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Mother of the Bride: What not to wear!

Mother of the Bride: What not to wear!


Ali Moore
Ali Moore Updated:
8th of March 2023

Choosing your mother of the bride or mother of the groom outfit is an exciting event in itself! There are plenty of choices to make - fabric, colour, style and accessories. It's a chance for you to stand out, and rightly so - your baby is getting married after all. Let's take a look at some of the do's and don'ts when picking your mother of the bride outfit.

Regardless of colour, your outfit should be something comfortable. If you want to wear a classy suit, why not choose one that matches the couples colour scheme. If you want to show off your figure, find a beautiful dress for the occasion - maybe add a belt to the ensemble to give you a stunning hourglass silhouette. Want to wear a hat or fascinator? This is your chance! The aim throughout the day is to be cool, calm and collected, and there is no better way to do that than being comfortable with what you're wearing.

Mother of the bride

The biggest no no has to be no white. It shouldn't have to be said but sometimes mother's try and sneak around it. We've seen plenty of chat rooms with despairing brides asking for advice on how to speak to their mum's who have gone and bought a white outfit against their wishes. Talk with your son or daughter about your outfit choice BEFORE you buy it. It is their wedding after all -  your role is to be the support system for them as they embark on their journey into married life, not your chance to upstage the bride.

You could even ask your son or daughter to go with you on your shopping trip - it's a lovely day out for both of you, you'll get an honest opinion and find out how they would like you to look on the wedding day, alleviating the chance of quibbles along the way. If you're finding it difficult to decide on a colour, it also means they'll be on hand to help you decide, perhaps with an outfit to match the wedding colour scheme.

mother-of-bride-doing-hair

Once you've secured your outfit you can consider which accessories you'd like to have to finish the look. With heavy patterns and brighter colours, simple jewellery and shoes are a great match so your overall look isn't overwhelming. If you've chosen a plainer fabric, you can afford to be more adventurous with your accessories - bright necklaces and heavy earrings, even an elaborate hat or fascinator to finish the look. If you need some help choosing the perfect wedding hat, take a look at our guide from Katherine Elizabeth Hats.

Remember to think about the weather as well when choosing your outfit. Winter weddings will call for heavier jackets (perfect if your opting for a suit) or even a bolero of some kind, whereas summer weddings bring thinner, more flowing materials with light shawls for the evening reception. 

Looking for more mother of the bride or groom inspiration? Find more here.

Image credit: Pinterest

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Ali Moore

About the author


Ali Moore

Ali is experienced in all things Mother of the Bride. She is in regular contact with outfitters across the country and ensures this list of boutiques and Mother of the Bride suppliers is as up-to-date as possible; making it really easy for you to find your dream attire.

Read Our Essential Guide to Mother of the Bride Outfits

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