Finding the right dress for the bride is a big deal… But don’t sell yourself short. For the mother of the bride or groom, finding your dress is a big deal, too! You’ll be having your photo taken in your dress quite a bit, and you’ll want to cherish and possibly even display those photos in your home.
In addition to forever photos, you'll be having a big entrance during the ceremony. Then, you’ll be mingling and potentially dancing the night away at the reception.
All that said, you’re going to want a dress that's beautiful, well-fitting, comfortable, and makes you feel like the star you really are. Here are our top tips for finding the perfect mother of the bride or groom dress!
1. Give Yourself Enough Time
Much like a wedding gown, we recommend to ideally start shopping for your mother of the bride or groom dress 6-8 months before the wedding date. This will provide more than enough time for shipping and fulfillment, as well as any necessary alterations. You have a lot of things on your mind and a lot of details to remember, so worrying about whether your dress is going to come on time shouldn’t be one of them! Leaving yourself a large enough time frame will help insure your look is exactly how you want it and minimize any unnecessary stress.
2. Talk to the Bride
Before you go shopping, it’s important to speak to the bride. We’re pretty sure she will have some ideas in mind, or at least a few do’s or don’ts. Does she only want you to consider certain colors? Does she want you to match the bridesmaids’ color or just choose a color that wouldn’t clash with them in photos? These are all things to discuss. Or maybe you two can go shopping together and create a fun day that will leave you both pleased with what you choose.
3. Connect With the Other Mother
According to traditional wedding etiquette, the mother of the bride chooses her dress before the mother of the groom. Again, this is traditional etiquette, and it may be out of date depending on the formality of your wedding group. However, we do absolutely recommend that the mothers connect with each other so you both know what color or silhouette the other is planning to wear! Having an open line of communication will benefit both of you… and hey, maybe you two can go shopping together to bond!
4. Consider the Venue & Season
Just like the bride’s wedding dress, information like the time of day, season, and venue of the wedding will help you find the perfect mother of the bride or groom dress. For example, if it’s in July, you may want to opt for a more flowy, breathable fabric. If it’s in the Winter, you may want a gown with a more heavy fabric to keep you warm. Also, consider the venue. You won’t want to be caught in a sundress at an evening wedding at a gala. And if the wedding is at a rustic barn, you may not feel comfortable in a long, formal gown.
5. Get Help from a Stylist
Much like wedding gown shopping, you may have a specific style or silhouette in mind before going shopping. This is always great! But maybe you get to the shop and realize what you had in mind just doesn’t work for you. Maybe it doesn’t look how you thought it would. This can be frustrating… but keep an open mind. Our experienced stylists are here to help you find something that DOES work for you, your specific style, and body type. We want you to feel as comfortable and as beautiful as possible. We’re confident that we have a variety of dress options that look good on every beautiful mother of the bride or groom!
Final Thoughts
We hope this list helps you as you begin your journey to find the perfect mother of the bride or groom dress! We would love to have you and your family here at our local shop. We have a great selection of dresses for every mother of the bride or groom. Maybe you and the bride in your life can find your dresses at the same appointment, and we can all raise a glass of complimentary champagne to help you celebrate! Book here.