It’s May, which means Mother’s Day will soon be here! To celebrate, I thought it might be nice to pay tribute to our dear moms by finding them dresses to wear for the revered role of Mother of the Bride or Groom.
Dressing the mother of the bride can be tricky. The goal is to stand apart in a place of honor–but not upstage the bride; look elegant, and compliment the wedding colors. This, in addition to finding a gown that mom will love wearing, can be a tricky task. Here are a few options for all styles of weddings and moms.
Formal Mother of the Bride
Adrianna Papell Beaded One Shoulder Gown / Snowdrop Bracelet by Nina / Kelly & Kate Knockin’ Sandal / Inge Christopher Beaded Pewter Clutch / Maeve Earrings by Nina
Adrianna Papell gowns are such perfect wedding wear (which is I have two in this post!), and always seem to be a great choice for mothers because they are reasonably priced, flattering, formal, and timeless. This charcoal gray gown has a little sparkle with pewter beading, and is nice a neutral color, without being completely dark. This would be a lovely choice for an formal evening wedding, where mom would like a long gown that has some beading to light up the room a bit. The one shoulder aspect gives it a modern look, and I’ve put pewter and silver accessories with this to pick up the beading. This gown also comes in a soft pink and pale turquoise blue if charcoal isn’t the right shade for your event.
Pink Mother of the Bride
Dress 2435 from Collection 20 shown in Bellini / Alexis Bittar Teardrop Pendant / Badgley Mischka Walda High Heel Sandals / Lodis Laurel Canyon Oyster Rose Clutch / Sondra Roberts Gold Clutch / Gold and Cushion Cut Pink Amethyst Drop Earrings from Max & Chloe
Perhaps pink is your mom’s signature hue? This portrait collar style from Collection 20 by Watters comes in nearly every color imaginable but I chose this pink, called Bellini. I love this 3/4 sleeve dupioni silk dress, because the short style is nice for a daytime wedding, but can also go into a cocktail hour or evening affair. ( It comes in a full-length variety, too!) I love how the neckline is open, and the wrap style flatters the waistline. To set off the pretty color, I paired this with some pink and golden accents, with a tinge of rose gold, too.
Turquoise Mother of the Bride Dress
Adrianna Papell Draped Front Twist Charmeuse Gown / Circular Star brooch / Kate Spade New York ” Cumber” Heels / Kendra Scott Kendra Scott Athena Ombre Bracelet / Kendra Scott Victoria Earrings
I chose this turquoise gown because the fabric allows it to be appropriate for a daytime wedding where the mother of the bride would prefer a long gown, without a full skirt. I paired it with some cobalt and turquoise accessories, and I like the idea of accenting the gathers on the hip with a brooch like the one above. This look would be wonderful for a beach or destination wedding, but could work just as well for evening, too.
Muted Tones Mother of the Bride
Kay Unger Cropped Yellow Lace and Tweed Jacket and Dress / Max & Chloe Rose Gold Pearl and Crystal Five Strand Stretch Bracele t / Diane Von Furstenberg Litton Metallic Clutch / Rene Caovilla Slingbacks / Kate Spade “Belle Fleur” Pearl Statement Necklace
This yellow lace and tweed dress is perfect for a daytime wedding, and for a mother who prefers the suited look. This full-sized picture makes the dress look cream-colored, but in other images ( like this ) and in the description it truly is a yellow fabric. While we’re on the subject of cream-colored dresses; they are usually a “don’t” for guests, and can be as well for mother of the bride, unless the bride has specifically approved the color. I think a dress like this suited style in no way competes with a cream bridal gown, but some brides do take offense. To avoid any misunderstandings, I think that all mother of the bride or groom dresses of any color should be purchased in consultation with the bride, to ensure she approves. If she’s okay with a light color like this – I think this is such a pretty option! I love the lace front, and how it looks with classic pearls, and gold accessories.
I hope this special Mother’s Day edition of Dress For The Wedding styling picks has given you some ideas for how to dress your beloved moms for your upcoming weddings. Happy Mother’s Day to all the Bayside moms!
