Wedding season is fully upon us and if you haven’t yet picked a dress, I have some helpful tips for all you mother-of-the-brides (MOTB) and mother-of-the-grooms (MOTG). But first, let’s talk about etiquette.
The MOTB has first choice when selecting a dress. Once she has provided the specifics on what color, length and style the dress is, then the MOTG should select a dress to complement, but not exactly match.
Some tips for both parties:
  • Wear a dress in a color, style, and length that goes with but does not exactly match, the mother of the bride’s dress and the bridesmaids’ dresses.
  • Do not wear white, off-white, or a similar neutral shade that matches the bride’s dress.
  • Choose a mother of the groom wedding outfit appropriate for the formality of the wedding. A casual wedding may allow a less formal dress. For example, summer dresses for a beach wedding might be casual yet still dressy.
  • Do not wear black unless it is a formal wedding and has been approved by the bride and groom.
  • Communication is key, having an open conversation on attire with the bride and groom will prevent any fashion slip ups
A Note on Blended Families
A stepmother is usually considered an honored guest, but not necessarily on the same honoree level as the mother of the bride or groom. Her attire should fall somewhere between normal wedding guest outfits and that of the mother of the bride or groom. Again, communication is key to ensure your attire fits in with the desires of the special people who are getting married!
For my fellow Angelenos, I highly recommend one of my favorite stores for an incredible selection of dresses and personalized attention, Papillon in Redondo Beach . The owner of Papillon, Krushenka, brings in beautiful dresses to cater to all styles and body types. Mention GTD and you will receive 10% off your purchase on any dress, or better yet, schedule a shopping day with me and I will make sure you look great on your son or daughter’s special day.
Below are my suggestions for a MOTB dress and its complementing MOTG dress. Shopping links can be found here. Enjoy!