When Elizabeth Chittenden was a little girl, she and her four older siblings would lie on the bed amidst a pile of jewelry, listening intently as their mother told stories about sentimental pieces passed down from generation to generation.

When discussing this month’s column, Carla and I talked about what we would do differently if we were getting married today. We’re happy to report that aside from a few minor things, neither of us would change anything about our weddings.

Before I could peel off my Spanx as a first-time mother of the groom (MOG), whose traditional duties I’d heard were to shut up, sit down and wait for decrees from the bride and her mother, I became the punch line to cheap shots. I’m now someone’s mother-in-law, or MIL (adding an “F” would inspire more enthusiasm).