Winter Wedding? What to do when the dress Feels LIke a Wreck

Is your mother of the bride dress blocking your enthusiasm for the event? After ordering and trying on more than 20 dresses - YES 20! (For my son's upcoming wedding.) I've learned that MOTB dress anxiety is real! As the mother of the bride/groom,  it's so easy to say, “It’s not about me, it’s about the lovely couple and what they want”. But if you’re feeling insecure about your fit, it may distract you from your fabulous support role. How to find the right look for you? Here's the system I've come up with to ensure you are appropriate, in harmony with the wedding vision AND magnificently you!

But first, here are the typical suggestions that may or may not be helpful....

The color PALETTE.  We want more than a single color here. Be sure to ask for color choices. It’s typical to be told the wedding colors, and often this is where the direction ends. It is important to know color choices. Ask for options - if you are assigned one single color, that may or may not work with your personal coloring.  And if the style options available in that color don't work for your figure type, you will be limited and left feeling insecure.  Ask for more than one color option to give yourself more options to be confidently you. 

Formal, semi-formal, casual dress, etc. This is helpful in knowing the length of the dress, but doesn’t paint a complete picture. Once you’re able to answer the questions below, the formality of the event will be crystal clear. For now...

• Formal is generally considered a full length gown with a tux or suit for men.
  
• Semi-formal is considered knee to midi length, aka not too informal but not a prom dress either. (This may or may not double as something you would also wear to church.) Men would wear a suit. 
  
• Cocktail is knee length or above, and men would wear a shirt with a collar and/or jacket.
  
• Casual dress is … let’s just say not pjs or sweats out of respect for the lovely couple.  

Questions to ask beyond the typical suggestions...

• Are patterns acceptable or does the bride want all solid colors? Yes, a little variety in the patterns can look harmonious and beautiful if they are kept within the same color palette. 

• What is one word to describe the mood of the event? Elegant, dreamy, intimate, western? Look to repeat this feeling in your outfit. If the mood isn’t clear, knowing where the event is being held could give you an indication.  If in a green house, it may feel more tropical and/or elegant. An outdoor garden wedding could feel more relaxed and intimate. This will also dictate your choice in shoes - there’s nothing worse than wearing spikey heels to an outdoor wedding where you’re walking in the grass! 

• Fabric type and texture?​ These are elements that reflect the mood of the event. If she is unsure about this, take your cue from her dress. Is the fabric shiny, flat, or textured, is there lace, fringe, or possibly a subtle floral pattern? Choose one or more of these elements to repeat in your dress. 

The satin bridal gown looks harmonious with satin wedding party dresses.

Repeating the floral or lace pattern in the bridal gown is beautiful in a mother of the bride dress. 

One last tip...

• Be sure the dress is appropriate for the season the wedding is actually in. Not the season you’re currently in. It’s easy to get caught up in the season you’re planning in which could be months before the actual season of the wedding - which could cause you to look out of place at the actual event- try buying last season’s close outs if the wedding is far in advance (yes, I'm talking to you Miss Plan-Way-Ahead) - if not wait and shop in the season the wedding is in. Believe in the process, the right dress will come! ​​

Yes, it’s hard to jump aboard the fun wedding train when fears about your dress are making you feel more like a train wreck. Now that we’ve established what the dress should look like, actually finding the dress will be much easier. And lucky for you, I'm happy to help you find the perfect fit! Contact me HERE or click BELOW. 

GET YOUR STUNNING WEDDING FIT

---

CLICK HERE FOR THE RESOURCE GUIDE

---