45 Mother of the Bride Dresses and Shopping Tips from a Stylist
Mother and Daughter at Wedding / Photographer - @sydneymariephotography
Mother and Daughter at Wedding / Photographer - @sydneymariephotography
Mother of the Bride helps Bride get ready / Photographer - @sydneymariephotography
All dresses within our blog have been thoughtfully curated by The Bridal Finery Style Team. Some of the dresses include affiliate links. If you buy a dress through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
Mother of the Bride Dresses (and Groom)
The Bridal Finery does not sell Mother of the Bride dresses. For an in-store experience, we recommend Susan Lee’s in Atlanta, GA. They have a wide selection of gowns for the mother of the bride and groom and are worth the trip! After you find your dress, we would love to help you with accessories. We have a large selection of cocktail jewelry we can customize to match your dress! We would love to help!
What color should the Mother of the Bride wear?
Typically the Mother of the Bride’s dress should complement the bridal party’s color palette. Not necessarily match with the bridesmaids, but choose a color in the color family. The most popular color for the mother of the bride to wear is navy or a royal blue, followed by blush or a shade of nude. It’s safe to say that you should never wear white and shy away from the overall color family unless the bride instructs you to wear a certain shade. Traditionally, another color to avoid is red. It’s best to ask the bride for her color palette and preference of color for you to wear!
Send the bride pictures of dresses you are considering so you can collaborate on the perfect look.
evening wear dress with beaded scoop neckline
beaded shawl paired with mother of the bride dress
Should the Mother of the Bride (or Groom) wear a print dress?
Prints are coming back for mother of the bride and groom. Keep in mind prints are a bolder look and should always be approved by the couple. It would be ideal to have some of the wedding colors in the print. The wedding photos will be be framed and on display in houses for years to come so keep in mind a timeless print is always the way to go. If you go with a print, I would go a little more minimal with the jewelry, shoes, and lip color. The dress is the statement and you don’t need the other details to compete. If in doubt on the print or if the couple is iffy on it, go for a solid.
Metallic mother of the bride dress
Beaded rose gold off the shoulder mothers dress
Monique Lhuillier Mother of the Bride Dress
eggplant halter GOWN WITH A BOW
Chiffon dress with cape detail and modest neckline
Topaz staud off the shoulder gown
What about Mother of the Bride Dresses with Sleeves?
Often mothers feel most comfortable covering their arms; however, they don’t want to feel like a grandma. One approach is to try out a sheer sleeve. This creates a conservative feel while making more of a fashion statement. Keep in mind you may want a v-neck or more of an open neckline to not feel weighted down in fabric. A beautiful v-neck is a great option if you feel best in sleeves. If you see a dress you love that doesn’t have sleeves, a seamstress could always create them. Unlike wedding dresses, you probably won’t have the ability to order a yard of fabric to make the sleeves. One solution is to order two of the same dress. This way a seamstress can use the fabric from the second dress to create a a new neckline on the dress you are wearing. It’s amazing what seamstresses can do!
Long sleeved emerald mother of the bride dress
Mac Duggal Mother of the Bride Dress
blue a-line mother of the bride gown
long green mother of the bride gown
Should a Mother of the Bride or Groom wear Cocktail or Full-length?
Unless the wedding is directly on the beach or is a brunch time wedding, I recommend wearing a long dress. Throughout the years, weddings have become more formal and most bridesmaid dresses are long. In most cases, we recommend the mothers are even a little more dressed up than the bridesmaids given they are a host. Also, long dresses are more slimming than cocktail length. By all means, if a full-length dress is not for you, don’t wear one. An ankle length dress is a beautiful solution to keep the formality, but to be more comfortable dancing and enjoying the evening. It’s a 8-10 hour day and you need to feel your best! While shopping for a dress, keep in mind a seamstress can tailor the dress to any hem length you would like.
Textured sleeved mother of the bride dress
One shoulder draped amsale dress
Midi length cocktail dress for mothers
Arianna Papell mother of the bride dress
How formal is too formal for a Mother of the Bride Dress?
It’s hard to be overdressed at a wedding, but it’s easy to be underdressed. If you are unsure, always side with caution and go for more of a formal look. Remember you are going to be in all the family photos with the men wearing suits and possibly tuxedos. If you fall in love with a dress that is less formal, go for an updo, and get professional makeup done. The jewelry you wear will help elevate the look. Custom jewelry is an area where we can help! Moms are welcome to bring their dress into the dress and from there we can personalize the jewelry for them. We have the ability to change the colors of the metal to even the swarovski earring to create a special earring or hairpiece for the moms. We love seeing our moms dressed to the nines on wedding day!
Sequin and Charcoal mother of the bride dress
Full length sequin mother of the bride dress
What should I wear to a summer or spring wedding as the mother of the bride (or groom)?
With our boutique being based in Florida, we know all too well how to dress for warmer climates. Sweat marks are not an elegant look for wedding day, but sweating is just the norm down here. Think of the fabric first before selecting the style. When you are in the right fabric you will feel your best! If you are prone to sweating, stay away from a silky satin fabric. Luckily a lot of mother of the bride and groom dresses are nicely lined so you don’t have to worry about the sweat stains as much as let’s say a bridesmaid dress. Undergarments can always help as well with capturing the sweat. We love our Spanx! Also, consider wearing your hair up in a low, elegant French bun.
Should I wear a certain color based on the Fall or the Winter season?
Seasons are less important when it comes to weddings. The temperature outside needs to be considered; however, the colors don’t have to follow suit. Wear colors you feel confident in as long as they approved by the couple. The vibe and location the wedding is taking place in has a lot more to do with the colors. Go through your closet and see colors you tend you gravitate towards. Keep that in mind when you are shopping for the dress.
Two-Tone Evening Wear gown for mothers
Two - Tone Evening WEar gown by Sachin & Babi
floral one shoulder print for moms
I want to drop weight before the wedding. When should I buy my Mother of the Bride (or Groom) dress?
Two months before the wedding there is a lot going on! The couple might rely on you more to help them finalize the never ending list of details. Get ahead and shop early. I recommend purchasing your mother of the bride or groom dress 6 months before the wedding, if possible. This is why… once your dress arrives, you’ll need to make sure you have the right shoes and jewelry. Also, having the dress helps make the decision on hair and makeup. The seamstresses will need 2-3 weeks before the wedding to alter the dress. If you are trying to drop weight, go for it, you can aways take the dress in! Lastly, you get major bonus points for having your dress early. Nothing stresses a couple out more than their parents telling them weeks before the wedding that they still don’t have a dress. Now go find that dress!
What should I wear for an out-of-the country Destination wedding?
This will require a little more research. Keep in mind the cultures especially if it’s a fusion wedding where the bride or groom’s family is from the host country. American weddings tend to be more casual than other parts of the world so depending on the location, you may need to go more formal. Also, keep in mind colors have different meanings. Example, in East Asia is common for the bride to wear red.
This could be a time where you could step out of your comfort zone and try something out of the box. Adapt to the beautiful country you are visiting and see what would be fitting for the area. Let’s ask Roberta, Co-Owner of The Bridal Finery, who is from Brazil. Let’s say one of her daughters decided to get married in Brazil, wonder what she would wear. Roberta said, “Floral! Print, summer, fun, vibrant!” Well there you go!
Accessories for Mother of the Bride
If you are a Mother of a Bride seeking guidance, advice or simply have a question, feel free to contact us.
You can expect a response from us within 48 hours.