Guide to Mother of the Bride & Groom Dresses + Wedding Attire Etiquette

Depending on how you feel about dress shopping, looking for a mother of the bride or mother of the groom dress can be a fun and exciting process! Your son or daughter is getting married so make sure you look extra stylish on their big day! We collected our best etiquette tips, our favorite dress styles, and some popular color options to help you find your perfect mother of the bride or mother of the groom dress!

Gorgeous Mother of the Bride Dresses & Styles for 2024 Weddings

Whether you’re looking for a flowing gown or a fitted dress, we have a large selection of mother of the bride or groom dresses available to choose from. Some of our favorite dresses are subtle with a hint of sparkle, have a structured fit to flatter any body type, and are made in classic silhouettes. Choose a dress that you will feel confident, comfortable, and beautiful in throughout the ceremony and reception!

1) Ruffle Mother of the Bride Dress for Summer

Jade J215005 Mother of the Bride Dress

The Jade J215005 mother of the bride is made from luxury soft Tiffany chiffon. The ruffled flounce in the front adds a touch of detail to this sleek and simple dress. This sleeveless and v-neck dress is lightweight and airy for a summer wedding! While this dress is body-hugging and figuring flattering is also has a covered back for modesty and bra-coverage.

2) Detailed Lace Bodice Mother of the Bride Dress

Kinsley Beaded Mother of the Bride Dress

The bodice of the Kinsley mother of the of the bride dress is embellished with beaded and embroidered lace. This dress features a flowy chiffon a-line skirt, pockets to hold your essentials, and 3 inch sheer straps. The v-back, sheer shoulders, and leg slit add sultry touches to this floor length gown. Kinsley is a classic choice for any mother of the bride or groom!

3) Cape Covered Mother of the Groom Dress for Fall

Jade Couture K218054 Mothers Dress

The K218054 mother of the groom dress by Jade Couture sweetheart neckline bodice leading into a fit-and-flare skirt accented with a sweep train. The cape on this dress adds a sheer coverage to the bodice, back, and arms, perfect for the slightly chilly weather of fall. The matte Jersey fabric of this dress makes it extra comfortable for a long night of dancing!

4) All-Over Beaded Elegant Mother of the Bride Dress

Adrianna Papell 40215 Mothers Dress

Covered in delicate beaded lace, this elegant mother of the groom or bride dress is a gorgeous option for your son or daughter’s wedding. You’ll love how the sheer illusion scoop neckline and fit and flare silhouette flatters your body. The short sleeves and floor length skirt on the Adrianna Papell 40215 will keep you covered and comfortable in any weather.

5) One Sleeve Mother of the Bride Dress

Kennedy Blue Blake Mothers Dress

An asymmetrical look is the perfect way to express your sense of style in a subtle way. Kennedy Blue’s Blake mother of the bride dress is made from high-quality chiffon fabric with boning in the bodice for extra support and shape. This flattering a-line dress is sophisticated yet sexy with a leg slit, flowy one-shoulder neckline, and lightweight skirt.

6) Cap Sleeve Mother of the Groom Dress

Adrianna Papell Platinum 40160 Mothers Dress

Adrianna Papell’s Platinum 40160 mother of the groom dress features a V-neckline, all over beading, and beautiful floral embroidery. The sheer cap sleeves allow you to keep your shoulders covered in a chic way. Thin rows of beading cover the waist seam to accentuate your hourglass figure. 

7) Satin Mother of the Bride Dress

Kennedy Blue Rory Mothers Dress

There’s no fabric more elegant than satin! Show up to your son or daughter’s wedding in an elegant satin mother of the bride/groom dress. Rory by Kennedy Blue has a unique high neckline with open shoulders, a keyhole back, and a floor length skirt. Our satin is high-quality, ultra-soft, and matte for a subtle look.

8) Sequin Mother of the Bride Dress

Kennedy Blue Jamie Mothers Dress

Jamie is a head-to-toe sequin dress that will have you sparkling on your son or daughter’s big day! This dress has a fitted silhouette that is fitted at your natural waist with a long floor-length skirt. The simple shape of this dress is complemented by details like a bateau neckline, cap sleeves, and a detachable cowl back. 

What Color Should the Mother of the Bride Wear?

As the mother of the bride or the mother of the groom, you’ll want to wear a color that flatters your skin tone, isn’t too bright or bold, and suits the wedding aesthetic. Some common mother of the bride dress colors include: gold, black, navy, and burgundy. Be sure to talk to the couple to get an idea of what they prefer. The bride and groom may want you to wear a specific color to coordinate with the bridal party and wedding color palette.

1) Gold Mother of the Bride Dress: Kennedy Blue Alyssa

Kennedy Blue Alyssa Mothers Dress in Gold

Gold is a beautiful color for mother of the bride dresses because it’s elegant and luxurious. Gold will make you feel like royalty on your son or daughter’s wedding day. Our sequin mother of the bride dresses are an especially fun option. We love the way the gold sequins add a layer of sparkle to the simple a-line silhouette of our Alyssa mother of the bride gown. This dress also features a stylish cowl on the back.

2) Black Mother of the Bride Dress: Kennedy Blue Tilda

Kennedy Blue Tilda Mothers Dress in Black

Black is flattering on nearly everyone and a black mother of the bride dress is a very sleek and stylish choice. If you need sleeves on your mother of the bride dress, Tilda is a beautiful option. Sleeves are a great idea for weddings in winter, fall, or even spring. Sleeves may also be helpful if you have insecurities about your arms or just prefer to have them covered.

3) Navy Blue Mother of the Bride Dress: Kennedy Blue Betsy

Kennedy Blue Betsy Beaded Mothers Dress in Navy Blue

Betsy features a beaded embroidered bodice, a sewn in belt to accentuate your waist, and a flowing chiffon skirt. This dress looks gorgeous in navy blue! The bodice of this dress also features beautiful 3-inch wide sheer straps. A navy blue mother of the bride dress is a wonderful option for mothers who like the reliability of dark tones but want to wear a color instead of black.

4) Burgundy Mother of the Bride Dress: Kennedy Blue London

Kennedy Blue London Mothers Dress in Bordeaux

If the bride and groom are using warm colors for their wedding, a burgundy mother of the bride dress is a great option to coordinate with their color palette. A burgundy mother bride dress is also a great option for winter weddings! Kennedy Blue’s London has a sparkly sequin bodice complemented by a simple chiffon skirt. This dress has a modest neckline, covered shoulders, a romantic leg slit, and an open back with a cowl detail for added elegance.

Mother of the Bride & Groom Attire Etiquette

The main goal you should have while shopping for your dress is to choose something that will have you looking and feeling your best. As the mother of the bride or groom, you are one of the most honored guests at the wedding! You’ll want to follow a few simple guidelines to make sure you pick the perfect dress for your son or daughter’s wedding.

a) Have the Couple Weigh In

Before you decide on your dress, make sure you get input from the wedding couple. They may have specific colors in mind for you to coordinate with the bridal party and wedding color scheme. They also may want you to wear something more formal or more casual than what you were thinking.

b) Be Sure to Purchase Far Enough in Advance

You can start shopping for your son or daughter’s wedding as soon as you’d like! We highly recommend starting your mother of the bride dress shopping as early as possible. You’ll want to take your time picking the perfect dress. Then, you need plenty of time to make alterations so that your dress fits you how you like. Plus, you may also need to account for shipping time if you’re ordering online.

c) Complement the Bridal Party, Venue, & Season

We know you want to look extra nice on your son or daughter’s big day however, you don’t want stand out too much to avoid overshadowing the bride. Make sure you are cohesive with the wedding party so that the pictures look nice and everyone looks good together during the ceremony. 

Consider the venue as well when you’re picking your dress. For a beach wedding you may want a lighter, flowing dress. For a church wedding, consider a more modest dress. Don’t forget to take the season of the year and the weather that time of year when you decide on your dress. You may want long sleeves or a thicker fabric like velvet for a winter wedding. For a summer wedding you may want spaghetti straps and a lighter fabric like chiffon or satin.

d) Make Sure You Love Your Outfit

The most important element of your mother of the bride attire is yourself! Make sure you feel confident, comfortable, and beautiful on your son or daughter’s big day. You’ll be doing a lot of dancing, so make sure you wear something you can move around in. If you’re the mother of the groom, take into account that you will be having a dance with your son in front of everyone during the reception!

e) Communicate with Any Other Mother(s)

If you want to, you can coordinate with the other mother(s) in the wedding! Get your fellow mother(s) contact information and ask her if she has a dress in mind. Choose dresses that are complementary to each other, such as dresses in the same color or with the same neckline. Coordinating mother’s dresses look great in wedding photos!

Find an Elegant Mother of the Bride Dress

What are you looking for in the perfect mother of the bride dress? Do you want extra structure and support to flatter your figure? Do you want a flowy gown so you can dance all night? Keep in mind your comfort as you shop around for the perfect dress! Once you figure out what you’re looking for in a dress and communicate with the bride, groom, and the other mother(s) you’re ready to go shopping! The Wedding Shoppe has a huge range of mother of the bride and mother of the groom dresses for you to choose from. Why not get started shopping today?