Your children's weddings are high points in your life.
What you may not know is all the wonderful things to look for that will make your baby's wedding an even sweeter occasion than you might have dreamed.
Weddings can be fraught with conflicting emotions.
Your baby is now a grown up and deliberately creating a new life for him or herself.
There may have been dust-ups with the children (and your almost in-laws) about how money is spent and how much of it you will have contributed.
Your very grown up child, under all the stress of wedding plans, may have reverted to behavior you haven't seen since he or she was 10.
And then of course there's the incredible excitement and pride and the wonder that this day has really arrived.
So lots of parents arrive at the wedding almost as worried and tired as the bride and groom.
But here are some great things that often happen at weddings that you may not expect but you'll do well to make heartroom for.

1. Your son or daughter will be so handsome/beautiful.
   Don't like the dress or the tux? Look at that shining face and know how incredibly happy your child is.
   
2. Your family is gathered for a joyful occasion.
   Cousins have the opportunity to become (re)acquainted.
   All the generations are accounted for, even those whose presence is simply spiritual.
   However odd or eccentric family members are, they're you're family members and you know how to be around them.
   
3. There are often friends invited from your children's growing up years.
   They know the hardships and the triumphs that preceded this day.
   These are people with whom you've shared picnics and martinis and holidays.
   You may not have seen them for a long time, but they're here to celebrate the occasion and your friendship.
   
4. You learn a lot about your grown-up child by the wonderful friends this couple has gathered around them.
   You have the chance to look into their life a little and that's so much fun.
   
5. Bosses and co-workers may be there and they'll be happy to tell you how valued and competent your child is at work.
   
6. People, from the new in-laws, to the clergy, to friends, will be eager to tell you how wonderful your child is and what a great parent you are.
   Who doesn't want to hear that?
7. You'll get to watch your darling child make life-long promises to the partner of their dreams.
   If you're married, you and your partner will relive what it meant to exchange your wedding vows.
   If you're not, it may be bittersweet to remember making promises with your child's other parent.
   But it's still thrilling.
   
8. Relaxed and hanging with old and dear friends, you're going to have a great time.
   Not just at the wedding, but at the rehearsal dinner and at the meals and events that surround the wedding.
   

And on top of that your baby will be married and you'll have a great new kid and his or her family to add to the mix that is yours.
Enjoy your child's wedding.
It's going to make you a much better support to their marriage and allow you to reflect on your successful parenting!