Five tips for choosing your dress as the mother of the bride or groom

The wedding of a son or daughter is a major event for parents, particularly the mother of the bride and mother of the groom. Though as exciting as it can be, it can also cause of much apprehension, particularly over what to wear.

To help you make the day a memorable one here are five tips to consider when choosing your mother of the bride or mother of the groom outfit.

1. Consult the bride

It goes without saying that the big day belongs to the bride, so be sure to discuss with her the theme, location and colours she has chosen. This will greatly influence the style and colour you will need to keep in mind.

Also clarify if it will be a formal or more informal wedding as this too will impact on your choice and can affect the style of your dress, particularly in the neck and hemline. The last thing a mother or mother-in-law-to-be would want to do is to outshine her daughter or daughter-in-law.

2. Choose the right colour

Once you know what the colour the bridesmaids will be, it’s quite within the bounds of etiquette to choose a similar colour, though it must be a different shade.

If you decide to go for a totally different colour then make sure you won’t clash and choose celebratory colours or solids particularly if it’s a formal wedding. You might want to keep away from white, black and some reds.

If you go for ivory, you may want to include a splash of colour that matches or compliments the theme. Colours that work well are lavender, silver, burgundy, blue and shades of green. When all else fails talk to the bride to see if she is happy with the colour and style.

3. Consult and complement mother of the groom

These days you don’t have to be a stickler for tradition, although it does pay to have an idea of what is considered proper etiquette. If you are the mother of the bride, it is considered a good idea to let the mother of the groom know what you will be wearing so you can both complement each other. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but it’s a good idea that the length of your dress is similar.

4. Dress for comfort as well as style

There is a long time between the getting ready photographs and saying goodbye to the bride and groom at the end of the reception. With this in mind you want to be comfortable as well as look great. So the material you wear, and the hemline and shoes you choose need to all be factored in.

5. It’s not all about the dress

Although the dress you choose will be a prominent feature, the accessories you choose, also play an important role. If you opt for a more simple dress design, then bring out your personality with your jewellery, shoes, and handbag. You could even add gloves or a hat or headpiece if the occasion calls for it.

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