What Colour Dress Should the Mother of the Bride Wear?

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What Colour Dress Should the Mother of the Bride Wear?

There are so many things to worry about at your daughter’s wedding. From organising the finer details to looking after the guests. The bride’s mother is often running around like crazy, yet it’s all too easy to neglect herself. In fact, if you are the mother, you deserve to dress up for this special day too! The right outfit will not only ensure you look elegant and stand out in the wedding photographs, but will also allow you to greet every guest with confidence and poise. After all, this is a significant moment in your daughter’s life, and it’s your moment to shine too.

So what is the most appropriate colour for the mother of the bride to wear at the wedding? Aside from her personal preference, we should also take into consideration the season, the wedding venue and the overall theme of the wedding. Don’t worry, I’m about to share some practical colour-coordination tips to help you easily find the perfect dress, so you no longer have to agonise over your choice of colour.

How to Choose the Right Mother of the Bride Dress Colour

When selecting a colour for your dress, start by thinking about the colours you usually prefer to wear. If you tend to favour lighter shades, consider lotus pink or champagne – they’re both soft and lovely. If you prefer darker hues, navy blue and burgundy are excellent choices, as they look elegant and dignified without appearing too formal.

If you’re still undecided, why not take a look at the following dress colours suitable for the mother of the bride? You might just find one you love!

• Navy Blue: If you find yourself a bit scared of dark shades like black, then navy blue is probably an excellent substitute for that. It really gives you a look of elegance and is a colour to be taken seriously.
• Mauve: Mauve is more delicate than a bright shade of pink, like strawberry or fuchsia. Pair a mauve dress with shoes of another neutral colour like nude, with some delicate jewellery, and it’s a beautiful combination.
• Sage green: Among green mother of the bride dresses, sage is an appealing choice for those who prefer a soft, understated look. It matches very well with lots of spring, nature type weddings and just about goes perfectly with the things outside on your wedding too, so there isn’t much of anything else you have to wear along with it.
• Burgundy: Compared with other brighter reds, burgundy does not look quite as vivid or bold, yet it is still as striking. Not to mention it’s an incredibly classy colour!

Also, here’s a simple tip: if you already have a few items of clothing in different colours at home, hold them up next to your face in natural light to compare them. See which colour makes you look your best as this will make choosing your dress much easier and save you from going down the wrong path. If you already know your colours, even better.

The season and wedding venue can also influence your choice of wedding dress colour

If you’re still torn between choosing a light or dark-coloured wedding guest dress, it’s worth considering the season in which the wedding is taking place. Wedding décor usually varies with the seasons, so choosing a colour that complements the surroundings will also look more pleasing in photographs.

• For a Spring wedding: light green, pale blue, and pale yellow are all suited to spring-time weddings. They are fresh and crisp and really complement the flowers and foliage of the season.
• For summer time weddings: corals, bright yellows, and sky blues work nicely, and the bright colours go really well with outdoor decorations.
• For autumn, try terracotta’s, burgundy, and deeper greens, they look fantastic against fallen leaves.
• Winter calls for shades like plum or dark blue. Bold and elegant at the same time, with a deep hue.

The location of the wedding matters too. If it’s at a country park or in your garden, then go for lighter shades and florals, and if its during dinner in a hotel, sapphire blue or darker burgundy are elegant options.

Which colours should a bride’s mother avoid when choosing a dress?

You can wear most colours to a wedding, so there’s no need to worry too much. However, there are just a few colours you should pay particular attention to, to avoid clashing with the bride’s wedding dress or looking out of place with the overall style of the wedding.

• White and ivory: These colours are usually reserved for the bride, so it’s best to avoid them when choosing your outfit.
• Overly bright fluorescent colours: Colours such as fluorescent pink and fluorescent green are quite eye-catching; if the overall theme of the wedding is soft and elegant, wearing these colours might seem a little out of place. If you’d like to make a more striking impression, you could opt for colours such as burgundy or sapphire blue, which exude sophistication without being too flashy.
• Black: So, is it acceptable to wear black? Actually, it’s not strictly forbidden. Particularly at evening weddings, a well-tailored black dress can look very elegant. Pair it with some bolder jewellery or shoes, and the overall look won’t appear too sombre. However, some families may take issue with black being worn at a wedding, so it’s best to ask your daughter’s opinion beforehand.

Should the Two Mothers and Bridesmaids Wear Matching Colours?

The bride’s mother and the groom’s mother do not need to wear the same colour, nor do they need to deliberately match the bridesmaids’ colour scheme. As long as the overall look is harmonious, a slight variation in colour can actually add more depth to group photographs. Unless there’s a specific colour scheme of course.

For example, if the bridesmaids are wearing pale pink dresses, the two mothers could opt for a slightly deeper rose or a soft plum shade. This would complement the bridesmaids’ dresses without making it look as though they are all wearing the same outfit. The mothers on both sides could also choose different shades within the same colour family. For instance, one wearing navy blue and the other slate blue. As long as the colours and styles of the dresses complement each other well, the overall effect will be lovely.

Of course, if both mothers prefer the same colour, that’s perfectly fine too. You can create distinction through the cut, fabric and accessories, so that whilst there’s a sense of harmony, each of you can still express your own personal style. When choosing dresses, there’s no need to go shopping together specifically; simply sending each other a few photos of dresses or comparing colours should be enough to get a good idea of how to coordinate them. Or even better, take the bride with you!

Final Thoughts: Choose a Colour That Feels Right

So, what colour dress should the bride’s mother actually wear? There are two key considerations: firstly, the dress should complement the overall style of the wedding; and secondly, it should make you look stunning whilst ensuring you feel comfortable and at ease. The season, venue, and colour scheme of the wedding can all serve as a guide, but there’s no need to sacrifice the colour you truly love for the sake of these factors. After all, your daughter’s wedding is a special occasion, and you deserve to feel beautiful.

If you’re still undecided, why not pop into a shop to try on a few mother of the bride dresses in different colours to see which one complements your complexion best? Many brands now offer free colour charts via their online shops, too. Whatever colour you choose, as long as you like it and it suits the wedding, that’s all that matters!