The Mother-of-the-Bride Dress Shopping Guide

Brides, this one is for your mom, so read it and send it her way.

She spent years dressing you for birthday parties, school pictures, holidays and all the moments that mattered. Now it is your turn to help her find a dress that makes her feel absolutely fabulous for one of the biggest moments in both of your lives.

A wedding is a milestone for the whole family, and mothers often play an important role in nearly every part of the celebration. From welcoming guests and sharing emotional moments to walking, sitting, dancing and, yes, appearing in countless photographs, you need a dress that feels as special as the occasion and supports you comfortably through the entire day.

Yet many moms treat finding their dress as one of the last items on the wedding checklist. They begin shopping just a few weeks before the celebration, hoping to find something quickly and inexpensively. That can limit their options and turn what should be a memorable experience into a frustrating one.

Here is what every mother of the bride or groom should know before she begins shopping.

Start Shopping Five to Six Months Before the Wedding

Quality mother-of-the-bride and mother-of-the-groom dresses can take several months to arrive, especially if you need a particular style, color or size. You will also want to leave enough time for alterations.

Ideally, begin shopping five to six months before the wedding. Starting early gives you a much better chance of getting the dress you truly love instead of choosing from only the styles that can arrive on short notice.

Set a Realistic Budget

Many moms begin at familiar department stores, assuming they will save money. But after searching through limited selections, inconsistent sizing and dresses that lack the quality or structure they expected, they often come to Platinum Bridal feeling disappointed. What seemed like the more economical route can become a fruitless, time-consuming search.

Designer formalwear is different. The fabrics, construction and finishing are designed to create a more flattering, supportive and polished fit. At Platinum Bridal, we can often help moms stay under $1,000, but most should expect to spend more than $200 or $300. Remember to leave room in your budget for alterations, too. Even the right dress may need a hem, strap adjustment or other tailoring to fit beautifully.

Do Not Judge a Dress on the Hanger

This may be the most important advice we can give you: try it on.

Moms often look at a dress and immediately say, “I can’t wear that.” But formal dresses are designed very differently from everyday clothing. A dress that looks shapeless, fitted or outside your comfort zone on the hanger may completely transform once it is on your body.

Rather than focusing only on the style, begin by noticing the fabric and structure. Do you prefer something soft and stretchy, or do you feel more confident in a thicker, more structured fabric such as Mikado or taffeta? The right fabric can shape, support and flatter your body in ways you may not expect.

Once we discover which fabrics feel best, it becomes much easier to find silhouettes you love.

Choose the Dress for Yourself

A bridesmaid typically chooses a dress that fits the bride’s overall color palette and vision. A mother’s dress is different.

Of course, you want your look to complement the wedding. But you are also dressing as yourself for one of your family’s most important celebrations. You deserve a dress that feels comfortable, photographs beautifully and allows you to sit, walk, dance and enjoy the day.

You will appear in many of the wedding photos, so choose something that makes you feel confident from every angle.

Think of It as an Investment Piece

We often hear moms say, “But I’ll only wear it once.”

A beautiful mother-of-the-bride dress does not have to be a one-day garment. Choose thoughtfully, and it can become a timeless piece in your special-occasion wardrobe. Depending on the style, you may wear it again to another wedding, a gala, a graduation, a holiday celebration or a formal dinner.

You Deserve the Bridal Treatment, Too

At Platinum Bridal, mothers receive the same individual care and attention we give our brides. We will help you explore different fabrics, silhouettes and colors, including options you might never have chosen from the hanger.

You do not need to know exactly what you want before you arrive. You only need enough time and an open mind.

Your daughter or son has found someone to love. Now it is your turn to find a dress you love, too.

Schedule your mother-of-the-bride or mother-of-the-groom appointment at Platinum Bridal and let us help you find a look worthy of the occasion.