Mother of the Bride Dress

ib4eplz · February 2010

okay...so my mom has a dress, but she doesn't like it anymore. she is trying to find a dress and she is thinking a short to the knee style. my wedding is in november. I have just always assumed that the moms should wear long. is anyone else's parents or relatives going short?

MyNameIsNot · February 2010

She can wear whatever she wants. Yes, I've seen lots of MOBs wear short gowns. As long as she's comfortable and happy, it doesn't matter.

gottahavashorti · February 2010

My mom is wearing knee length. Of the three weddings we went to last summer, I only noticed one MOB dress and it was also knee length.

emilyinchile · February 2010

Moms aren't WP and therefore get to wear whatever they want. A shorter dress is fine, no matter when your wedding is.

bablingbrooke · February 2010

What she wears is of no concern to you.

My mom wore a knee-length dress in her "old age" (55) and looked fab.

stina93446 · February 2010

I don't see how this should bother you enough to write a thread about it....just pointing that out.

ib4eplz · February 2010

I just don't think its formal enough for our event. I know she can wear whatever she wants. I just wanted to see who wore short ones. I know she doesn't want to look a "mamaw" . I think the dress she has now is spectacular. but she isn't comfy. so we have been looking at new dresses and nothing is working for her. she suggested short...but I have never seen anything like that when we go into dress shops. so like I said I assumed it was long...

bablingbrooke · February 2010

Since she's not in the WP it really doesn't matter what level of formality it is. And I guarantee your photos (let's face it, that's what you're concerned about) will reflect it if she's in a long, formal gown that she feels uncomfortable in. We had a formal wedding, my mom wore a short dress, it was fine. You won't even get many full-body shots of her anyway. Just let the woman dress herself. This is one of those things where you're creating stress over nothing.

MyNameIsNot · February 2010

As long as it isn't a black tie event, a short dress is the appropriate formality.

emilyinchile · February 2010

There are plenty of age-appropriate cocktail dresses which, as MNIN said, would be totally appropriate unless your wedding is genuinely black tie (which means all men in tuxes, all women in floor-length dresses, and amazing food and drink).

What kind of dress shops are you looking at? If they're specific bridal stores, they may carry more long dresses - department stores should have a broader range and won't charge more just because it says "wedding".

aerinpegadrak · February 2010

As MNIN said, it's only once you start getting into black tie that a short dress becomes inappropriate. We're having a formal wedding, and my mom has picked a lovely shorter dress. As long as it's not a mini-skirt, she's fine.

banana468 · February 2010

I've seen moms wear shorter dresses. As long as the dress itself is formal enough it's fine.

mbcdefg · February 2010

My mom is wearing a knee-length skirt suit.

Also remember that she doesn't HAVE to get a "mother of the bride" dress. Any dress that matches the formality of the wedding will be fine. My mom got hers on clearance at Macy's. The "traditional MOB" gowns were way too frilly and fancy for her, she said.

I would only say something if you anticipate that every female guest will be in a long, formal gown. Otherwise, just let it go.

trix1223 · February 2010

Your only reply to your mom should be the reply my wonderful DIL gave me:

ME: What do you want me to wear at the wedding.

DIL: Whatever you feel beautiful and comfortable in.

That, OP, is the perfect answer.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · February 2010

My mom is doing full length and I really thought she'd do tea length. I figure if my BMs are wearing cocktail dresses and many other guests probably will wear cocktail dresses, why can't the MOB?

bablingbrooke · February 2010

I think you also need to ask yourself in this situation: What is the worst thing that will happen if mom wears the short dress? Realistically.

Then ask yourself how your mom will feel if you push her into another outfit she doesn't like.

Then ask yourself if your worst-case scenario is worth the potential for hurt feelings.

My guess is that the balance won't tip in your favor.

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