While the bride and groom are, obviously, the star of the wedding, the parents of the couple are also guests of honor. Because of this, finding the perfect dresses for mother of the groom and mother of the bride is an important component of making a wedding wonderful. We’ve collected a few tips that will help you find dresses for mother of the groom with relative ease, so you can move onto dealing with other wedding planning obligations.
Tip #1: Take Color into Consideration
Because the mother of the groom will likely be involved in many pictures, it is important for her to match with the wedding party, at least on some level. If you are shopping for dresses for the mother of the groom, or you are considering what you’d like the mother of the groom to wear, experts suggest picking a color that is within the same family as the wedding party. For example, if the wedding party is wearing lavender, it might be preferable to look for dresses for the mother of the groom that are in the purple or blue family. These colors will differentiate the mother of the groom from the rest of the pack, but won’t clash in official pictures.
You will also want to avoid dress for the mother of the groom that are considered “faux pas” colors. Red, for example, is often considered too flashy, while white makes the appearance of upstaging the bride. Dresses in black are often considered “mourning” garb, and should be avoided unless the bride and groom are both okay with it.
Tip #2: Check with the In-Laws
It is tradition for the mother of the bride to pick her dress first, but that doesn’t have to happen. It is good forum to discuss your choice with your in-laws before purchase to ensure dresses for the mother of the groom and mother of the bride don’t clash or are not the exact same color. Open communication can help you both pick styles that suit each other well, creating cohesive ensembles for the entire wedding party.
Tip #3: Start Shopping Early
Experts suggest starting your dress search about six months prior to the big day. Six months will give you enough time to find several dresses for mother of the groom that fit your needs. You can slim down your options and pick one with plenty of time for alterations. The closer you get to the wedding the more stressful it will be to search for a dress, so getting that process done several months out from the event will help reduce stress. This also gives you ample time to deal with any alteration issues that may arise.
Tip # 4: Consider the Venue
A long gown is not appropriate for all weddings, nor is a short cocktail dress. When you begin looking for dresses for mother of the groom, you’ll want to consider the venue when looking at options. An afternoon wedding is often more casual, so a tea-length or cocktail style dress will work fine for such an event. An evening wedding tends to be more formal, and a floor-length gown will probably work best for the environment. An outdoor wedding or one with a rustic vibe will lend itself better to short, flowy numbers. Ask the bride and groom about their décor and expectations for the event before falling in love with a dress.
Regardless of the dress you pick, it is important to feel comfortable and confident on the big day. As long as you feel great, you’ll have a wonderful time, and look radiant.
