The Wedding Party

How to Look Your Best on Your Daughter’s Big Day

Leading up to your daughter’s wedding day you’ve probably been immersed in the details of the wedding and haven’t put much though into what you are going to wear. Many mothers of the bride make this mistake and end up regretting this decision when they flip through wedding albums after the wedding is over. If your daughter is getting married soon, let these five guidelines help you pick out the perfect dress for your daughter’s big day.

Mother of Bride Dressing Tips

Don’t Wear White

While you may have played a large role in the development of this wedding, mother of the bride dresses should never be white, or even a color like taupe or off-white that resembles white. When you are picking out your dress, find one that is elegant, tasteful, and flattering but don’t select a dress that will compete with the bride’s for attention.

Wear a Dress Appropriate to the Theme of the Wedding

When you are looking for dresses, try and pick one that fits in with the theme of the wedding. While you don’t necessarily have to wear a dress that matches the exact color scheme of the wedding, you may be more recognizable as the mother of the bride if you wear a dress in a shade that is similar to the wedding colors. While the color of your dress is important, be aware of the style of the dress you are wearing. For example, if the wedding is outdoors or casual, opt for a more casual dress than a floor-length formal ball gown.

Be Different From the Wedding Party

Many mothers of the bride make the mistake of dressing like the bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party in order to gain recognition as being related to the bride. However, as the mother of the bride, you can still select a dress that associates you with the wedding party but doesn’t exactly look like a bridesmaid’s dress. Since the majority of the bridesmaids will likely be younger than you, wearing a similar dress may age you instead of helping you look sophisticated and put-together on your daughter’s wedding day.

Talk to the Mother of the Groom

While the dress that you wear as the mother of the bride will probably receive a lot of attention, mother of the groom dresses do not go unnoticed either.  Once you have bought your dress or have a dress in mind, talk to the mother of the groom so that she can pick out an equally appropriate or similar dress. If you don’t know the mother of the groom very well, use this as an excuse to spend a day out shopping and getting to know each other better.

Don’t Be Afraid to Look Your Best

Just because this isn’t your wedding doesn’t mean that you can’t look your best. Many mothers are afraid to dress up and look nice for fear of overshadowing the bride that they try and fade into the background in pictures and at the wedding and reception. Don’t be afraid to wear a dress that complements your figure, matches the theme of the wedding, and allows you to look your best on your daughter’s wedding day.