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Mother Of The Bride Dresses

Mother of The Bride: How to Avoid Upstaging or Upsetting the Bride

A child’s wedding is an exciting experience, so of course, you would want this day to go perfectly without upsetting the bride. The mother-of-the-bride has a vital role in the wedding, helping and supporting the bride through the planning process and on the day of the wedding. So, here are a few things to avoid doing so that your relationship isn't pulled apart by disagreements and mother-daughter drama. How to Avoid Upstaging The Bride Consult with The Bride It’s the bride’s day and you want to make it perfect, so it’s important to consult her before heading out to buy your dress. While you may have your own sense of style, it’s crucial that you consider your daughter’s motive. So, talk to the bride and ask her about her preferences and see how she envisions your look. You want to ensure the outfit compliments the style of the wedding and the colour scheme. There may be a certain colour she has in mind that coordinates with the bridesmaids or she may prefer that you stay away from certain colours like black.  You can even ask your daughter for recommendations on colours and dress styles and make your pick so that it matches her expectations. Avoid Certain Colours There are certain colours that the mother of the bride should not wear. The traditional etiquette is, whatever colour you choose, you just want to avoid clashing with the bride. White is reserved for the bride, she wants and expects to stand out from everyone else. So, unless otherwise instructed, is to never wear white or any colour close to what the bride has chosen to wear. Other standard colours to avoid include ivory, white and champagne. But, if black is a colour that you usually like to wear, this might be the time to reconsider. Black tends to be associated with mourning or funerals, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to wear it to a wedding. So, try and avoid these colours unless instructed to by the bride. Choose an Appropriate Dress Don’t be afraid to show your body off in a form-fitting dress but remember to keep it classy.  You don’t want to wear a dress that is too short or has a deep neckline.  Try and choose a dress that is stylish, yet still is appropriate so it keeps you looking elegant and sophisticated.  A wedding is not the place to wear your shortest or lowest cut look. If the wedding is taking place in a place of worship, then it is even more essential to make sure you wear something conservative or bring a cover-up to wear to the ceremony and take off at the reception. Don't Look Like You're Competing with the Bride   Your daughter’s wedding day is a moment to celebrate her, not compete with her. So, a basic rule of wedding etiquette is that the mother of the bride should not outshine her daughter. This dress is going to be an important purchase, but remember that this isn’t a bridal gown So, don’t choose gowns or dresses that would overpower the bridal gown. Also, try to avoid loud patterns that will overwhelm in photos and make you stand out from the rest of the wedding party. Anything that is too bright or shiny will literally take eyes off the bride and put them on you. Avoid Being Too Casual While you want to avoid upstaging the bride with an over-the-top outfit, it is important to avoid dressing in anything too casual. Traditional weddings have dressing etiquette or dress codes to ensure that all the guests dress fit with the formal theme of the wedding. So, as the mother of the bride, try and wear something that is classy and elegant. How to Avoid Upsetting the Bride Don’t Take Over  Emotions can sometimes run high when planning a wedding.so you should provide general support and advice to the bride and groom throughout the wedding process. But, remember not to dictate what should and should not happen. It can be really difficult to not interfere but resist any temptation to do so. Although your daughter wants your assistance, she most likely does not want you to take over planning the entire event. So, try to alleviate the stress of wedding preparations, not add to it. Instead of telling her everything you think she should do, listen to what she has in mind and respect that her happiness is most important. Just remember to follow the couple’s lead, and remember, it’s not about your expectations for their wedding. Don’t Make the Wedding About You Momzilla’s are definitely a thing. If you feel like you want to take over and get upset when things don’t go your way, you may need to take a step back. Unfortunately, this makes the whole event less enjoyable for everyone, including yourself. So, don't take things personally if the couple has something different in mind than what you do.   Remember that it’s your daughter’s big day.  It’s so simple but so often that gets forgotten once the planning is underway. Don’t bring the bride down with unnecessary problems and avoid adding fire to the flames when things go wrong.  Don’t Be Pushy If you can tell the bride and the groom don't like something that you love, let it go. Don't attempt to push them into a decision that they are not comfortable or in love with. You're there to support the bride, not undermine or override her wishes. No matter how much you think you're right, don't be too pushy when it comes to advising your daughter. So, try to explain your point of view with a positive approach, and remember that the bride and groom have the final say in everything. Try to be there to support the bride and give input when solicited but remember not to take over or railroad your ideas into play. Don’t Steal the Limelight The wedding, of course, is all about the bride and groom and so the focus of attention should be on them. So, try not to do anything that may upstage or upset the bride. This means not trying to steal the show or the photographer. So, make sure you avoid drinking too much and don't take the photographer away from shooting the wedding to take pictures of yourself. Don’t Try to Invite Extra Guests This can be tough, especially if the happy couple is opting for a more intimate gathering. But, make sure you always ask before inviting extra guests. So, even if you are helping with finances, let your daughter invite who she wants to and the people that are close to her and the groom. Try and fight the urge to request more invites and try your best to pick the ones that matter most. It’s not your wedding, but your daughter’s and therefore her friends and guests should take priority. Don’t Tell Her Who Should Be Her Bridesmaids Choosing bridesmaids is a job for the bride and the bride alone. So, don’t make your daughter feel pressured into having anyone that she’s not comfortable. She will need calm and supportive people that are close to her with her on your wedding morning and to help her during her wedding process.  Don’t Make Any Changes  You don't want to modify any details without consulting from your daughter and her fiancé first. So, make sure they approve of any changes before you decide to make them. So, if the bride and groom veto a certain wedding decoration or decision, don't become sneaky and make sure it happens anyway.  Don’t Compare Her Wedding to Others Comparing your daughter’s wedding to others can make her feel even more stressed than she already is. So, when giving your daughter advice or ideas for the wedding, say it without comparing it to someone else’s wedding; even if a friend of yours throw the most extravagant wedding for her daughter or you recently saw something gorgeous at another wedding you went too. Don’t Be Too Critical  The bride may ask your opinion about various things throughout the planning process and it is okay to be honest. You aren’t required to lie to spare feelings but being agreeable and positive will prevent the bride from being too stressed. She'll be dealing with enough stressful moments so avoid overwhelming her with any extra ones by being overly critical. Your job is to reassure and relax the bride, not stress her out.  Unless the bride asks you for your brutally honest opinion, do not say anything too negative. If something doesn’t quite go to plan, you’ll have to take it in your stride.  They really need your love and support during the planning process, so reserve judgment and resist the urge to make passive-aggressive comments or push your own expectations on them. Don’t Make Empty Offers  The bride and groom will undoubtedly appreciate the mother of the bride’s help on even small tasks. But, make sure you don’t offer unless you mean it. Volunteer to lend a hand with a few specific things you know you can follow through with.  Otherwise, if the job you offered to do isn’t done, it can cause the bride to become stressed. So, if you commit to a task or make an offer, make sure you stick to your word and do the job as best as you can. Don’t Refer to This as ‘Our Wedding’ It's not your wedding. The day belongs solely to your daughter and her soon-to-be spouse. As much as it is an important day to you, remember that the day is all about the newlyweds, so make sure you avoid saying this.  What Should You Do Instead? Be a Helping Hand From wedding dress shopping and food tasting to picking the flowers and helping with DIY’s, make sure you are on hand to offer advice and support throughout the planning. Most brides still want their mother’s input in the planning process. But, even though planning a wedding is a wonderful experience, it can also be stressful at times. So, listen to her when she needs you, comfort her, reassure her, and support her. There may even be a few hands-on jobs that you can help the couple tackle. This may include stuffing the wedding invitations and stamping them, assembling wedding programs and putting favours together. So, ask the bride and groom if they help with any part of the wedding planning to elevate a bit of the stress off them without adding to it. Be a Voice of Reason Inevitably there will be moments when things don’t quite go to plan and in a bride’s mind, this can be the end of the world.  It is your job to gently and tactfully reassure and remind the bride that in the grand scheme of things, these things don’t matter. Your daughter has plenty on her emotional plate and sometimes she may need your voice of reason. Be the positive force who can bring her back down to earth when she gets a little bit out of control or lose focus of what's truly important. Be Supportive Whether the bride wants your input and help with every little detail or simply needs you there to be mum when things don’t quite go to plan, make sure you are there to support her. Many brides get emotional and stressed before their wedding day, some might even have a temper as well.  So, no matter how angry or frustrated your daughter is, try to keep calm and talk things through in a rational and logical way.  Weddings are a happy and exciting time and it is your role as the mother of the bride to remain positive throughout the process.  And even if the day doesn't look the way you might have imagined, nor her dress the dress you would have picked, enjoy it and remind your daughter that she looks beautiful. Being the mother of the bride means giving her a shoulder to cry on when she's feeling overwhelmed, an ear to her vent to, or reminding her to take a deep breath and let it go.  Communicate with Her Communication is key in any relationship, especially in the process of planning your daughter’s wedding. So, maintaining a clear line of communication with your daughter throughout the wedding planning process is crucial.  If there’s something you don’t like, then make sure you get that point across in a positive and supportive way. Communication is key, it will ensure that boundaries are set and that any differences are resolved as soon as they arise. This will avoid any unnecessary dramas and will allow you to focus on the important things. Finally, don’t forget to take a moment to celebrate this special moment with your daughter. Planning a wedding together can be an amazing bonding experience for a bride and her mother. It’s an important time for both of you, so don’t forget to enjoy it and cherish the memories to make the most of the special day. Don't let the chaos of a wedding shake up your relationship. When things get heated or stressful, take a step back and have a conversation with her.  So, aim to be supportive but not challenging in your role as the mother of the bride during the wedding process. With these tips in mind, hopefully, you can find the perfect balance of the spotlight and support for your daughter’s wedding.  

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Mother of The Bride: How to Avoid Upstaging or Upsetting the Bride

Mother of The Bride: Essential Styling Tips for Etiquette Rules

The wedding of your daughter will be one of the most memorable events in your lifetime, so as the mother of the bride, you’ll want to look your best. While it’s true that all eyes will be on the bride a lot of the attention will also be on you. You want to look and feel beautiful and elegant. But to find the perfect dress, you must take into account the wedding setting, theme and what the vision your daughter has for her big day.  So, celebrate your daughter’s wedding day in style as we reveal essential styling tips for you to look your best on the big day.  What to Do Before Choosing Your Dress Consult with The Bride It’s the bride’s day and you want to make it perfect, so it’s important to consult her before heading out to buy your dress. While you may have your own sense of style, it’s crucial that you consider your daughter’s motif. So, talk to the bride and ask her about her preferences and see how she envisions your look. You want to ensure the outfit compliments the style of the wedding and the colour scheme. There may be a certain colour she has in mind that coordinates with the bridesmaids or she may prefer that you stay away from certain colours like black.  You can even ask your daughter for recommendations on colours and dress styles and make your pick so that it matches her expectations. Consider the Location and Venue The type of wedding plays a critical role in terms of what the wedding party should wear.  The details make a difference in determining dress length, colour, and the type of shoes that might work best. These days you can get married just about anywhere so it’s important to think about your outfit in relation to the venue. When first starting to plan your mother of the bride outfit, look to the wedding location itself for inspiration. If your daughter is having an overseas destination wedding, where the weather may be a lot warmer, you may want to opt for a lightweight dress such as a maxi-style chiffon dress or simple slim-fitting column-style dress.   But, in addition to location, religious and cultural customs need to be taken into account as well. For example, if your daughter is having a church wedding, this is a setting which traditionally sees a more conservative style of dress. But, if she isn’t having a religious ceremony, then you may be able to opt for a more relaxed style or less conservative type of dress. Consider the Weather As well as thinking about style, you do need to consider the functionality of your outfit. Elements to consider include the length, weight of the material, sleeve style, and colour. If the bride is having an outdoor wedding, it is best to take an outer layer of some sort with you, even if the weather is good. So perhaps find a matching jacket and wrap which is great for the changing weather.  To ensure you appear suitably sophisticated for the day, select an elegant style, such as a chiffon design or a lace bolero, in a colour that matches your dress. However, make sure you are happy with the outfit with the jacket off so that if it gets a bit warm throughout the day, you can take it off and still look good. If the weather is hot, wearing lightweight, natural fabrics for summer weddings will help to keep you cool in the heat.  What to Consider When Choosing Your Outfit Start Shopping As Soon As Possible There’s nothing more stressful than trying to get what you want last-minute. So, don’t leave shopping for your special dress to chance. You’ll have enough to stress about as the big day approaches, so get your dress taken care of well in advance. You may need to go to various kinds of stores to try on different styles before you find the right dress for you. If you are interested in custom made dresses, you should take into consideration even more time for the rounds of fitting and alterations.  So, it’s best to purchase the dress at least three to six months before the wedding day. If you are following tradition, you will also need enough time to let the mother of the groom know that you have purchased your dress so that she can purchase hers. Avoid Certain Colours There are certain colours that the mother of the bride should not wear. Unless otherwise instructed, is to never wear white or any colour close to what the bride has chosen to wear. Other standard colours to avoid include ivory, white and champagne. Another colour to avoid is black.  If black is a colour that you usually like to wear, this might be the time to reconsider. Black tends to be associated with mourning or funerals, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to wear it to a wedding. The traditional etiquette is, whatever colour you choose, you just want to avoid clashing with the bride.    Check with The Rest of The Wedding Party Try to coordinate with the mother of the groom, so you don’t turn up in very similar looks and ideally not in the same colour. Generally, choose an outfit that compliments the bridesmaid’s dresses as well as the colours of the wedding. However, try not to go for something too similar. To stand out a bit from the bridesmaids, so your dress should complement rather than match the bridesmaid’s dresses.  You can always go for colours that complement the whole wedding entourage, so check with your daughter to see if she has a particular colour or theme in mind. Pick an Outfit That Complements the Bridesmaids As a general rule, the mother of the bride should shy away from choosing the same colour dress as bridesmaids. However, it should still compliment the style of the bridesmaid’s dresses. It can be a different style from theirs, but the hues should feel cohesive. So, if the bridal party is wearing royal blue, you could wear navy; if they’re in purple, look for a dress in lavender. Stay within the same colour spectrum for a harmonious look that’ll still set you apart. Dress for Comfort Comfort is key for the big day, so make sure you are completely happy with your outfit and how it feels. It’s hard to enjoy yourself when something is too tight or too loose and there’s nothing worse wearing a great outfit but feeling uncomfortable all day.  Weddings are notorious for being very long days so make sure whatever you are wearing is comfortable enough so that it doesn’t distract you from enjoying your daughter’s big day.  Choose a dress with plenty of movement, which still feels comfortable so that you are free to dance the night away. If you're not used to wearing stilettoes, your daughter's wedding isn't the place to start. Be kind to your feet and get dressy shoes with a comfortable heel. If you know you’re not going to last through your event in your heels, choose a pair of stylish but comfortable flats instead. Also, if you are buying new shoes, don’t forget to wear them around the house a few times so you know you won’t get blisters halfway through the day. Choose an Outfit That Fits Your Personal Style Although it’s customary to go with the motives and the couple’s preferences, it is also important not to ditch your personal style. It’s essential you still find something you feel confident wearing and that reflects your own individual style. You can take others’ opinion on board, but at the end of the day it is such a special occasion and you should feel amazing in what you wear. Be sure you feel good in what you’re wearing, and that what you’re wearing is right for you. Be true to your unique style and you will look amazing.  Choose an Appropriate Dress Don’t be afraid to show your body off in a form-fitting dress but remember to keep it classy.  You don’t want to wear a dress that is too short or has a deep neckline.  Try and choose a dress that is stylish, yet still is appropriate so it keeps you looking elegant and sophisticated.  Don't Look Like You're Competing with the Bride   A basic rule of wedding etiquette is that the mother of the bride should not outshine her daughter. This dress is going to be an important purchase, but remember that this isn’t a bridal gown So, don’t choose gowns or dresses that would overpower the bridal gown. Also, try to avoid loud patterns that will overwhelm in photos and make you stand out from the rest of the wedding party. How to Make Sure You Look Perfect in Your Dress Dress for Your Body Type Your outfit should work with your body shape, not the other way around. Wearing an outfit that is not suitable for your body shape could add pounds to your waistline and make you look frumpy.  Instead, choose a style that flatters your body shape. Take A Photo in Your Dress One of the best ways to make up your mind is to see how the dress looks in a photo. Ask your friend, daughter or even the shop assistant to take photos of you in your favourite mother of the bride outfit.  Once you see how the dress looks in photographs, you’ll be able to make a decision. Choose the Right Accessories Your accessories can either make you or break you, so it’s important that you choose elegant pieces that will complement your overall do.  Pairing the simplest dress with a statement hat and the right shoes and bag can be more impactful. Hat If you decide not to wear a hat, you could opt for an alternative simpler style such a cocktail hat or fascinator in colours which compliment your outfit.  It’s important to ensure that any head pieces don’t swamp your frame and doesn’t hide your face. Finally, make sure that you opt for a colour which complements your dress or matches the rest of your accessories. This will complete your outfit and bring it together as a whole. Bag This special occasion also calls for a special bag. You need a place to store your phone, makeup and other essentials so, a chic will do the trick, so long as it compliments your outfit.  Wear the Right Underwear In order to look and feel the best on this special day, you want to make sure you are prepared inside out. So, make sure you look for undergarments that go well with your dress. Most importantly, shapewear can also change your posture and add your confidence on this big day of your daughter. This will also smooth out any lines to make sure no underwear lines are peeking through your dress. Etiquette Rules  While it may seem old-fashioned, following etiquette rules is certainly good form, however, it's not a requirement. The Mother of The Bride Buys Her Dress First Traditionally, the bride’s mother has the honour of selecting her outfit first. Customarily, the length of the dress for mother of the groom should match the length for mother of the bride. So, the mother of the groom should reach out to the mother of the bride to ask what she is wearing, and then choose her own outfit accordingly.  This way you can avoid clashing colours or styles. If possible, collaborate with the mother of the groom to make sure everyone is on the same page before heading to the bridal shop. The two mothers’ looks should complement one another, and the mother of the groom will typically take style cues from your dress of choice. Sometimes the mothers will even choose to go shopping together. This makes a great bonding experience while also ensuring that the two dresses coordinate beautifully.  Where to Shop For Your Outfit  When considering how to find the perfect mother-of-the-bride dress, take the time to research stores before visiting.   Speciality Stores In comparison to department stores, shops that specialize in bridal wear are better since they will be able to provide you with more options that could meet your specific needs. The assistants there are experts in their field and will know the best styles to flatter your shape. They can also help tailor your dress to fit you perfectly. So, this is the best option for you if you if you don’t know what shapes and colours suit you.  Online Shopping online is convenient and there are a lot of websites to explore  If you are shopping online for your dress, make sure you do it well in advance. Not only will you have to wait until the dress is delivered to you, but you need to be sure it looks good on you once you try it on. Major department store retail sites have a specific wedding shop category and carry a broad range of sizes from petite to plus, which is not so easy to find in small bridal speciality stores.  But you don't need to shop for an actual wedding and mother of the bride dress.  Dresses slotted in categories for evening, cocktail wear and formal wear will also have great options.  Department Stores Department stores will also have plenty of selections of formal wear and evening dresses that you can choose from. But, if you choose a department store dress, you run the risk of someone else turning up to the wedding wearing the same dress.    There are no rules on what you should and should not wear, but when it comes to the selection process, always remember that being considerate on the bride and groom-to-be.

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Mother of The Bride: Essential Styling Tips for Etiquette Rules

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