It is a special moment for a mother when her daughter walks down the aisle. She may not give her daughter away as this is mainly done by the father, but she has a lot of responsibilities to fulfill on her daughter’s special day. She, too, is a part of several special moments on that day. There will be moments where all eyes would be on her. For all these factors, a bride’s mother needs to wear the perfect dress. One can even say that this outfit is second only to her own wedding dress. Here are some tips to get look for and purchase the best mother of the bride dress.

Talk with the bride
You probably know a lot already about the wedding already but you must talk to your daughter to discuss her vision of the ceremony. Ask her about how formal the ceremony is going to be, the color palette as well as the overall style of the wedding. As pictures are worth a thousand words, it’s a good idea for both of you to share some relevant pictures of the perfect mother of the bride dresses. These pictures can guide the bride’s mother in finding the best dress.

Start early
The best time to start shopping for a mother of the bride dress is at least six months before the wedding. This will give the mother a lot of time to find something that she really wants to wear. Moreover, a mother of the bride dress may need fittings or alterations too. By this time, the bride, as well as the bridesmaids, would have picked their dresses as well. This is great as it gives the bride’s mother an idea about what she needs to wear to complement or coordinate with their dress.

David’s Bridal has some of the best dresses for the mother of the bride that will complement the bride’s outfit.

Consider the wedding colors
Some brides prefer that their mothers wear dresses in the same color palette as the bridesmaids, but there is no set rule. The key is to ensure that the mother’s dress complements and does not clash with the hue of the wedding. Some safe colors to wear are blush, navy, metallics, jewel tones, and chocolate brown.

Previously, the mother of the bride would never dress in red, black, ivory, champagne, or white since these colors would not suit their age or would clash with the bride’s outfit. But these traditions are changing and today a bride’s mother can wear all of these colors as they look tasteful and chic. If a mother of the bride is not sure about picking a color from the list given above, then she can consult her daughter to get to know her views.

Simplydresses.com has a range of mother of the bride dresses that make them look like a million bucks on their daughter’s special day.

Think about the style
No mother would want to upstage their daughter during the special day. At the same time, this is no reason for mothers to dress conservatively, or in a frumpy or matronly style. There are several options that would suit a mother glamorously without giving her an over-the-top look. Depending on the formality of the ceremony, any style like a chic sheath dress, a cocktail dress, a classic suit or a formal gown would work just fine. However, it is best for mothers and daughters to discuss the dress choice as this will prevent any disagreements later. They are sure to find a middle ground in case of a disagreement. Find the best mother of the bride dress that is sure to make this day special for both of them.

Macy’s also has a collection of mother of the bride dresses for you to choose from.

Consider logistics
This point is as important for a bride as it is for the bride’s mother. The mother of the bride should not wear a dress that would make her look like the odd-one-out. She needs to dress as per the setting, the time of the day, the venue, etc. Moreover, she may have to adhere to certain religious or cultural norms like wearing a cover-up. Thus, the mother of the bride should find a dress keeping all these things in mind.

A wedding ceremony is special not only for the couples but also their families and friends. The mother of the bride is probably the most important person after the couple who receives all the attention. Thus, she is required to be appropriately and beautifully dressed. These days, there are so many dress options available for the mother of the bride. You need to choose the right color, cut, and style depending on the occasion. Talking to the couple or your daughter is the best way to find the right dress. Some of the best brands for mother of the bride dresses are David’s Bridal and Dillard’s.

Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect mother of the bride dress.

Formality
Depending on the formality of the wedding, the bride’s mother needs to choose an appropriate dress. For a low-key wedding, you can go for casual attire. However, a formal ceremony would require you to wear a certain standard of dress. For a formal wedding, you will need to wear a full-length dress with minimal embellishments. It is a good idea to be dressed in a conservative gown of one or two colors at the most.

A casual wedding on the beach does not require you to wear anything fancy. A sundress is all you need. You can pair it with a cardigan or a light shawl if the weather gets chilly. Check with your daughter to ensure that your dress is appropriate for the venue and the setting. It should complement her dress as well.

Semi-formal weddings call for a dress that matches the outfits of the bride and the bridesmaids. You can wear a halter neck dress with a jacket to get the perfect semi-formal look.

Keep the theme in mind
If the wedding has a theme, it is important to dress according to it. Get to know the theme of the wedding and find an appropriate dress for yourself. It is not too hard to get the perfect attire as per the theme.

Religious customs, culture, and other traditions may require you to dress in a certain way. A wedding ceremony that follows certain religious traditions would require you to wear a special dress as per the customs.

Time of the day
You’re sure to know at what time the ceremony is going to take place. If it is a morning or a day wedding, your mother of the bride dress should be short and casual. If the wedding is the late afternoon or even in the evening, you can wear a more jazzy evening dress.

Dresses for a destination wedding
Destination weddings come with special considerations as far as the style of the dress is concerned. For instance, if the wedding is taking place on a beach, light and sunny dresses are good choices. But if the ceremony is going to happen in a castle, then the appropriate dress would be a long ball gown.

Choosing the right style
It is pertinent to choose a dress that does not clash with the color or style of the bridesmaids’ dresses. You are the mother of the bride, so your dress needs to stand apart from the crowd. At the same time, you do not want to draw too much attention to yourself. This attention should be centered on the bride alone. Choose a dress that fits the color scheme yet does not look too similar to the dresses of bridesmaids. For instance, if the bridesmaids are wearing purple dresses, you can wear a dress in a shade of lavender. It is also important to consult with the mother of the groom to know what she intends to wear and decide your attire accordingly.

You can talk to other women about how they dressed for their daughters’ weddings as this would also you a fairly good idea about the appropriate attire.