One of my favorite features is back – Real Mother of the Bride Dresses, my readers actually wore! Have a look at what these ladies chose, and how they decided their dress was the one! If they can all look fabulous as MOB’s, you can too!
Beautiful Dress. Great Price!
Here’s a funny dress story my reader Terri shared with me that I think you’ll enjoy! When Terri was searching for a dress for her son Travis’ July wedding, and she couldn’t find one she liked or that fit like a glove, she ended up paying $350 to have a custom made Mother of the Groom dress.
But after spending all that money, when she got the dress, she hated it! Since she had paid so much for it, she decided to bite the bullet and wear it anyway.
Meanwhile, she had been helping her 85-year-old mom find a dress for the wedding and had ordered a few from JCPenny. Her mom fell in love with one of the dresses, and Terri fell in love with one of the others! As soon as she put it on, zipped it, she knew she had to wear it because she felt so pretty! And, even better, it was on sale for $49!
In the end, Terri scrapped the custom dress, wore the JC Penny dress, and didn’t feel bad at all. Just goes to show you, it’s all about feeling good in what you wear. That’s the most important thing. You made the right choice, Terri!
Elegant Embellished Neckline
For her daughter Julia’s wedding, Pamela chose this floor-length, deep navy blue gown with a beautiful embellished neckline. She chose the dress because not only is it gorgeous, but it was also very figure-flattering, comfortable, modest, and dignified.
(Good taste, Pamela. I wore the same dress in Burgundy a while back!)
Pamela had anticipated dress shopping was going to be a long, drawn-out process, but she was pleasantly surprised when she tried on four dresses, and this one was the charm! The wedding was a black-tie affair that was held at the Faculty Club at the University where Pamela’s husband is a professor, which is why Pamela opted for a floor-length dress. So lovely!
Radiant In Red
Red is a bold choice for a mother of the bride dress, but it’s a confident, lively color and can look fantastic. This beautiful fashionista @ageingdisgracefully pulls it off red with grace and style. Her stunning gown with the embellished cape is dramatic and breathtaking. I love the way it accentuates her platinum blonde hair. This is such a regal look!
Navy Is Always Nice
When Alva’s daughter Kayla was married in Newfoundland, Canada, Alva chose this classic navy gown. The unique MOB dress was created by a Montreal designer and features lots of pearls and beading, which is something Alva has always loved.
Alva also admired the way the dress complemented the bride’s, yet was just as stunning on its own. Sleeveless was definitely the way to go since the wedding was at a golf course during the month of July, and it was hot.
The bridesmaids wore a combination of gold and purple that co-ordinated with Alva’s classic navy dress. Elizabeth, the Mother of the Groom, wore a black floor-length gown with a charming floral skirt.
A very glamourous wedding party!
Sparkling In Silver
Fit and Flare
Many women ask if it is o.k. for the Mother of the Bride to wear black, and the answer is yes (so long as the bride approves). When Kathy’s son David was married in an early evening ceremony in Northwest Arkansas during October, she wore this chic, black Tahari Arthur S Levine cocktail dress that she bought at Dillard’s. It’s a very figure-flattering fit and flare style with diagonal pleats set around waist and hips.
The pretty mesh sleeves are detailed with embroidery and delicate black jewels. Kathy says this elegant dress was also very comfy, making it the perfect choice for a long day of fun. Fabulous!
Stunning in Sequins
Doesn’t Liz look like the belle of the ball in this sequin, high-low hem dress? Liz chose this sequinned beauty for her daughter Libby’s wedding, which took place in Stafford, Oregon, in August. The dress by Adrianna Papell dress and was purchased at Nordstrom.
Liz had three things in mind when she was MOB dress shopping. 1) Color. Liz wanted a dress that blended well with the overall look of the wedding. 2) Comfort. Liz wanted a dress that was comfortable for the time of year, temperature and would stand up to a long day of wear and 3) She thought it was important that her daughter felt great about her choice, too.
At first, Liz thought that sequins might be over the top, but when she ran it past her daughter, she told Liz to Go for it! Liz, seen here with her son Jon, is absolutely glowing in this gold goddess gown!
Looking back Liz says choosing a dress felt overwhelming and complicated, but was worth all the time and effort, especially since she will be these photos for years to come. “I’m glad I didn’t leave the process to the very last minute because it definitely takes time.”
Something Old, Something New
When Lori’s daughter, Emily, was married last June she made the very sentimental and heartwarming choice to wear her mom’s wedding dress from 30 years prior. ( see photo, far right)
With the help of a very talented seamstress, they modified the puffy, “linebacker” shoulders and sleeves and the huge ballgown skirt. The revised wedding dress turned out beautifully, and Emily looked absolutely stunning. Lori told me that it was such an honor that her daughter wore her dress. And can you believe how white it was after 30 years?
Lori’s Mother of the Bride dress was very pretty too. She wore a navy, floral knee-length dress that she bought at Belk. It was very simple, incredibly comfortable, and appropriate for the outdoor venue. And the best part is, Lori plans to wear the dress to celebrate Easter this year!
Love At First Sight
Personality Plus!
Your mother of the bride gown should be a true reflection of you. If you’ve got a fun, creative personality, show it off with a gown that reflects that. That’s what Julia has done here. The 54-year-old mother of the bride is beaming in a strapless, full length black and white striped dress. The dress and the statement necklace are fashion-forward, classy, and fun for this special celebration.
It seems like the perfect mother of the bride dress for the hot weather in Asheville, North Carolina. You look magnificent, Julia.
Don’t miss these lovely Mothers of the Bride and Groom!
NEED MORE IDEAS?
Need more ideas about what to wear as Mother of the Bride or Groom. Pick up a copy of my bestselling E-book Tweak Your Chic – Mother of the Bride. It will tell you everything you need to know on one of the most important and cherished days of your life.
This was so fun to read Deborah! I love how you showed real women.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks for dropping by. This is my favorite post to do because I get to showcase my readers! Cheers, Deb
Loved the post and commentary stories about each dress and how it was chosen.
Thank you so much for this post. My daughter’s wedding is supposed to be June 20th. I’ve been shopping for a month already. I’m an 8P so stores don’t have my size in the store to try on. I’ve ordered 24 dresses and have it down to 2 styles finally. My friends are going to help me choose. One of the top choices is the embellished neckline one in the first photo which you also wore. I was afraid it was too much but now I’m more confident. I cant wait to be done with this. It is super stressful. When my son got married it was only 102 guests and outside. I bought a lace covered knee length that I loved. This time it’s 250 guests black tie preferred. I’ve been so worried. I didn’t want to go over $250 for my dress.
Thank you for all your posts. You help me frequently!