How to Save on Mother of the Bride Dresses

Avoid white or ivory dresses, so you do not compete with the bride.

All eyes are on the bride on her wedding day, but the mother of the bride needs to look good, too. According to "Glamour" magazine, brides have a wide variety of choices while mothers seem to have fewer options. So to save on mother of the bride dresses, start shopping well in advance. However, hold off until your daughter and her bridesmaids have chosen their dresses, so you can coordinate. Choose a color that works well for you, and communicate with your daughter about her ideas for the ideal dress.

Instructions

1. Search the Internet for bargains. Type in "mother of the bride dresses sale" in a search engine to save on a dress. As long as you start early, you'll have time to research online and locally.

2. Shop at discount formal wear stores. Keep in mind the color you want, but be flexible enough to save money. Choose a dress that works for your skin tone and body shape. Saving a few dollars on a discount dress that doesn't look or fit right is not a true bargain.

3. Drive to an outlet mall for a mother of the bride dress. Many outlet malls carry high-end formal and semi-formal dresses for mothers, but the sizes and styles may be limited. And if you need to return the dress, the outlet mall may not be a convenient drive.

4. Consider having a dress made. Custom-made dresses fit perfectly, and you choose the style and color you desire. Check fabric stores or local ads for inexpensive dressmakers. Ask the dressmaker for photos of her work.

5. Shop at department store sales. Often times, these sales offer low prices on mother of the bride dresses. As long as you shop at the right time, you can easily score the perfect dress with huge savings.

Tips & Warnings

• Always try on a dress before purchasing, or read the return policy carefully for online stores.

• Take a digital photograph of yourself in the dress to see how you really look in it. This works if you have several dresses you are interested in. Email them to the bride to get her advice.

• Look for dresses off-season to get the best discounts. Summer dresses are often the lowest in price at the end of the season, or in the autumn or winter.

• Use caution when purchasing a dress online.

References

• "Glamour" magazine; 5 Dresses for the Mother of the Bride!; Kim Fusaro, January 2011
• The Knot; Mother of the Bride Dress: 6 Essential Shopping Tips; Cindy Hobson

Resources

• "Brides" magazine: Home