12 Best Mother of the Bride Dresses That Aren't Frumpy for 2024 (2024)

FAQs

What are the mother of the brides wearing in 2024? ›

Blush mother of the bride dresses

If you're striving for a soft and feminine look - blush pink could be the perfect choice. Look out for embellishments like sequins, beads or floral appliqué to add interest, and light fabrics like soft tulle and mesh that will flutter in the breeze.

Romantic ruffles and eye-catching embellishments in pastel pinks, bright reds and muted blues are all on offer for the glamorous mums out there. For those who love florals, we're a little bit obsessed with the feminine bold blooms and very flattering floaty silhouette of the Wisteria Chiffon Round Neck Ankle Gown.

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.

While dressing in too revealing a style isn't advisable for any guest, you can dress to emphasise your assets - a sleeveless dress to show toned arms, belts to highlight your waist or a shorter length for great legs. Keep styling simple and avoid too much embellishment, which can look fussy in photos.

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.

Pantone's 2024 Color of the Year Is Peach Fuzz—Here's How to Use the Happy Creamsicle Shade in Your Wedding.

The MOTB can wear any color she wants, but it's better to avoid certain colors such as white, ivory, or champagne tones as they're considered bridal colors and may take attention away from the bride.

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.

Should the mother of the bride and mother of the groom wear different colors? Generally yes, according to Valiente. "Open communication is key to nailing the color selection," she says.

Pay attention to fit.

If something is too tight or too loose it's never a good look, but especially after the baby the fit really matters. Make sure you've got a great mirror so you can check things from 360 degrees, whether it's too look for back fat, bra overhang, or more.

What is the etiquette for mother of the bride? ›

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.

Ideally, it's best to start looking for a mother of the bride outfit six to eight months before the wedding date. This should give you enough time to try on a few different options, find something you love and allow for any alterations that need to be made.

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.

A: The Mother of the Bride is special. She needs to stand out a bit from the bridesmaids, so her dress should complement rather than match the bridesmaid's dresses. For example, the MOB could wear a dress in a similar color to the bridesmaids but in a deeper shade.

(Psst: The same goes for grandmother-of-the-bride dresses, too.) Moms are encouraged to wear an outfit that they love (with the bride's approval, of course). Sleek evening gowns, trendy midi dresses, dressy jumpsuits and chic MOB pantsuits are all excellent options.

For the mother of the bride, go for the most special co*cktail dress or gown you can find. Just like white tie, you would expect to see the dress code black tie for an evening wedding. But, unlike its slightly more formal counterpart, this is a dress code you are quite likely to see on a wedding invitation.

These lengths are chic and elegant, without being overly formal. Knee-length dresses are perfect for more casual weddings, while midi-length dresses are a great choice for more formal events. For evening weddings, floor length mother of the bride gowns are the most traditional and formal option.

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. Take inspiration from the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses, as these can help influence what dress length the mother of the bride should wear.