Dress shopping tips for the Mother of the Bride/Groom

In our years of experience with weddings, we have found that many times the mother of the bride or groom will stress over finding the perfect dress!  Rest assured, shopping for a mothers dress can be fun and stress-free!  Here are a few tips for any of you moms out there who just don't know where to start.

1. Start early The thing that a lot of moms don't understand is that standard delivery for a mothers gown is 12-14 weeks! And, don't forget to factor in time for alterations (approximately 1-2 months) once the dress comes in. With that being said, we love when a mom comes to us 6 months or more before the wedding to order her dress. The options are endless when you have more time! However, don't worry if you have a wedding coming up and you didn't allow youself that much time. Most of the manufacturers we carry do offer rush deliveries (for a small additional charge) to get the perfect gown delivered within about 6-8 weeks.  Of course we also have the option of purchasing a gown that we have in stock if the wedding is very close.

2. Have an open mind Once they start trying on, many moms are surprised by what they actually like! Be open to trying a variety of styles, from soft and flowy to sleek and sexy. Just like the bride, you don't know what you'll like until you try!  We have many moms that even choose a bridesmaids dress to wear, not just the traditional mothers gown.

3. Coordinate with the wedding party, but you don't have to "match"
Of course you want to look like you belong with the wedding, but it is not necessary to match the bridesmaids, or the other mom for that matter.  Keep in mind that unless you have any daughters that are bridesmaids, you probably won't have any formal pictures taken with the bridesmaids.  So...that means you have even more color possibilities!  Make sure the bride approves of your color choice, but don't feel confined to choose a dress that is matching with the bridesmaids.

4.  Be comfortable and confident!
The most important thing to keep in mind is to purchase a dress that is comfortable, and that you feel good in!  Whether that means you are wearing short, long, a jacket, lots of sparkle, or very plain, be comfortable and confident!

Beautiful Caterina dress that is flattering for all sizes and comes in many colors!

Elegant Mori Lee bridesmaid dress that easily can double as a mother's gown

Teal knee length dress by VM

Stunning Montage dress with flattering jacket 

Beautiful lace balero jacket gives this dress just the right touch