Dress shopping with mom

queenkira99

Having a MOB dilemma...I have been delaying getting a wedding dress for one reason in particular.  My mom really wants the experience of wedding dress shopping with me, but I fear she will be too critical of the way I look and the experience will make me an emotional wreck!  I would rather just go by myself or with supportive friends, but she has volunteered to pay for it so I think she needs to be involved.  My wedding is 9 months out so I need to get the dress soon, but I just see it going so poorly.  Any experience with this situation?

broomstick88

i am so glad someone else understands thsi! in my honest opinion, after dress shopping with my critical and emotional mother and choosing a dress eh did not like i wish i had just left her at home for the whole process. bring people who make you feel beutiful or go by yourself and suprise everyone. this should be an amazing expierence and you don't want to taint it. have mom help you with the beil or the bridesmaid dreses.

jagore08

I thought my mom would be the type of mom that would be all happy and teary eyed but that wasn't exactly her reaction.  She had a few critical comments (not in the constructive criticism way but in the "I'm judging you" way).  It really bothered me and by the thrid dress I said something to her.  I told her that her comments weren't really helping me feel good about any dresses and if she didn't love the dress to just tell me it wasn't the one and leave it at that.  I think she understood how I was feeling and from that point on she was very helpful.  

RaptorSLH

You know your mom better than we do, but my mom has a history of high-pressure shopping.  Before I took her, I secretly did a little looking on my own.  Once I knew had a safety dress, it took a lot of pressure off, and I could go shopping with her and relax. 

MairePoppy

You should let your mom know before you go shopping that you want her support, not her criticism.

slpankuch

I'm sorry to hear your mom is like that. My mother was nothing but supportive. Of course she did say which dress she liked over which ones not as much but in the end she always made me feel like it was my choice. Expect your mother to like dresses more than others. It's natural. Hopefully you can both agree on something and she will support the style of dress you are looking for.
Try telling her like the above post that you want support BEFORE you go. You want to have a good experience wedding dress shopping. Take her with you for your first dress shopping experience, as MOB she should be entitled to coming with you. See how the first experience goes, if you have a bad experience tell her and take your friends the next time.
I suggest just taking her the first time or with one other close person. The more people you have with you, the more confusing the opinions can be especially if your mother tends to be rather opinionated. Less opinions are better. It's your choice on the dress (within price range of her budget), just remember that..no matter if she is paying.