Are you a bride planning your wedding and wondering what your wedding party and family should wear on your big day? Perhaps you have found your dream wedding dress and now you are ready to focus on the fashion for your loved ones. While the bride and groom are certainly the shining stars on wedding day, what their family and loved ones wear will be important as well. Think about who may be walking you down the aisle and who will be in family portraits - you want everyone to be looking their best.
While we typically focus our advice and tips on helping brides find their dream wedding dress, today we are talking all about the moms! That’s right, we are sharing out top 10 tips for finding a dream dress for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom. When helping our brides shop for their wedding dress, we are often asked by the bride or by the mom’s in attendance for tips on finding a flattering mother of the bride or groom dress. Let’s dive in to the best tips for moms and mother figures shopping for what to wear on wedding day.
Video: Discover The Secret To Finding Your Dream Mother of The Bride/Groom Dress
If you are a bride helping their mother or even their future mother-in-law shop for a dress to wear to your wedding, or are perhaps a mother of a bride or groom who is wondering how to shop for a dress to wear to their child's wedding, you won't want to miss our expert styling tips. Tune in to our advice video where you will discover the secret to finding your dream mother of the bride or groom dress.
Under Pressure
The mother of the bride or groom dress can be a challenge because moms obviously want to be dressed appropriately for their age, but they also don't want to look too old or too young. There is a balancing act of feeling confident in their body and wearing something that is timeless and going to photograph well. As we have discussed bridal insecurities in the past, the same is true for the mothers of the bride and groom who will also receive a lot of attention and eyes on wedding day.
If you have had to shop for a formal dress to wear to an event recently, whether it be a gala or a friend’s wedding, it can be hard to know where to even start shopping. How do you find a store that fits your style and the look you are going for? There can be a lot of stress and anxiety surrounding shopping for a formal event and that is ramped up even more when it is your son or daughter’s wedding. Our tips will help relieve some of that pressure and allow you to be proactive in your dress shopping.
Start Early
The first tip when shopping for a mother of the bride or groom dress is to start early. Do not procrastinate your shopping because it is going to take time. If you wait and have to shop aggressively because you are on a deadline, you are not likely to find something you like. Start early so you can take your time and be more casual, with less pressure. Try on a variety of styles to see what you like and what you don't like.
In addition to allowing you time to shop around and find a style you like, shopping early also allows time for alterations. If you find a gown you love that needs tailoring, you want to have time to make the dress perfect. Or perhaps you want to special order a gown for this occasion. At Lovella, we have a variety of our wedding dresses that can actually be ordered in evening gown colors for mothers or maid of honors. These dresses are similar to ordering a bridal gown and will take about 6 months order so you want to leave enough time for alterations after the dress arrives.
Wedding Formality
The next tip when shopping for a mother of the bride or groom dress is to consider the formality of the wedding. Is the wedding formal or informal? Is there a cocktail attire dress code or black tie? Discuss with the bride and groom to be about their plans and expectations. Don’t just go out shopping and buy whatever without consulting with the couple.
Some couples may have a color scheme in mind for their families to wear or a certain look in mind. You have to think about the family photos that will be taken on wedding day. You want cohesion in these group photos. Avoid being overdresses or completely underdressed by checking in with the couple before you go shopping. Having a quick conversation about the style of the wedding will also help you in your shopping. Should you be looking for a full length formal gown or a shorter dress that is more casual? Once you know the basic theme and style, it will help narrow down your shopping.
Harmony
The third tip for moms shopping for a dress to wear to their child’s wedding is to create harmony between the moms. After discussing with the couple, be sure to check in with the other mom or moms participating in the wedding so there will be cohesion. You certainly don’t want to show up in the same dress, but you also don’t want to completely clash. You don’t have to shop and pick out dresses together, but you can send photos of what you are thinking of wearing and it might even be a great bonding moment for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom.
Different Styles
The next tip for finding an ideal mother of the bride or groom dress is one that we also tell all of our brides shopping for their dream wedding dress. It is so important to try on different styles of dresses so you can identify what makes you feel confident and beautiful. Trying a variety of silhouettes can help you figure out what feels most flattering for your body. You won’t know what a particular dress looks like until you try it on. Gowns look so different on a hanger because they are designed to be on a body. And remember that when you feel confident in what you are wearing, it will show in the way you carry yourself and that will radiate even more beauty.
It’s also helpful to shop or try on dresses on a day that you are feeling good about yourself. Maybe you just got your hair done or you’ve done special makeup for going out later. If you are already feeling good, you will give the dresses a better chance and get a true picture of what you like or don't like.
Color
Tip number five is to think about color. What color dress should you be looking for? This is something that should be discussed with the couple and also with the other moms. Is there a certain color the couple wants their family to be wearing? Is there a color that is completely off limits? Some people might think wearing black to a wedding is taboo and others might want a formal wedding party and family members in black.
Also be sure to communicate if a certain color palette has been given to you that is just not working for you. If you were told to wear a certain color and it is just not flattering on you as you’ve been trying on dresses in that shade or it’s not photographing well, be sure to give this feedback to your son or daughter and see if there is another complimentary color that could work with their color scheme and also allow you to feel better in your attire and still flow with the overall look.
Embrace Your Style
Tip number six is to embrace your own style and confidence. You might be very fashion forward or more traditional, but no matter your style, you want to stay true to that when shopping for a mother of the bride or groom outfit. It’s important to put thought into what you will be wearing because you will be photographed a lot on the wedding day and the photos are what will live on forever. You want to choose something that truly feels like you but will also stay classic and timeless for generations to come.
Staying true to your style will also help you feel beautiful and confident in what you ultimately decide to wear.
Seasonality
The next tip for finding a mother of the bride or groom outfit is to consider the wedding venue and the season of the wedding. While you don’t have to perfectly match the venue, you do want to be cohesive to the style of the venue and the season. Depending on the season of the wedding, that may effect the color palette you should be shopping or even the style of the gown. If you are shopping for a wedding in a location where climate is not that big of a factor, such as our year round warmth in Southern California, you might not need to think as much of this tip. But if your child is getting married in a cooler climate, you don’t want to show up in a dress that is more suited to a beach wedding.
If you try to too closely match the theme of the venue or location, it can feel overdone and forced. And you might not be fully comfortable in what you are wearing if you think of the theme more than your style. But these are good things to factor in for your accessorizing in particular. If you are headed to a winter wedding, you might opt for a shrug or detachable jacket of some kind.
Accessories
Speaking of accessorizing your mother of the bride or groom dress, our next tip is all about accessories. Some moms might find it easier to opt for a simple dress and then accessorize to glam it up. If it’s a more formal wedding, you could choose a very clean and elegant gown and then do a
statement earring or necklace for a sophisticated look.
Your shoes and handbag are also great details to help express your style and elevate your look. So if a bedazzled dress is not your style, consider an elegant plain dress and then elevate it with stylish jewelry and accessories.
On the note of shoes, be sure to choose a pair that is comfortable all day. Bring a backup pair to the wedding venue because it is a long day and you want to be as comfortable as possible.
Stay Calm
The final tip for our moms of the bride and groom is to stay calm and do your best to enjoy the process. We know that this can feel overwhelming and stressful, but it is a very exciting time as well. Start your shopping early to avoid any last minute scrambling and stress. Give yourself time to enjoy the process and try not to overthink it. It’s so easy to get caught up in analysis paralysis so give yourself the time and space to shop and consider options so you can find the best attire for you.
More Helpful Wedding Fashion Advice
We hope you have found this advice helpful when it comes to knowing what mother's should wear for a wedding day and how to start shopping for their outfits. For even more helpful advice when it comes to shopping for your dream wedding dress and finding your bridal style, be sure to check out our past posts:
- As Seen On The Knot: Mother Of The Groom (& Bride!) Dress Advice
- Who Should You Bring Wedding Dress Shopping?
- How To Overcome The Most Common Bridal Insecurities
About Lovella
If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!
About Wedding Fashion Expert
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
