What should the mother-of-the-bride (or groom) wear?

As we continue to celebrate mothers everywhere, now is a great time to post a little refresher on a popular mother-related wedding fashion question: what should the mother-of-the-bride (or groom) wear? The reason that this is such a frequently asked question is that it requires some balance. Mothers are a big part of a wedding and definitely should look more important than a guest, but obviously don’t want to head into the dangerous territory of upstaging the bride (which isn’t easy – so don’t stress about that one too much).

Unfortunately, this concern about appropriate attire has lead us to a place where mothers feel like the safest thing to do is look, well, boring and this certainly doesn’t represent the incredible importance of a mother!

So, in honour of Mother’s Day on Sunday, we’re determined to solve this problem once and for all so that you can head into prime wedding season feeling confident in your wedding attire. To us, the outfit of a mother-of-the-bride or groom is a visual representation of the beautiful role a mother can play on a wedding day. She has the great pleasure of supporting her child and celebrating with him or her on this exciting day, so when choosing an outfit, ask yourself this question:

Is this outfit conducive to supporting and celebrating my child?

For anyone needing a few concrete examples, here is how we would apply this rule:

• A super tight and constrictive dress would likely hinder the celebrations because you’re uncomfortable and can’t kick it on the dance floor.
• A flowing gown you feel great in would keep you cutting a rug all night.
• A floor length black gown worn to a summer wedding might feel a little unsupportive of the wedding.
• A floral, yet formal, summer dress mirrors your excitement about the day.
• A hot pink mini dress with a plunging neckline will definitely attract a lot of attention, which is probably not all that supportive.
• A soft pink dress with vintage lace details might be a lovely complement to a wedding with vintage touches.

It’s as simple as that! Outfits that allow you to support and celebrate are ones you feel comfortable in, don’t restrict the day’s celebrations, and show off your personality without pulling all of the attention away from the bride or groom.

Here are a couple of pieces of inspiration to help as you decide what to wear. Also, Happy Mother’s Day!!

If you’re helping plan your child’s wedding, make sure to remember to schedule your post-wedding dry cleaning pick up with Parkers Custom Clothing Care! Pick up and delivery comes at no extra charge, so you can kick back and relax knowing that your wedding attire is being taken care of.