Unless you're a charity ball regular, it's safe to say you haven't looked for a dress this important since you searched for the stunning wedding dress.
vintage lace mother of the bride dresses are a special breed. You want something that's fabulous and complementary, however your search will be limited to the wedding's underlying dress code. Before you start flipping through the dress holders (at the six- to eight-month mark), spend a while thinking about the wedding logistics. Just as with your daughter's gown, the time, setting, and season of the event will influence the appropriate attire for you. You can get away with putting on a costume a notch, but donning a sequined ball gown for a champagne bottle brunch will make you feel out of place. And nothing helps you radiate more than feeling calm, confident, and comfortable on the special day. Here are the overarching things to consider.
1. Time and Season
Conventional weddings and evening affairs have their own sometimes shocking sets of dress codes. Of waking time, you want your fabrics light and colors bright. Later in the day, it's more acceptable to flaunt beans, sequins, and other sparkles in black colorings. Similarly, hemlines get shorter as the summer days get longer (one omission: floor-length is always fitting for a black-tie affair). And fabrics and colors change with the periods: Bold colors and airy fabrics reduce the warmer months, while deeper tones and rich materials get hot the fall and winter.
2. The spot
Where will the ceremony and reception take place? A ballroom? A park? A vineyard? If you're going to be outdoors at a botanical garden in the early morning, for instance, you'll want to forgo a gown that skims the dewy ground. Or, if the wedding is outdoors, will you be needing to trek by way of a garden? Will there be air-conditioning in summer or a good heating system in winter? Will you need to do a lot of walking?
A lot of sitting? You get the idea. Which style of dress normally allows you to really feel? Remember, you might be wearing this Silver Lace Sheath Column Mother Of The Bride Dress from early morning until late at night.
3. Your Daughter's Desires
Chances are, your daughter has a few ideas in what she'd like to see you wear on her special day -- brides don't like big surprises and we're betting you don't either. So take her shopping with you; plan a fun day around it.
First, talk about what she's wearing -- if your girl will walk down the church aisle in a strapless sheath, look for a tank-style dress or something with light fleshlight sleeves. Then ask for her "what not to wear" list: Are there certain colors to steer clear of (besides white, of course)? She may be adverse to anything too bright or flashy. Does she think a V-neckline is too unveiling? Is she afraid you'll clash with her color scheme?
Then insist that the bride offer you her ideas, which will save you valuable shopping time. Explain your issues, if any (a certain color doesn't look good upon you, perhaps, or she's thinking about a mode that you feel just won't suit you), and see if you can find some common ground. Black is totally acceptable for a mother to wear nowadays and goes with any color and just about any type of event.
If you disagree with what your daughter has in mind, don't state -- just test everything and one of two things you can do. One, your girl will see why you don't like a particular dress shape, or two, you'll love something that you didn't think you'd like. Either way, you should shop with her so that even if she says she doesn't care what you wear, she's there to help guide your decision. Or maybe she knows what great taste you have and trusts you completely -- that's how it must be.
4. The caretaker of the Groom's Look
Compare notes with the groom's mom -- you'll both feel more comfortable if your elegance is in connect. If you follow tradition, the caretaker of the bride should be allowed the first possibility to choose a dress so you don't end up with the same one. However, you may be confronted with a mother of the lick who isn't up on her etiquette. Either way, just opening up a distinct communication probably will make things easier for both parties. After all, she's probably just as anxious about the purchase as you are.
Call her a few days before you head shopping.
Say, "I'm moving out to get my dress this weekend for the wedding. I'll let you know how it goes and what color I end up getting. Any suggestions as to where I should look? inches This accomplishes a few things. First, you let her know you're going shopping, and second, she signals you where she wants to shop, so you can avoid getting the same dress.
Don't flip out if she's not on board with the rules -- she might have budget limits or limited retail options. She might already own a fabulous evening gown in dark blue. In that case, just buy your own gown and don't worry about coordinating the effort. Bottom line: A matching level of ritual is key (a sundress and sequined ball gown at either end of the group wedding photo would look a little off), but harmonizing the colors isn't so critical.
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