17 mother of the bride dresses to wear with pride on your daughter’s big day

There are no hard rules when it comes to mother of the bride dresses, as long as your daughter approves (of course) you can pretty much go with whatever style you want on their wedding day. Some MOTBs have even dared to wear white.

As the mum of the most important woman of the day, though, your role comes with responsibilities. You’ll be her helping hand the morning of, assisting her in with her wedding makeup and wedding hair, plus calming her nerves along the way. That said, you deserve to look and feel just as great as she does in a mother of the bride dress (or mother of the groom dress!) that will remind you of the celebrations long after they’ve occurred. This day is as much of an occasion for you as it is for your daughter and it’s a testament to your parenting.

Consider complementing the colour palette of the wedding when browsing for mother of the bride dresses, and make note of what the bridesmaid dresses are like – you don’t want to clash in the wedding pics. It’s also wise to bear the season in mind. If they’re saying their vows in July, you’ll likely want something cool and floaty, akin to summer wedding guest dresses (though a bit more special, obviously), but if it’s “I do” in winter then you might want to opt for a dress with a longer hemline and sleeves. You get the gist.

Comfort, as well as confidence, is key. You want to look your best, yes, but you also want to be able to breathe and move at normal capacity. Something with a high-low hem like this midi dress from Coast or this embellished design from Phase Eight is ideal for the mother of the bride. It’s still super elegant and swooshy, but it allows you to help your daughter with her skirt and means you won’t need to worry about yours. On that note, you’ll likely be on your feet all day running last-minute errands, as well as dancing come the evening, so don’t forget to buy a pair of comfortable wedding shoes to go alongside the dress you settle on.

Elsewhere, if you’re looking to splurge, Reem Acra’s embellished tulle and satin-piqué gown is the ultimate demonstration of everything the mother of the bride should embody, it’s elegant and charming and will complement the bride’s look effortlessly. Up its regal qualities even more with a fascinator and sparkly clutch bag. 

After more occasionwear and mother of the bride outfit options? We have wedding guest jumpsuits, if dresses aren’t your thing, plus size wedding guest dresses, spring wedding guest dresses and maternity wedding guest dresses.

For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.

Find our top suggestions for mother of the bride dresses below.