11 Short Mother of the Bride Dresses That Are Stylish, Sophisticated, and Show Just the Right Amount of Skin (2024)

FAQs

Should the mother of the bride wear a short dress? ›

Fashionable, tasteful and age-appropriate are in. These days, virtually anything goes—formal gown, short or long dress, skirt-and-jacket ensemble—so long as it matches the style of the wedding.

Try blues, greens, purples, and neutrals such as navy, emerald, plum, or silver. These versatile – and universally flattering – palettes make it easy for mothers of the bride and groom to harmonize. With pale green and blue tints, we love silvery shades for Mum, while jewel tones pair well with other rich colours.

"We've seen mothers of the bride and groom moving away from the traditional two-piece outfits, in favour of a more contemporary look that can be worn again. An elegant well-cut dress with sleeves and minimal detail is the most requested look, with a great shoe and bag.

Unless otherwise instructed, is to never wear white or any colour close to what the bride has chosen to wear. Other standard colours to avoid include ivory, white and champagne. Another colour to avoid is black. If black is a colour that you usually like to wear, this might be the time to reconsider.

A formal setting calls for a more upscale ensemble (like something floor-length), while a shorter, more casual wedding outfit is appropriate for laid-back celebrations.

Can the mother of the groom wear a short dress if the mother of the bride wears long? In short, yes. If the mother of the bride decides to wear long, this doesn't mean you have to. Especially if you're not comfortable in a full-length dress or outfit.

A cohesive jewelry set for the mother of the bride often includes a necklace, earrings, and sometimes a bracelet, tailored to the formality of the wedding and her personal style. Classic designs in metals that match her outfit will create a refined look.

Because the mother of the groom isn't part of the bridal party, she should avoid choosing a dress in the same color as the bridesmaids' attire, the mother of the bride's dress, or the wedding gown.

The mother of the bride can wear a handbag or opt out of it, the choice is her own! However, some brides might ask their mothers to bring a bigger handbag to help them store some of the bulkier items they might need throughout the day.

Mother of the Bride & Groom

Both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom are expected to pay for their own wedding attire. Typically, these gowns do not need to match the bridesmaid dresses, however, some brides prefer for the gowns to coordinate in some way.

How not to look matronly as mother-of-the-bride? ›

What we recommend you wearing for a daytime wedding, is a swing or tea dress. As we mentioned earlier, this style of dress is one sure to stand the test of time, while ensuring you look quite the opposite of matronly.

The bride's parents pay for the wedding dress. They also pay for any other elements of the bride's outfit, such as shoes, veil, hair accessories and jewellery. It's also the responsibility of the bride's mother to accompany her while dress shopping, and help her choose a gown.

Updos are a mother-of-the-bride hairstyle favorite for a reason: they're timeless, they frame your face and they work with a wide variety of dress styles. Whether it's a beautiful braided bun, an elegant chignon or an updo with a few wispy tendrils, you really can't go wrong.

Typically the Mother of the Bride's dress should complement the bridal party's color palette. Not necessarily match with the bridesmaids, but choose a color in the color family. The most popular color for the mother of the bride to wear is navy or a royal blue, followed by blush or a shade of nude.

The mother of the bride plays the role of hostess, meaning you should spend some time greeting guests during the reception. Although there are exceptions, other wedding-day duties may include sitting at the parents' table and dancing with the father of the bride to help warm up the dance floor.

The length of the dress is entirely up to you. Some mothers of the bride and groom choose to wear dresses of similar length to create a more harmonious look.

Men don't need to worry about a tuxedo; a tailored suit (with or without a tie) is perfect. Women can wear a short dress or elegant separates—as long as they're still dressy. This is an ideal occasion to break out a little black dress. Avoid styles like sundresses, which are too casual for this type of evening event.

What we recommend you wearing for a daytime wedding, is a swing or tea dress. As we mentioned earlier, this style of dress is one sure to stand the test of time, while ensuring you look quite the opposite of matronly.