There are few times more exciting in a woman’s life than her wedding day. In all the joy that comes with shopping for the perfect wedding dress, the mother of the bride sometimes forgets that she, too, will need a stunning dress for the occasion. Rather than simply buying something off the rack and hoping that it will look okay at the ceremony and reception, there are a few ways to ensure that the dress that you, as the mother of the bride, wears is flattering, attractive, and doesn’t stick out from the rest of the wedding party.
Shop Early
The best way to make sure you have luck finding the perfect mother of the bride dresses is to shop early enough that you aren’t pressed for time right before the big day. In general, dress style for weddings don’t change much from year to year, so a long engagement simply means you have more time to find the best dress. It’s important to allow enough time to try on plenty of different styles to figure out which one suits you best in terms of flattering your shape, your skin, and your hair.
Keep an Eye on Colour
Even if you look great in turquoise, if that colour clashes with the wedding colours, then you’ll need to pick another dress. Use the bridesmaid dresses as a colour palette, and choose a colour that will complement rather than clash with them. Avoid anything that looks like a wedding dress – so no white, ivory, or off-white – and be wary of black dresses. Although they are stylish and slimming, many people believe that the mother of the bride only wears black when she is unhappy with the wedding.
Set a Budget
It’s easy to go overboard when buying a mother of the bride dress. After all, you want to look your best in pictures. Unless you know that you can wear this dress at multiple formal events, it’s smart not to blow a lot of money on it. Chances are very good that this dress will only be worn once, and while you want it to look great, there’s no reason for the price of it to rival your own daughter’s wedding dress.
Alterations
If you are able to buy a great dress off the rack and save some money, then getting it altered to make sure it fits perfectly won’t break the bank for you. Having a dress custom-made dress for the occasion will be very expensive, but it’s possible to make the dress look bespoke with a few alterations and some custom work. Remember to be respectful of your seamstress and give them the dress about six months in advance so they have plenty of time to finish the work on it.
Shopping for a great mother of the bride dress can be stressful, but if you keep a good attitude and try to have fun, then this can be a great experience. Remember that it’s your daughter’s day, and while you want to look your best, you need to complement her colours and allow her to shine.
Clare Louise