Okay, the bride is the center of attention on the wedding day, but as her mother, you still want to do her proud and look great! Finding the perfect dress for the mother of the bride can sometimes feel even trickier than finding a gorgeous bridal gown, but if you keep a few things in mind, you will find something that makes you look and feel fantastic.
Most mothers of the bride cringe at the thought of wearing a traditional mother of the bride dress. “They are so matronly!”, they cry, or, “I hate bugle beads and I look terrible in powder blue!”. Never fear, ladies, just as wedding gowns have become more streamlined and fashion-forward over the last decade or so, the mother of the bride dresses have also become updated. Although you will still find plenty of frumpy, spangly outfits marketed for brides’ mothers, you will also find dresses that are chic and flattering, in styles that you will be delighted to wear.
Now that you have (hopefully) gotten over your initial trepidation, it is time to start shopping! The first step is to ask the bride for her input. The mother of the bride’s dress should match the formality and general flavor of what the bride and bridesmaids will be wearing. Notice I said general flavor, not the exact same color. Your dress should definitely not be the same color as the bride’s (stay far away from white, ivory, and black), and it need not match the color of the bridesmaid dresses either. Do keep in mind, however, that you will be having many photos taken with the entire bridal party, so it would be a good idea to avoid a color that truly clashes with the color the bride has chosen for her attendants. You should also aim for a similar length dress as the bridesmaids will be wearing. If they are in floor length dresses, then your dress should also be full length. When the bridesmaids are wearing knee length dresses, the mother of the bride could go a little longer if it makes her more comfortable; tea length would be a good compromise.
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