Beach Wedding Wear for Mothers: Timeless Styles for the Big Day
Beach weddings are beautiful, but their unique setting makes finding the right outfit as a mother of the bride or groom a little tricky. You want to look elegant and timeless, but with the sand beneath your feet, tropical heat, and a sea breeze, there are a few extra things to consider. Plus, you want to make sure your outfit has that special beach vibe!
How do you nail down the look to feel confident and relaxed? I’ve rounded up some chic and timeless Mom dresses for beach weddings that are perfect for women over 40, 50, and 60+, along with a few guidelines for how to wear them.
Green Floral Maxi |Pink Bow Gown
Beach Wedding Wear for Mothers
If your son or daughter has booked a destination wedding, it’s important to remember that not all beach weddings are alike. Some are dressy and elegant and call for beautiful floral cocktail dresses—think Palm Beach Style. Others are more casual and laid-back, allowing you to wear a gauzy maxi dress. Hawaii, barefoot in the sand, comes to mind.
Let’s start by breaking down what beach wedding attire looks like in general and what not to wear before I share some fabulous outfit ideas.
Beach Weddings – Moms!
What Is Beach Wedding Attire?
Beach wedding attire, as a guest or as the mother of the bride or groom, is about looking chic, timeless, and relaxed. Think classy resort wear. It’s light, loose, comfy and colorful. Light, breathable fabrics like linen, flowy chiffon, and cotton are in sync with the vibe and will keep you cool. Even if it’s a dressier beach wedding and you want to wear an elegant skirt, dress, or a tailored pantsuit, avoid styles that are stiff, tight, or serious. The goal is to look chic but laid back.
What NOT To Wear To A Beach Wedding
- Heavy fabrics: Velvet, brocade, and heavy satin aren’t practical for a beach wedding. They’re too hot and heavy in the sand and sun.
- Dark colors: The rule of thumb is to avoid wearing black at a wedding—you’re not dressing for a funeral! Even more so at the beach, where dark tones can feel out of place and attract more sun.
- White: This goes without saying, right? Even floral print with too much white in the background is risque. Steer clear out of respect!
- Too much bling: Wearing too much glam or bling can feel like you’re trying to upstage the bride. Plus, overly flashy jewelry at the beach can just feel tacky.
- Stiletto Heels: It’s hard enough walking on the beach barefoot, so imagine walking in stilettos, lol! Stick to flat and strappy sandals for the sand or a pair of practical block heels if the ceremony is on the grass. Heels can be okay if the wedding is on level ground by the pool or on a heel-friendly patio. Check ahead!
What To Wear To A Dressy Beach Wedding For Mothers
Formal, dressy beach weddings are magical. They’re typically late-day or early-evening weddings that are very glamorous and sophisticated. A formal beach wedding dress for moms is usually a long, flowy gown. Here are a few trending styles.
Long Sleeve Gown
Many moms prefer dresses with sleeves even in the heat, so here is a beautiful dress that will do that and keep you cool. This breezy chiffon gown with elegant slit sleeves allows you to cover up without overheating.
The vibrant floral design and flowy pleats would look perfect in a breezy ocean setting. You could easily lean into some timeless gold accessories like a layered pendant necklace and pearl-studded bracelet. I’d suggest these low-block heel gold sandals with ankle straps, which are easy to walk in. The gold also looks glam and keeps the focus on the print.
Blush One-shoulder Gown
Blush Gown
Off-the-shoulder and one-shoulder gowns are elegant and popular. This stunning blush-colored gown is a lovely example of formal beach wedding wear for moms. It’s timeless and romantic, and the subtle gold dots on this airy chiffon give it a touch of glam. Isn’t that gorgeous rosette breathtaking?
Sweeping Boho Gown
Classy Caftans and Bohemian-style dresses are lovely choices since they match the free-spirited and natural feeling of Beach weddings. This stunning floral cotton maxi dress is on the high-fashion side boho (haute hippie), and is would be stunning on if you like this vibe.
Blue one-shoulder maxi | Blue Floral Cocktail Dress – Perfect for a Semi-Formal Beach Wedding
What To Wear To A Semi-Formal Beach Wedding For Mothers
Semi-formal beach weddings are also elegant and upscale, but it’s also o.k. to wear colorful, shorter cocktail dresses. Think of chic resort-style dresses that can be above the knee or midi-length. Dressy, colorful jumpsuits are also acceptable. Here are a few examples.
Eyelet Midi Dress
This romantic pink eyelet midi dress is lovely, ladylike, and perfect for a semi-formal beach wedding. A low-block heel like this would work, or if the wedding was on sand and you wanted to slip your shoes off, you could dress it down with some flat slides. Add dressy earrings and a fabulous clutch for a pretty, elegant look.
Fit-And-Flare Dress
Fit-and-flare dresses like this one are very popular because they’re feminine and play up your shape. This one is so cute and clever, with a bold flower belt that cinches your waist. I love the dainty gold metallic florals with the Aqua. This combo feels very Palm Beach to me, and it’s no wonder since this dress is from Lily Pulitzer – the queen of glam beach looks.
It is brocade, which is usually hot, but being sleeveless and short, it could be fine. Block-heel sandals are practical and pretty. Complete the look with elegant teardrop earrings and a stylish gold cuff bracelet.
One-Shoulder Maxi Dress
Pistachio green is a refreshing tone that reflects the natural, beachy environment of this timeless maxi-length dress. The one-shoulder detail adds a touch of resort-style charm. The lightweight fabric keeps you cool as you stroll the beach before the wedding or enjoy the ceremonial festivities.
Beaded raffia sandals, starburst drop earrings, and an elegant statement necklace are all you need to complete this breezy beach wedding look.
What To Wear To A Casual Beach Wedding For Mothers
A casual beach wedding (also known as a dressy-casual beach wedding) is the most relaxed kind of ceremony. It’s typically a small, daytime wedding right on the beach, often very near the water, and the reception is held somewhere low-key, like a local restaurant. Since it’s so casual, all you need is a pretty sundress, colorful maxi, or floral jumpsuit. For example:
Tie-Waist Maxi Dress
If you want to keep it simple but look pretty, then something like this coral tie-waist maxi is an unbeatable, dressy-casual look. Made from lightweight satin, this simple, belted tank can be dressed up or down, and you can always throw on a pretty shawl or ruana for sun protection or wind.
Woven raffia sandals, a classic gold disc necklace, and textured drop earrings would look wonderful with this casual beach wedding outfit.
Pretty Print Dress
A sundress or any pretty day dress like this is one is appropriate for a casual beach wedding. This tiered floral dress is trending, but if you want more of a sundress feel, here’s a darling shift dress in the same print. Want it more tropical? Here is a cute, casual, tropical sundress that is great!
Sleeveless Floral Jumpsuit
Is it a jumpsuit? Is it a maxi dress? It’s hard to tell at first glance but under the floral overlay lie wide-leg crepe pants. When you want to wear pants but look feminine, then this chiffon jumpsuit is the best of both worlds. Embellished sandals and pearl/stone drop earrings are a nice way to accessorize this look.
Are you ready to Get Your “Mom Dress” for a Beach Wedding?
It’s easy to look and feel fabulous at a beach wedding when you’re the Mom! Just follow the 3 dress codes I’ve explained, keep light, colorful, and resort-like in mind, but most of all, choose something that feels like you and makes you happy. When you look good, you feel good, and life is so much more fun, including a beach wedding!
For more wedding-inspired fashion tips, check out these posts:
Be sure to visit my LTK storefront to shop everything I post all in one place. And keep up with my blog for each new post. You can also join my private Facebook group, Fabulous After 40 Dressing Room, to discuss some of your favorite styles to wear to a beach wedding. Are you going dressy, semi-formal, or casual? I can’t wait to read all about it!
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