Do’s and Don’ts of Mother-of-the-Bride Dress Shopp

Shopping for a wedding gown is romantic, fun, and more than a little stressful for the bride. While the bridal gown will be the focal point of the walk down the aisle, the mother of the bride’s dress garners nearly as much attention. Mothers of brides need nearly as much time to select their gown as brides do. When shopping for what will be the second-most talked-about dress at the wedding, keep these do’s and don’ts of mother of the bride dress shopping in mind:

Do Start Early

Eight months before the big event isn’t too early when factoring in shipping and alterations. Additionally, the mother of the groom typically waits to hear from the mother of the bride before she selects her dress, so she can consider appropriate colors and styles for herself. The mother of the bride should call the mother of the groom early in the process and let her know the general direction of her search. She should call again when she finds her dress or even text the mother of the groom a picture to give her an idea of the style and color of the dress. That way, the mother of the groom can choose something that flatters her without drawing too much focus from the bride and the bride’s mother.

Do Be a Good Sport

If the bride and her intended have chosen to get married in a cow pasture, on a beach, or by a lake, the mother of the bride will have to choose something appropriate for the setting. Look for something in a length that won’t drag on the ground and a style that won’t blow around. Consider the weight of the fabric and whether a coordinating coat or wrap might come in handy for the setting.

Do Dress Up

For some women, appearing in a wedding as the mother of the bride will be the most “dressed up” they’ve been in years. Even if she’s not the dressy type, the mother of the bride must put more effort into choosing a dress for a formal, evening wedding than she ordinarily would invest for a girls’ night out or a casual cocktail party.

Don’t Disregard the Bride’s Feelings

The mother of the bride walks a fine line. She’s expected to be classy and elegant without calling too much attention to herself. At the same time, she’s not expected to disappear into the woodwork by shrouding herself in a coat-dress or a dowdy sheath-bolero combo. The bride will have opinions on what she expects for the mother of the bride, and they’re likely to boil down to wanting her mom to look like her mom, not her sexy aunt or her adorable grandma.

Effie’s carries wonderful collections like Alyce mother-of-the-bride dresses as well as a wide selection of beautiful evening gowns and cocktail dresses that are perfect for mothers of brides. Do keep these additional tips in mind, and enjoy the event.