The 13 Best Places to Buy Stylish Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses (2023)

FAQs

The 13 Best Places to Buy Stylish Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses? ›

Navy is the most popular mother of the bride dress color. Not only is navy timeless, but this color dress will work in a variety of wedding venues and locations. We have many navy gowns from which to choose.

Navy is the most popular mother of the bride dress color. Not only is navy timeless, but this color dress will work in a variety of wedding venues and locations. We have many navy gowns from which to choose.

Make sure that you don't wear the same color as the mother of the bride or groom. Also, avoid wearing the same color as the bridesmaids. Choose a color that is subtle such as pale yellow, pale mint green, taupe, peach, or light grey. And if you want to be on the safer side, go for the most popular royal blue and navy.

A: The Mother of the Bride is special. She needs to stand out a bit from the bridesmaids, so her dress should complement rather than match the bridesmaid's dresses. For example, the MOB could wear a dress in a similar color to the bridesmaids but in a deeper shade.

The suggestion of mother of the bride tea dresses comes from both their length and style. They usually fall just below the knee, which will leave you feeling comfortable inside the church. While the hourglass cut enables you to keep covered while not looking frumpy.

There's not one specific color the mother of the bride should wear. But unless you've received approval from the couple, it's best to steer clear from white, ivory or champagne hues as not to take attention away from the bride.

Because the mother of the groom isn't part of the bridal party, she should avoid choosing a dress in the same color as the bridesmaids' attire, the mother of the bride's dress, or the wedding gown.

The mother of the bride is traditionally escorted by her son if she has one. Otherwise, any close male relative, the best man, or a groomsman walks with the mother of the bride during the procession.

It used to be that mother-of-the-bride dresses followed a kind of uniform — a cocktail jacket atop an understated sheath. Today, almost anything goes — so long as it's appropriate for the event. So, while you probably wouldn't wear a strapless dress to a church wedding, it might be just the thing for a beach ceremony.

Should the mother of the bride get her makeup done? ›

Mother of the Bride

Your mom will likely want to get her hair and makeup professionally done, so be sure that she is included as part of your hair stylist and makeup artist's schedules. Don't forget to take a few quiet moments among the craziness of your wedding morning to spend some private time with Mom.

The mother of the bride plays the role of hostess, meaning you should spend some time greeting guests during the reception. Although there are exceptions, other wedding-day duties may include sitting at the parents' table and dancing with the father of the bride to help warm up the dance floor.

How should the mother of the bride wear her hair? Mother of the bride hairstyles half up or a full-on updo is an elegant choice for traditional and classic wedding themes. This look is especially chic for dresses with an open back, plunging neckline, or off the shoulder cut.

Make sure your shoes are elegant

This is the time to wear pretty, elegant and feminine shoes which will make you look and feel a million dollars. Your mother of the bride shoes should be heels. They don't have to be high heels, but a refined shoe with a slim heel or a chic block heel is your best bet for this event.

The mother of the bride can wear a handbag or opt out of it, the choice is her own! However, some brides might ask their mothers to bring a bigger handbag to help them store some of the bulkier items they might need throughout the day.

Steer clear of off-white, eggshell, beige, champagne, cream, or any other super light color that could be mistaken for white. There are so many dress options available in a variety of hues, so steering clear of these shades should not be a major issue.

The short answer: Yes, but you've got to get it right. Some may think it's gauche for a mother of the bride or groom to too closely match the bridesmaids, but tradition actually dictates that the moms should wear attire that complements what your bridal party will be wearing.

How the gowns are selected. Traditionally, the mother of the bride selects her dress first and then tells the mother of the groom what style of dress she chose so the mother of the groom can pick accordingly.

Traditionally speaking, though, the bride's family pays for the bulk of the wedding—venue, reception, photographer, flowers, etc. As such, the mother of the bride is typically more 'in charge' of these things (along with the bride, of course) than the mother of the groom is.

What is the groom's mother responsible for? ›

Traditionally, the groom's mother will take care of the rehearsal dinner arrangements and help prepare the guest list for the groom's side of the family. Both tasks should be done with both the bride and the groom's input. Any other responsibilities can be negotiated among the families.

The mother of the groom can give a speech or just a toast at the rehearsal dinner, as she is one of the hosts of the event. There are some details that a speech should include, such as special memories, stories about the couple, and of course, the toast.

The groom's parents precede the bride's mother during the processional. Here's a rundown: After the ushers have seated all of the guests, the grandparents start up the aisle, followed by the groom's parents. Then the bride's mother takes her turn. She is the last to be seated before the bridal party procession begins.

Congratulations on your love, your commitment, your wedding, and your marriage. May your future bring you joy, laughter and wonderment. My special daughter, wishing you immense happiness, joy, and adventure in your married life. May you build a strong union and life together.

Traditional etiquette dictates that the maid of honor—not the mother of the bride—should host the shower.

From walking down the aisle first to last, the traditional order is: Mother of Bride, Mother of Groom, Grandparents of Bride, Grandparents of Groom, Groom, Officiant, the Wedding Party, Maid of Honor and Best Man, Ring Bearer, Flower Girl and lastly the Bride and her Father.

The Parents of the Bride and the Bride

The parents of the bride escort them down the aisle, with the father on the bride's left arm and her mother on the right.

For a Non-Denominational or Secular Wedding

The groom might opt to escort his mother down the aisle and to her seat in the front row, followed closely behind by the groom's father. This gives the groom an opportunity to give his parents a hug before taking his place at the altar.

Traditionally, it is customary to give the mother of bride a gift to thank her for being by your side every step of the way. After all, moms are often the unsung heroes of the wedding planning process, helping with everything from dress fittings to scoping out venues.

Ideally, you should start shopping for your mother of the bride dress six to eight months before the wedding date, leaving any shipping time and alteration needs in mind. This is enough time to give yourself to find a dress you love that you're comfortable in.

What color should the mother of the groom not wear? ›

Now you know what the mother of the groom should (and shouldn't) wear! If we were to give you three overall guidelines to remember when choosing your outfit as the mother of the groom, it would be to keep in line with the attire suggestion on the invitation, avoid shades of white, and be yourself!

As with most beauty questions, there is no hard-and-fast rule. Some brides may offer to cover hair and makeup services in order to thank the wedding party for being a part of their special day. On the other hand, sometimes the mother of the bride will bear the cost of hair and makeup.

To put your mind at ease, opt to apply makeup before styling your strands, so you don't have to worry about your hair getting in the way. Do your makeup first…if you're pressed for time. On a tight schedule? Spend more time on your makeup.

Which comes first, hair or makeup? In a perfect world, hairstyling happens first because the hot styling tools might cause perspiration, and also because the makeup artist can remove any overspray from the skin before starting.

A mother of the bride speech should:

Pay tribute to the bride and share stories and memories of her from childhood and today. Talk about meeting their new husband or wife for the first time, getting to know them and welcoming them into the family. Offer wise and funny advice to the couple.

Expect both hair and makeup respectively to take 30 to 45 minutes per bridesmaid (and mother of bride) and 60 to 90 minutes for the bride.

Unless the bride asks both Mothers to wear the same color, make sure you avoid wearing the same color on the occasion. The mother of the bride and the mother of the groom's outfits must complement each other, especially for photos. Another thing that you need to remember is the formality of the dress.

While the mother-of-the-bride doesn't typically give a toast at the wedding—that honor is often reserved for the father-of-the-bride—there are situations in which a mother may opt to raise her glass to the happy couple, such as when a father has passed away or in the case of a divorced household.

Mother of the bride

The mother of the bride is the last person seated before the officiant, groom and best man take their places at the altar. She can walk alone or be escorted by her son, son-in-law or another relative. She is seated on the left side in the first row.

Updos are a mother-of-the-bride hairstyle favorite for a reason: they're timeless, they frame your face and they work with a wide variety of dress styles. Whether it's a beautiful braided bun, an elegant chignon or an updo with a few wispy tendrils, you really can't go wrong.

Who pays for the bride's hair? ›

The Answer: It Depends

There's no definitive answer of who foots the bill on bridal party glam. That said, the bride or the bridesmaids will pay for the bridal party's hair and makeup. Some brides cover the cost of glam as a “thank you” to their friends for supporting the wedding. However, this isn't always the case.

She can spend a little time with both the bride and groom.

If that's the case, she may want to start her morning with the bride and her group, then leave once she has her hair and makeup done. After, she can head to the groom's getting-ready area to help him prepare for his walk down the aisle.

Traditionally, the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom wear a corsage at the wedding. These days, a corsage can take many forms. Classic pin-on corsages are still popular but many mums prefer to wear a wrist corsage or even a corsage which can pin on to their clutch bag.

Tradition calls for corsages to be given to mothers of the bride and groom. For a different approach, pin a flower in her hair or give her a small nosegay to carry. While lilies and roses are classics, incorporating each mother's favorite flower or one that complements her ensemble is a thoughtful gesture.

It's tradition for the mother of the bride to wear a suitable hat or fascinator on the big day of her daughter's wedding. But finding that perfect headpiece can seem overwhelming. When it comes to a mother of the bride hat or fascinator, there are endless options in terms of styles, colours, and materials.

There's not one specific color the mother of the bride should wear. But unless you've received approval from the couple, it's best to steer clear from white, ivory or champagne hues as not to take attention away from the bride.

2. Consider Who Traditionally Pays for the Wedding. Traditionally, the bride's family assumed most of the financial costs associated with a wedding, including the wedding planner, invitations, dress, ceremony, reception, flowers, photography, and music.

The Mother of the Bride/Groom

Both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom are expected to pay for their own wedding attire. Typically, these gowns do not need to match the bridesmaid dresses, however, some brides prefer for the gowns to coordinate in some way.

Traditionally, the bride's mother has the honor of selecting her outfit first. Try not to choose colors that are the same or very similar to the bride's and bridesmaids' dresses—you won't stand out. Wear different colors from each other.

The mother of the bride is traditionally escorted by her son if she has one. Otherwise, any close male relative, the best man, or a groomsman walks with the mother of the bride during the procession.

Should the mother of the bride wear black? ›

For decades, the mothers of the bride and groom would consider any color appropriate to wear to her child's wedding, with two exceptions: white and black. But just as brides now wear whatever color they want down the aisle, moms are now choosing dresses in any color that suits them, including black.

The groom proceeds to walk down the aisle accompanied by their parents, with his father on the left and his mother on the right.

The mother of the bride doesn't need to match with the bridesmaids. Many brides prefer that the women they adore wear complementing colors for a cohesive look, but some mothers want to stand out.

How should the mother of the bride wear her hair? Mother of the bride hairstyles half up or a full-on updo is an elegant choice for traditional and classic wedding themes. This look is especially chic for dresses with an open back, plunging neckline, or off the shoulder cut.

The parents of the bride always sit in the first pew or row on the left, facing where the ceremony will be held; the groom's parents sit in the first row on the right. At same-sex marriage ceremonies, the couple might assign each family a side, and seat guests on "Bill's side" or "Kevin's side" accordingly.

In short, yes. If the mother of the bride decides to wear long, this doesn't mean you have to. Especially if you're not comfortable in a full-length dress or outfit. However, make sure you choose something that coordinates with the formality of a long dress so that you don't feel too casual.

Tradition calls for corsages to be given to mothers of the bride and groom. For a different approach, pin a flower in her hair or give her a small nosegay to carry. While lilies and roses are classics, incorporating each mother's favorite flower or one that complements her ensemble is a thoughtful gesture.

It used to be that mother-of-the-bride dresses followed a kind of uniform — a cocktail jacket atop an understated sheath. Today, almost anything goes — so long as it's appropriate for the event. So, while you probably wouldn't wear a strapless dress to a church wedding, it might be just the thing for a beach ceremony.