Mother of the Bride and Groom
We share some practical ideas of what significant women in a couple’s life could wear to the wedding
When so much thought and care goes into what the happy couple wears on their wedding day, it’s also a very special time for the significant role models in their lives. Canterbury Bride spoke with Suzanne Talbot from Fashion Focus about what mothers of the bride and groom could wear and how to wear it.
What thoughts and ideas go into what to wear to a wedding?
Weddings are very special days for the whole family. We all want to look our best. When choosing an outfit there are many factors to take into consideration:
Comfort – is the wedding on a hot summer’s day? If so, coverage from the sun without adding warmth is a must. If it is in the middle of winter it’s important that we stay warm, so a warm outer layer, such as a cape or coat, is essential.
Colour – what colour is the bridal party wearing? Does the bride want you to coordinate, or is she not worried? What colours best suit your complexion? A good sales person will be able to help you with this.
Fit – do you want a figure-hugging dress, or one that covers ‘a multitude of sins’? Do you have a figure that is easy to dress? Then you will need to learn to be decisive – there will be many options. Or do you have a figure that is harder to dress? In which case you will need to be prepared to compromise. Often women leave with a totally different dress than what they had in mind! Also a dress may not fit properly when first purchased – but a good alterations person can make the dress fit perfectly.
Price – for some people this is a real factor. Being able to reuse parts of previous outfits helps, or we have some great brands at affordable prices in our collection.
What sort of input generally goes into choosing the outfit?
This depends on the bride. Some mothers of the bride and groom shop together, or share photos of their outfits so they don’t wear the same dress.
Is it best to fit in with the colour scheme of the wedding or wear whatever suits and feels comfortable?
Some people are given a colour selection to choose from. If you’re not sure just ask the bride or groom and they can steer you in the right direction.
How far in advance should they be planning what to wear?
Most people come in a good few months before the wedding. Unless you know what you want, it’s important to be open to trying on a number of outfits and to allow about an hour or an hour and a half for this process. We can also give our advice and help with pinning for alterations etc.
Should the mothers of the couple match?
Most mothers of bride and groom are very mindful of what the other one is wearing. There’s an unspoken rule that mother of the bride gets first pick of outfit, then mother of the groom – although this
◌ doesn’t always happen.