It’s time to plan for the big day … what will you wear? – as the mother of the bride or mother of the groom?
Because this special day only comes around once – assumedly – you need to know how to navigate the preparation process! Of course, in preparing for a wedding, there are key players like the bride, the bridesmaids, the maid of honor, the groom, the groomsmen, when it comes to the formal attire.
But what about the mothers? Mothers should feel just as beautiful as their daughter walking down the aisle or groom standing at the altar – yes, grooms can feel beautiful too. Heck, the excitement of putting on the dress that makes you feel like a beautiful, empowered woman is half the fun of weddings! We love an excuse to dress up.
So – if you are the mother of the bride or mother of the groom, don’t neglect your dress! Start window shopping or browsing through Pinterest or Instagram as soon as possible to get an idea of what kind of dress that suits your style.
A couple of things to keep in mind while browsing:
Color!
The wedding will have a predetermined theme or color scheme. Be sure to find a color that does not clash.
Stylistic choice!
As mothers of the bride or groom, you will want to respect your sons’ or daughters’ vision of what they want the wedding to look like, and how they see you fit in. The spectrum will vary here, but carefully balance your taste with theirs.
Suiting your body!
It’s important to note that models do not always accurately represent the mother population, when finding ideas on Pinterest or Instagram. It’s important to take into account what your body type is in order to figure out what works best for you.
| Body Type
Reference image above* |
Features to Highlight/What to look for | A dress that would suit your body type! |
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Waistline
Look for flared or mermaid dresses! |
Short Length:
Aidan Mattox Off the Shoulder Mermaid Dress Saboroma Cold Shoulder Cocktail Dress Long gown: |
 |
Arms, legs
Look for asymmetrical designs, patterns, or off the shoulder dresses! |
Short length:
Teri Jon Cap Sleeve Metallic Lace Applique Dress Long gown: |
 |
Arms, legs
Look for asymmetrical design, patterns, or off the shoulder dresses! |
Short length:
Tadashi One Shoulder Neoprene Dress Daymor V-Neck Ruffle Cocktail Dress Long gown: |
 |
Waistline
Look for boat necks, A-line, or strapless dresses! |
Short length:
Park 108 3D Floral Tulle Cocktail Dress Tadashi Shoji Off-the-Shoulder Lace Dress Long gown: |
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Arms, legs or waistline
You can be flexible here! |
Short length:
Tadashi Willor Pintuck Jersey Dress Alexander by Daymor Crystal Beaded Cocktail Dress Long gown: |
No one tells you the process behind finding the right dress for your child’s wedding! This is simply meant to guide you.
Three main things that people don’t tell you – remember the color and theme of the wedding, balance your own taste with your son or daughter’s taste to respect their vision, and suit your body type to your comfortability.
Once you’ve gathered some background and a general idea of what kind of dress you’re looking for, start shopping!