Style Tips for the Beautiful Mothers of the Bride and Groom

Mothers of the Bride and Mothers of the Groom really have the most difficult fashion decisions to make out of the entire wedding party. Brides generally know what colour they’re wearing (although non-traditional dresses are also amazing!); grooms often choose some variation of a suit or tux, as do fathers; bridesmaids and groomsmen are told what to wear– so what about the moms?!

There are endless outfit possibilities for mothers, but when you factor in the added tasks of looking nice, not upstaging the bride, and still being age appropriate, it’s a tough one to navigate!

With Mother’s Day approaching, we want to focus on the beauty of mothers and show them ways to look stunning and still feel comfortable during what is an exciting and joy-filled day.

Fashion Tips for the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom

1. A wedding is a celebration, dress like it!

I know that it is tempting to wear an office style suit and slip into the background, but resist that urge. There’s no business going on today, so put on your party dress and have a great time.

2. Have a shoulder cover-up ready.

If you have great arms and shoulders, don’t feel like you need to hide them, but anticipate that the night may cool off and you’ll want something that works with your ensemble. Even though a short structured jacket will look nice, consider comfort and opt for a bolero that will allow for a little more movement. You’ll want to get your groove on, after all!

3. Be mindful of the time of day.

Long dresses are really only appropriate if the majority of your celebrating will occur in the evening or indoors. If your son or daughter is having an outdoor summer wedding in the afternoon, rethink that floor-length ball gown. You may stand out as overdressed and will roast in the sun. Choose something a little shorter or more flowing.

4. Worry less about being age appropriate and more about being figure appropriate.

Yes, mothers-of-the-bride and mothers-of-the-groom need to acknowledge that they shouldn’t wear the same dress as their twenty-year-old niece, but they also shouldn’t feel like they need to look frumpy and shapeless. Pay attention to which neckline and silhouette flatter your figure best (keeping in mind that a low-cut or mini dress is never acceptable for a bride or groom’s mother to wear). Ask for a professional’s help in identifying which styles work best with your shape.

5. Have your dress altered – no matter what.

Buying off the rack is completely fine, but please take the dress to a tailor (Parkers is always a good choice!) and make sure that it fits you like a glove. You will look at photos later and thank us when you see that your waist is clearly defined and your skirt length isn’t cutting your legs off at an awkward place.

6. Choose a colour that is right for you.

Long gone are the days where you need to match with the wedding colours, which leaves you with the perfect opportunity to wear your best colour. If your favourite happens to be the same as the bridesmaids’ dresses, make sure that the tone or fabric isn’t exactly the same.

7. Get your dress cleaned after the big day!

We realize that as dry cleaners we’re always going to suggest having your wedding attire dry cleaned, but it’s for your own good! A wedding is the kind of place where you accidentally drip white wine on your lap during speeches and where you dance the night away because your favourite songs are playing. Forgetting to dry clean your outfit will make these little marks worse and will allow invisible stains to appear over time. Many mother-of-the-bride or mother-of-the-groom dresses can be styled more casually and you can wear them again, so make sure they are clean!

If you’re exhausted and need some down time, give us a call. We’ll come and pickup your dress for free!

Here are some stunning examples of Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom styles:

Rickie Freeman for Teri Jon

Collection 20 and David’s Bridal

Rickie Freeman for Teri Jon and Collection 20