Mother of the bride

lady1964

I was MOB almost a year ago and started looking for my dress several months prior to the wedding.

Whilst browsing on the Internet, I came across a beautiful dress on the Macy's website by an American designer called Adrienne Papell. I'd bought a dress by her in Macy's in San Francisco years before and the fit was perfect and there is a petite range (I'm 5' tall) so I ordered it. It arrived about 10 days later & fitted perfectly, thankfully as it was a bit of a risky thing to do. Months later, wandering through either John Lewis or House of Fraser, I found they sell outfits by this designer but I couldn't see a petite range.

I did spend a large amount of money on my shoes and spent about £40 on a fascination - I love hats on other people but they just don't suit me and hubby bought me a lovely bag to match my shoes as one of my Xmas presents.

On the day, I did have my make up done professionally but actually I wish I hadn't, she did cake it on a bit and it showed up my wrinkles & lines more lol! I had a spray tan done as I wanted to go bare legged and I had red shoes so finding the right colour tights would have been quite hard as my dress was grey lace.

OP, relax and if you are clever with the needle, make your own outfit, you can get tons of ideas either in shops or online.

cashewnut

I married two months ago and my mum wore a simple, elegant, long darkish-blue dress that my aunt (her sister) had worn to my cousin's (aunt's son) wedding five years ago.

I didn't care what anyone wore (other than preferring no one else to be in white ) and just wanted people to be comfortable.

Serendipitious

It was 9 years ago when I was MoB.

I hate make-up, dislike hats, and never wear dresses, so I was feeling extremely daunted by the whole thing. After weeks of trailing dispiritedly around shops, my friend took me into a small independent dress shop with instructions to the saleslady that we weren't coming out until something was found.

Decided eventually on a long dress with matching jacket (it was a summer wedding) and I arranged to hire a hat via the shop, but on the way back to the car, I spotted a matching hat (new with tags) for £8 in the window of the Oxfam shop, so the hat hire was cancelled.

To this day, DD is unaware that my hat was from Oxfam.

I wore very little make-up, everyone liked the dress and it was comfortable and the hat stayed in position, but I was still relieved when it was all over. I kept the outfit for a couple of years then sent it all to a charity shop knowing I'd never wear it again.

My tip - wear the hat around the house till you get used to it. I did that many times before the day, and after a while it helps you feel less self-conscious.

Newly_retired

My daughter got married last year. I too spent ages both online and in shops looking for something suitable, with size being an issue. I didn't want to show either my knees or upper arms, which restricted my choices.

In the end, I found a dress I liked from Jaques Vert in an outlet store, so quite reasonable in price, then I realised I had almost the same garment in my wardrobe, but a tad longer. I had only worn it two or three times to non-family events, so it hadn't been seen before. I found a plain jacket in M & S to go with it, no hat was expected, and I wore strappy sandals I had already bought.
All very MSE, as it cost me very little indeed, and I was pleased with how I looked and felt. My daughter was not the least bit bothered what I wore, as long as I felt comfortable and didn't let the side down.

[Deleted User]

For great dresses try:

http://www.phase-eight.com/

I am taller than most women and also a lot broader. To make things worse I have an hourglass figure. This means that most clothes are too short, too tight, will not fit across the bust / back / underarm, too baggy on the waist etc.

The dresses from Phase 8 are great. I have lots (I try and get them in the sale as they are not the cheapest). I very rarely buy dresses from anywhere else.

I have bought from both the shop and online and have had great service each time. They may be worth a try for your dress.

zippychick

Dress 35
petticoat 25

Shoes and bag from a charity shop. White petticoat would also be nice . it's just an example, the site has loads of dresses.

or get yourself down the charity shop - def get shoes and bag from those. outfit if possible - why not? i wore a purple customised charity shop dress at a wedding. everyone commented on it.

those style of dresses flatter every figure

Zip

zippychick

this would be gorgeous with a white cardigan

zippychick

Also... would be cute with a pink petticoat depend on taste!

A very simple cheap hair accessory

fascinator google search - they are more gregarious, ribbons, feathers etc and can have little hats lol

What ever you do, make it your own. Life's too short to conform completely. Ive got my wedding dress off ebay for 80 and my shoes in tkmax for 12.... done.!

System

Find something you'll be comfortable in, if i ever get married i'd hate the thought of my mum worrying about hat to wear (i;ve seen whats shes like, it was my cousins wedding the other month and she worried constantly about what she was wearing and how her hair looked). Have you talked to your daughter about it? Maybe you could have a day out together to go and look for an outfit, that way you've got a second opinion and it might out your mind at ease a bit?

melanzana

I don't have children so I will never be MOB/G. No worries though, happy out!

So I go to the fave nieces and nephews weddings, of which there are many now!

So pardon me..... I buy dresses in the sales, and store them up for these events. By the time the weddings happen, no one else will have the same anyway!

I once bought a lacy gorgeous Teal coloured dress in YIKES.... Primark. Perfect fit, just to the knee which is difficult for me sometimes. I stored it away, and wore it to Nephew 2 wedding, with a silver threaded pashmina and silver shoes, bag and so on. So many compliments!! Wore it two years after purchase for 20quid. I laugh out loud sometimes!

Just saying it does not need to cost a fortune either.

But I do understand that for MoB/G it can be a trial to find something.