Mothers' Dresses

Rockerchick842

How important is length for the MOB and MOG dresses? FI family is in TN and my family is in KS so coordinating has been difficult. My mom purchased a tea length dress and FI mom purchased a floor length dress. I don't have a problem with the different lengths, but my mom says that the lengths should match. Is it a problem?

opalsky007

No, it's not a problem at all. General formality should go with the general formality of your wedding, but beyond that, there are no restrictions.

Meg1036

Not important.   My mom and FI's mom were weirdly worried about it though, so they both got floor length.

hlq2011

My FMIL told me that she didn't think she could wear a longer skirt than my mom.

I feel like the lengths should generally be close to match the formality of the wedding - but it's far more important that each feel comfortable in what they're wearing.  If your FMIL wants to wear a floor-length dress, she can wear a floor-length dress.

ahhhitsshannyn

I do not think it matters at all as long as they are comfortable. I for one feel very uncomfortable in floor length gowns, so I would not want to have someone tell me it has to be a certain length. As long as MOB & MOG were happy, I was happy.

NOLAbridealmost

I can see why the moms would worry about coordinating with respect to length. Neither one wants to be the one who "didn't dress up enough" (or, for that matter, the one "who overdressed") by comparison.  

My mom and FMIL seemed really concerned about this too and asked about it several times even though I told them I had complete faith in them picking out their own outfits. 

tenofcups4me

Does your mom want your FMIL to buy a new dress or does she want to buy a new dress?

I would think both should match the formality of the wedding and that will mean they're often the same, but they don't necessarily have to be the same.

Rockerchick842

Both dresses are formal MOB/G type dresses, one is just shorter than the other. They match the formality of the evening, and I am completely fine with the length disparity but my mom is not.

rerawalt

This is so funny, my mother and FMIL were just having this conversation this week.  I don't think it matters, but they really want to match.

Brandiewine11

If your mom is uncomfortable then she needs to be the one to buy a new dress. Just tell her you're fine with it, but tell her to change it if she wants. I told both my mom and FMIL the colors to avoid (BM dress color) and then they coordinated from there since they are grown ups.

teachermegs

I really don't think it matters. My mom had a very MOB tea length dress. MIL had a fun maxi dress.
Both looked great and both were happy and comfortable.

Summer2011Bride

My FMIL's dress is tea length and my mother's is cocktail length (she is very petite and doesn't like how she looks in longer lengths). It's not really a big deal. They can wear what they're comfortable in, just matching the formality of the wedding (if it;s casual and the WP is in khakis, for example, it'd look odd if they were in very formal floor length gowns).