com has a good article to help your out of town guests and Weddingsday.co.uk has a wonderful in-depth article that covers a lot of questions on this topic from dates & times to venues.

Of course, those of us who are directionally challenged (points to self) even need help when we have GPS units!

My Wedding Hero welcomes a guest writer today, event planner, Shafonne Myers, President of Making Your Event Special in Richmond, VA. Making Your Event Special is described as “a company to consider as your professional solution to common wedding day anticipations and the some times overwhelming concerns that often arise in planning weddings or other special events.”

Shafonne has some great pointers for choosing the right dress style for your body type. Here’s an excerpt from her blog:

There are so many types and styles of dresses: A-Line, Mermaid or Empire to name a few. You have to find out which one is best for you and your body type. You want a dress that is going to complement you. A dress that looks good on one girl may not look good on another.

Once you figure out your body style you will then be able to decide on a style of dress that will define your figure.

A little rule of thumb: Pear shaped figures are enhanced by A-Line dresses to take away the wider hips. Hourglass figures are enhanced by two piece or corsets. Both of these type of dresses will draw attention to the waist. Taller figures have an advantage because they are able to wear just about any type of dress but the empire waist dresses. Since they are taller the empire waist dresses tend not to fall on them correctly and will look like maternity dresses.

If you’d like to read more, head over to Shafonne’s site and blog and catch up on the previous posts in her wedding planning series.

Thanks Shafonne & Making Your Event Special for the great pointers!

As far as the mother of the groom goes, the old saying is “Show up. Shut up. Wear beige.” That was it. Nothing like getting to the point, eh?

If you’re wondering what her responsibilities might really include (along with those of the father of the groom), here are a few:

• Plan and host the rehearsal dinner
• Pay for their own clothes and transportation
• A wedding gift

You can find out more about the role of the mother of the groom at Wisegeek.com and Ourmarriage.com.

Some moms, however, are speaking out and taking more involved roles depending on their relationship with the bride. While others are speaking up about feeling left out. For more views, read USAToday.com’s Mother of the Groom article and one mom at Allexperts.com feels left out and wants advice.

One closing thought for the bride and mother of the groom: you’re laying the foundation for the rest of your relationship. Build it with love for the groom and respect for each others place in his life.

How involved do you think the Mother of the Groom should be? Post about it.