Mother of the Bride Dress Etiquette | David's Bridal Blog (2024)

FAQs

What is appropriate to wear as mother of the bride? ›

Consider when and where the event is taking place. For summer ceremonies abroad or in a marquee, lightweight chiffon or satin, pastel hued and floral print occasion dresses are the order of the day. Whereas winter weddings or formal venues call for jewel tones and more structured wool-silk fabrics.

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.

Ideally, it's best to start looking for a mother of the bride outfit six to eight months before the wedding date. This should give you enough time to try on a few different options, find something you love and allow for any alterations that need to be made.

When deciding whether your mother-of-the-bride dress should be long or short, it's important to consider the wedding venue and formality. A formal setting calls for a more upscale ensemble (like something floor-length), while a shorter, more casual wedding outfit is appropriate for laid-back celebrations.

Unless otherwise instructed, is to never wear white or any colour close to what the bride has chosen to wear. Other standard colours to avoid include ivory, white and champagne. Another colour to avoid is black. If black is a colour that you usually like to wear, this might be the time to reconsider.

Some guidelines to keep in mind: 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.

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.

Answer: Typically the mother of the bride's outfit is whatever fits her style. In terms of color, traditionally, attendants and the MOB would avoid white (upstaging the bride), black (it reminds people of mourning) and red (because it's flashy).

Should the mother of the bride and mother of the groom wear different colors? Generally yes, according to Valiente. "Open communication is key to nailing the color selection," she says.

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.

Who buys the mother of the bride outfit? ›

It is widely accepted that the mother of the bride gets to choose her outfit first. She has first call on colour and style and after she has made her decision the mother of the groom can go out and choose her outfit.

The mother of the bride traditionally buys her own dress before the mother of the groom, and then contacts the mother of the groom to describe her dress. If there are two brides, or you fancy some bonding time with the mother of the groom, perhaps you could go shopping together!

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.

A cohesive jewelry set for the mother of the bride often includes a necklace, earrings, and sometimes a bracelet, tailored to the formality of the wedding and her personal style. Classic designs in metals that match her outfit will create a refined look.

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.

While the mother of the bride, mother of the groom, and special guests always have the option to match the bridal party or wear a similar shade, we created this handy guide to make further color-coordination effortless. Try greys and neutrals such as charcoal, champagne, blush, or a metallic.

Lots of mother of the bride (MOB) and mother of groom (MOG) dresses are very similar. Plus, the formality of the wedding will dictate how dressy you decide to go. However, one main difference between MOB and MOG shopping is timing. Tradition states that the mother of the bride should choose first.

Of course! Floral dresses are definitely appropriate for the mother of the bride to wear, especially to a more casual spring or summer ceremony. Floral mother of the bride dresses can range from dramatic and refined to easygoing and informal - it just depends on what style you're searching for!