Mother of the Bride Outfit

One of the harder things to plan in a wedding is the mother of the bride outfit. Some mothers choose to buy their outfit separate from any of the wedding planning while other weddings make the decision as important as the bride’s dress. No bride wants her mother to wear something she is not comfortable in, nor does said bride want an outfit for her mother that doesn't fit with the wedding itself.

A suit can be a great outfit for a bride's mother.

The most popular option for a bride's mother to wear at a wedding is a dress. The style of the dress depends on the wedding itself but the outfit usually reflects a certain level of sophistication.

• Color: A popular trend in many weddings is to match the mother's outfit to the color scheme of the wedding. Some weddings do this by putting the mother of the bride in the same color as the bridal party dresses, while other weddings accomplish this by matching the dress color to the flowers. Another popular trend is to not match the color to that of the wedding and instead, make a statement outside of that so the mother stands out as a special participant in the festivities.
• Sleeves: Many people hear "mother of the bride" and see elbow length sleeves and shoulder pads. While this is a great look for some, other mothers prefer different sleeve lengths. In fact, one of the easiest places to compromise personal style with the style of the wedding is in the sleeve, and mothers should feel free to choose a sleeve length they are comfortable with.

• Brides.com features a section for the mother of the bride. Their large selection caters to fancy and hip weddings, and different color options make it easy to find a dress quickly.
• The Evening Store features classic mother of the bride options for a low cost. The site also features a variety of larger sizes. *The Knot makes it a snap to coordinate a dress for the mother of the bride with the rest of the wedding, You can shop the site by collection.
• TJ Formal features a large variety of dresses. You can shop the site by size, by style, by collection, by price, and many other variables. The collections on the site are all top notch and often by well known designers.
• The Bridal Shop allows for browsing by collection.

For the hip mother, designer clothing may be the way to go.

1. Think of your favorite designer. If Ralph Lauren has been your man through and through, he probably can be helpful here too. Look through his collections and see if any of his dresses fit the wedding. If not, see if any of them can be altered to coordinate.
2. Contemplate having a designer dress created. Sometimes this can be cheaper than buying one.
3. Shop designer discount stores. Dillard's website features a mother of the bride section that be searched for by designer name. Other stores such as Loehman's and TJ Maxx often have designer gowns at fabulous prices in stock.

If a dress doesn't suit the mother of the bride, pants and suits can be other stylish options. Choose a look that is more sophisticated and formal, and coordinate jewelry with the bridal party for a cohesive look.

A bride's mother should be comfortable with what she wears.

1. The color black is out of the question unless it is one of the bridal party colors, such as for a formal evening event, or if it is part of a pattern.
2. White, cream and anything close are out of the question for most mothers. This is the day for the bride to shine, and the mother’s outfit should no look “bridal.”
3. Avoid large ball gowns. Again, this is not a mother's time to be in the spotlight.
4. Communication. If the mother of the bride is planning her outfit away from the wedding planning, communicate with the bride so that there are no surprises. If you are the bride and you are planning your mother's outfit, be sure to make this a joint decision--not a case where you tell her what to wear.
5. Try to coordinate with the mother of the groom when possible. It may be uncomfortable for the families if your outfits are in dire contrast to one another or if both outfits are too similar.

The mother of the bride outfit can be challenging to find, but there are many different dress and suit options for stylish mothers to feel comfortable and fashionable on their daughter’s wedding day.

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