Mother of the Bride & Groom Dresses (2024)

If you are the mother of the bride or groom, then you can be sure that a lot of attention will be on you and your family. After all, this is your child’s wedding! Thus, it is important to really consider the kind of dress you invest in for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Choosing the Right Mother of the Bride or Groom Dress

If you start your hunt for dresses early on, you can then be sure to choose the best possible frock for the occasion. After all, you want to feel as beautiful as you look! The following are some things to consider when selecting between dresses.

Consider the Theme of the Wedding

Before you even look at mother of the bride or groom dresses, you need to think about the theme or tone of the wedding. After all, you want to wear something you will be comfortable in and something that fits the feel of the wedding. Thus, if a wedding is going to be held on the beach, you might want to wear something loose and airy, and if you are attending a formal Catholic ceremony in winter, you may want to wear a dress that is made of thicker material. The theme or type of wedding you are attending will affect the fabrics and design of any dress you wear. Thus, it is important to talk to the bride to ask about what the wedding will be like.

The Perfect Dress for Your Shape

The next thing you need to consider when shopping around for dresses is the shape of the dress. No two dresses will look the same on two women, and this is because different dresses accentuate different areas of a person's body. Thus, it definitely pays to consider which areas of your body you want to highlight and which you would like to hide or cover up. If you like your legs, you may want to go with an above-the-knee or just-below-the-knee dress. If you like your arms, you may want to go with a sleeveless dress so that you can draw attention to your arms. The shape of your dress can hide everything from a small bust to large hips. Thus, it is important to try on potential dresses so that you can be sure that it highlights your strengths and hides your perceived flaws.

Coordinate with the Wedding Colors

Of course, if you are the mother of the bride or groom, you want to wear a dress that will get you some positive attention and will fit with the color scheme of the event and with your personal coloring. Thus, think about which colors will be used for the decorations and try to choose colors that complement or work well with the décor. If the bride has chosen a bright green theme for the wedding, you might want to steer away from especially bright pink dresses or from red colors (i.e. you don't want to remind folks of Christmas tree).

Always Avoid White

Also, when it comes to a wedding, you want to be sure that you do not steal the bride's thunder. Thus, you should not wear white when you are the mother of the bride or even something like ivory. Instead, go with a color that suits your skin tone. If you have pale skin and hair, you may want to go with pastels, and if you have dark skin, you may want to go with a deep purple or red color. Talk to your daughter if you are curious about which colors she thinkswill look best on you and which will go on or clash with the wedding's color scheme.

Choose the Perfect Neckline

The neckline of a dress is also important. Since this is a wedding, you want to be conscious of the fact that this is a family affair. You can show a bit of cleavage, but too much can seem a bit inappropriate. Think about whether or not you want to go with a high-neck sort of neckline or if you want to go with something heart- or square-shaped. The neckline of the dress will affect everything from the shape of the dress to which areas of your body are highlighted.

Consider The Straps of Your Dress

Always think about the kinds of sleeves and straps you will have on your dress. You can go with everything from a sleeveless dress to one that is even strapless to a long-sleeved or short-sleeved dress. The straps and sleeves you choose for your dress will affect the neckline and shape of your dress. Thus, again, it pays to think about how much skin you want to show and what is most flattering to your body.

Selecting the Right Length

Lastly, you want to consider the length of your dress. A general rule for a wedding is that anything too long or too short is a no-go. Anything too short could seem inappropriate and anything too long could make it difficult to do everything from dance during the wedding to walking down the aisle to your seat. Think about whether or not you will wear heels or flats for this event, as this will definitely affect the length of your mother of the bride dress.

Mother of the Bride & Groom Dresses (2024)

FAQs

What do mothers of the bride and groom wear to the wedding? ›

While mother-of-the-bride dresses are similar to mother-of-the-groom dresses, the moms don't need to match. Both are encouraged to wear outfits that represent their personal style. If the couple does prefer to have the moms wear complementary outfits, try to find colors or silhouettes that look great together.

What color is the groom's mother supposed to wear for a wedding? ›

The Best Colors for Mothers of the Groom to Consider

In general, jewel tones and earthy hues, like emerald green and burgundy, work well, in addition to universally flattering colors like black and navy. Valiente also adds, "Wear a flattering color that compliments the color palette of the wedding."

Are mother of the bride and groom dresses supposed to match? ›

Unless the bride asks both Mothers to wear the same color, make sure you avoid wearing the same color on the occasion. The mother of the bride and the mother of the groom's outfits must complement each other, especially for photos. Another thing that you need to remember is the formality of the dress.

What color is the mother of the bride supposed to wear? ›

Typically the Mother of the Bride's dress should complement the bridal party's color palette. Not necessarily match with the bridesmaids, but choose a color in the color family. The most popular color for the mother of the bride to wear is navy or a royal blue, followed by blush or a shade of nude.

What color dress should the mother of the groom not wear? ›

What shouldn't the mother of the groom wear? Avoid any shade of white, off-white, cream, beige, etc. Anything in the world of white, just avoid it. Some people also say to avoid black unless it's a formal wedding; however, that isn't a hard and fast rule.

What color should the mother of the groom not wear? ›

Traditionally, the mother of the groom should avoid wearing white, black, or the same colour as the bridal party. However, modern weddings are more flexible, and it's always best to discuss preferences with the couple.

Is it okay if mother of the bride and mother of the groom wear same color? ›

Because the mother of the groom isn't part of the bridal party, she should avoid choosing a dress in the same color as the bridesmaids' attire, the mother of the bride's dress, or the wedding gown.

What does the mother of the groom pay for? ›

The groom's family traditionally paid for all costs associated with the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon, wedding day transportation, and the officiant. The groom paid for the bride's engagement ring, wedding ring, and groomsmen gifts. It is also common for the groom's family to pay for the alcohol at the reception.

Who walks the mother of the bride to her seat? ›

The mother of the bride is traditionally escorted by her son if she has one. Otherwise, any close male relative, the best man, or a groomsman walks with the mother of the bride during the procession.

Does the mother of the bride carry a purse down the aisle? ›

The mother of the bride can wear a handbag or opt out of it, the choice is her own!

Is it OK for the mother of the bride to wear the same color as the bridesmaids? ›

A: The Mother of the Bride is special. She needs to stand out a bit from the bridesmaids, so her dress should complement rather than match the bridesmaid's dresses. For example, the MOB could wear a dress in a similar color to the bridesmaids but in a deeper shade.

Do the brides mom and grooms mom wear the same color? ›

Traditionally, the mother of the bride has been the first to choose her dress. The color of the mother of the groom's dress should complement, but not match it. This is easier than it sounds because no two hues are exactly alike. To augment the distinction, you can choose different accessories.

What should I wear to my daughter's wedding? ›

It really depends on the style of the wedding, the location, and the overall theme or feel of the event. If the wedding is more formal, the mother of the bride might opt for a more traditional dress or suit. If the wedding is more relaxed, she might choose something more comfortable and casual.

Do the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom have to wear the same length dress? ›

Can the mother of the groom wear a short dress if the mother of the bride wears long? In short, yes. If the mother of the bride decides to wear long, this doesn't mean you have to. Especially if you're not comfortable in a full-length dress or outfit.

What should the mother of the bride not wear to the wedding? ›

There are certain colours that the mother of the bride should not wear. Unless otherwise instructed, is to never wear white or any colour close to what the bride has chosen to wear. Other standard colours to avoid include ivory, white and champagne. Another colour to avoid is black.

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