How to buy mother of groom dresses

Mother-of-the-groom dresses can look stylish and elegant.

Watching your son walk down the aisle to meet his wife may bring you to tears of happiness and feelings of intense joy. The mother of the groom plays a vital role in any wedding. As a member of the wedding party, you will want to feel and look your best on your son's special day. Picking the right mother-of-the-groom dress will help you accomplish this goal. Choosing a dress that fits in with those of the other wedding party members yet is stylish and flattering is important.

Instructions

1. Work with other members of the bridal party. Coordinate your overall look with those of others in the wedding party. Keep in close touch with the bride, mother of the bride, and the bridesmaids. In general, the mother of the bride will pick out a dress first. After she's chosen what she wants to wear, then you can decide what you want to wear, as well. Your dress need not coordinate exactly with her choice but can be the same general shade and have a similar feel.

2. Research fabric choices. Mother-of-the-bride dresses come in many fabrics including silk, satin, and linen. The type of fabric chosen may depend on the season. Breathable linen with lace overlays will help you feel cool and comfortable during a July or August wedding. Brocade, dupioni, and peau satin are heavier fabrics that are useful for keeping warm during a cool wedding reception in November or December. Choose fabrics that coordinate with those of your fellow wedding party members. If they're wearing silk, look for fabrics such as taffeta or charmeuse, which have the same feel.

3. Investigate available colors. Color is an important consideration when purchasing mother-of-the-groom dresses. Avoid using color in the same family as the bride's gown. White, cream, tan, and other shades of off white should be shunned. You can pick a shade in the same family as the mother of the bride's dress. Avoid choosing from the same color family as the bridesmaids. Look for colors that complement your skin tone and best facial features. Show off warm-green eyes with a spring-green dress.

4. Calculate available lengths. A mother-of-the-groom dress usually reaches to at the lower calf. More casual weddings may allow for shorter lengths. For a formal wedding, choose a long dress. Many mothers of the groom opt for a length that fits in with that of the rest of the bridal party, but this is not required.

References

• Best Dress: Fabric Types
• Elegala: Mother of the Bride and Groom Dress Guide