Mothers of the Bride, What Color Dress Should You Wear to the Wedding?

Yay! Your daughter's getting married. In all the excitement and the hustle and bustle of wedding planning, it's almost easy to forget that it's your big day too. You finally get to be the mother of a bride.

For such a special occasion, you want to make sure you look and feel your best, so the very necessary and important question pops up — what color dress should the mother of the bride wear?

The start of the wedding is always  the bride. So, your choice of clothing should not overshadow the bride's gown. You need to find a Mother of the Bride dress that is unique and appealing while still keeping your daughter's feelings in mind.

Many things can influence the final choice of what color dress the mother of the bride should wear. If you're trying to decide what color you should go for, here's what to consider.

Color Scheme

Many brides usually choose a color theme for the wedding so that everyone's look can complement the other. If a color theme or scheme already exists, the bride's mother may choose any colors within this range as the color of her gown.

Traditionally, the mother of the bride wears colors that complement the bridal or wedding party's colors. It doesn't, however, have to match. If your daughter has not started shopping for bridesmaids' dresses, then you may wait for her to do so before you start your search.

Alternatively, you can ask her about her color choices so that you can find a fitting color to go for that doesn't clash with her dress.

If the bride does not have any specific color choices for the wedding, any appropriate color works great, EXCEPT any shades of white, ivory, champagne, or colors in the same shades as the bride's gown. This typically steals the attention away from the bride, and you wouldn't want to do that. 

Location

Another thing to consider when choosing wedding colors is the location of the wedding. What do colors have to do with location? Well, a lot.

Wearing certain colors in certain locations may amplify the temperature of the environment for you, which can make for an uncomfortable day. When you know where the wedding location is, wearing colors that suit the locality will be to your advantage.

If the wedding is in a warm region like Hawaii, going for heavily embroidered black lace skirts with thick sleeves wouldn’t be a wise choice, no matter how elegant you may look. You may wish to go for lighter colors like nude or light blue to keep your body temperature cool through the event.

In colder regions or on the beach, pastel colors and neutrals may be a better choice, and it's easy to get a matching fur coat to keep you warm outdoors.

Color choice is also important during different seasons of the same location. Wearing dark colors in the blazing hot summer is not a wise idea. Try cooler colors that would dispel the heat and help you stay cool and fresh during the wedding.

A shawl or wrap is essential for keeping you warm in winter, so choose colors that you can easily find one of these in.

Do Mother of the Bride & Groom Need to Match?

No, this is not necessary. The Mother of the Bride and Groom may choose complementary colors similar to the wedding party. If a color scheme exists, both mothers should speak with each other about their choice of color to avoid clashes on the wedding day.

While you don't have to shop together, deciding the color both of you prefer will reduce the chances of buying the same gown or wearing the same color. Speaking to each other greatly reduces the chances of any fashion mishaps that may occur so that you don't ruin your children's day.

It's not a good idea to wear colors that are completely outside the wedding color scheme. Both mothers should agree on a color that may not necessarily blend in with the color scheme but doesn't have to stand entirely aloof, as though you were at the wrong wedding.

Talk to the Bride

The best thing every mother of the bride can do is talk to the bride to know her take on matters like this. The bride is the most important person in the whole occasion, and what she wants should come first above all else.

Even if you already have pretty much envisioned what you think you would want to look like on that day, talking to the bride can help you align your vision with hers. The last thing you would want is to clash with your daughter on her big day.

There are many fashion-related questions to ask the bride, from what color dress you should wear to the wedding to the type of make-up and hairdo she would prefer you to wear. You can iron out these matters when you speak with the bride.

While not attempting to ruin her day, you can also speak to her about how necessary it is that you feel comfortable in the colors you wear on the day, so her mother of the Bride color choice should reflect that.

Wrapping It Up

Choosing the best color to wear as the bride's mother is usually a challenge for many moms, but it shouldn't be for you. All you need to do is consider the important and overall factors to help you narrow down your search. These are; the location of the wedding, the wedding color scheme, the groom's mother, and most importantly, the bride.

To further clarify what color to go for and avoid major fashion and style clashes, speak to the bride to understand what she prefers or know what she has in mind. When you finally settle on a color, you can go ahead to shop any Mother of the Bride dress you love at NYD.