Wedding outfits

Having just attended a wedding and having googled online for ideas, I agree with you. Of course, the lovely slim models showing off these outfits don't really help much for us normal sized Mums (in my case Grand Mum) of the bride.
I am also old enough to be shocked by the frightening expense of modern weddings.

It all depends on the kind of weddings you go to! Go to an all singing, all dancing 'do' at a Wedding Venue, with every luxury and extra known to woman - and yes, this sort of outfit is probably essential.

Go to more normal weddings and it is up to you. I haven't been to a wedding recently, but when DS got married (parish church, reception in village hall), I didn't wear a hat and my suit had previously been rolled out for 2 previous Special Occasions, I checked it out and everyone was entirely happy with the idea.

Most of the weddings I have been to have been of this nature.

The last wedding I attended the ladies were wearing the flowery dresses that have been so popular the last couple of summers. Nobody wore a hat of any kind.

I often wonder whether “Mothers of the bride” temporarily lose their own dress sense faced with a formal occasion?
I have seen too many friends who look lovely in “real life” squeeze themselves into something a bit too tight, or too shiny or too lacy, heels which cripple them and the dreaded hats. I blame Mother of the Bride websites and departments in stores . Is there a sense of panic which attaches itself to the registration at Weightwatchers and the thought of pictures which will be seen for years to come?
I have fallen foul of it myself, shelved common sense and lived to regret it.

We have been to multiple weddings, some I just knew would require the full kit and caboodle, others less. All enjoyable in different ways.

Having been mother of the groom on four occasions, three involving hats and one a fascinator I spoke frequently with future DiLs mothers in order not to wear same colour or similar outfit.

I am unaware of any mother of the bride losing their dress sense and wouldn’t dream of critiquing a mother of the bride on such an emotional and joyous day.

I loved the hat I wore when my son got married (well actually, it was a 'hatinator'!). I love hats in general, but rarely go anywhere where I'd have the opportunity to wear one, so why not? It all depends on the style of wedding, venue etc. There aren't really any hard and fast rules these days. I was at a wedding reception the other week and the Mother of the Bride didn't wear anything on her head, while the Mother of the Groom had quite a large fascinator.

I am unaware of any mother of the bride losing their dress sense and wouldn’t dream of critiquing a mother of the bride on such an emotional and joyous day

Oh dear - not doing too well
Critiquing is not necessarily criticising and I did include myself.

I think Foxygloves has said a lot of common sense. My mother died shortly before one of my children's weddings and I had nothing on the I would have ever envisaged, I had always planned blue and ended up in black and cream and a discrete fascinator. When the second got married within the year I realised I did not have to go mad my SIL's mother and I colour-coordinated and we both looked quite presentable. I changed the fascinator but used the same bag and shoes and have worn them for subsequent weddings and the fascinator. No one noticed and does it matter if they do?
Some shops make a lot of money out of selling very over-the-top dresses or suites and cartwheel hats. Do what you are comfortable in, you'll look young and fresh.

GrannyGravy13

We have been to multiple weddings, some I just knew would require the full kit and caboodle, others less. All enjoyable in different ways.

Having been mother of the groom on four occasions, three involving hats and one a fascinator I spoke frequently with future DiLs mothers in order not to wear same colour or similar outfit.

I am unaware of any mother of the bride losing their dress sense and wouldn’t dream of critiquing a mother of the bride on such an emotional and joyous day.

OK, for * dress sense* read “confidence” -I think we have seen enough threads and posts over the years about help and advice in shops/websites or choosing a MOB or MOG outfit - which usually involves a fair bit of expenditure- to justify my comment.

Foxgloves perhaps I just have confident women as friends and family?

One wedding (God daughter) abroad the m-o-b was dithering between the dress code for weddings in the country we were going to and her own dress sense/comfort zone. We both went with what we felt comfortable with and would have worn in U.K. weather permitting.

When my DD married in Australia, many years ago, I wore a linen shift dress with matching coat, slightly shorter, and a fairly simple hat.

Compared to the Aussie contingent, I looked overdressed I suppose, it was a straightforward outfit from Debenhams, not MOB type at all. They all were just more casual, but I didn’t mind. I felt I looked what I was, English.

When DS married 18 months later, I wore the same outfit.

Calendargirl

When my DD married in Australia, many years ago, I wore a linen shift dress with matching coat, slightly shorter, and a fairly simple hat.

Compared to the Aussie contingent, I looked overdressed I suppose, it was a straightforward outfit from Debenhams, not MOB type at all. They all were just more casual, but I didn’t mind. I felt I looked what I was, English.

When DS married 18 months later, I wore the same outfit.

That’s interesting about your Aussie wedding as the ones our lot have had in Melbourne have all been tuxedos and cocktail dresses or long evening dresses.

I am not arguing with that Grannygravy but I also referred to previous GN threads over the years.
The proliferation of dresses and coats in dire pastel shades or imitating overstuffed sofas which I have seen in so- called “Occasionwear” aka MOB departments (in a well known department store, no longer I think with us) might suggest otherwise . I still think there is an expectation that a MOB/MOG should wear a certain type of outfit which few of us would choose for something less “formal”.
Choosing an outfit to one’s child’s wedding is important- it is a huge day in a parents life - and those pictures will grace the bookcase for years to come. And yes, for many women it is intimidating . So much easier for the FOB

Oh, thank goodness DD’s wedding wasn’t in Melbourne GG13.

Ours was in Sydney, but a garden type wedding.

Foxgloves MOB departments should be bombed I can only assume they pray on the emotional aspects of the day and the insecurities of the women?

Foxgloves our family wedding photos are all in our downstairs loo, much to the amusement of our children, GC and friends 🤣🤣🤣🤣

GrannyGravy13

Foxgloves MOB departments should be bombed I can only assume they pray on the emotional aspects of the day and the insecurities of the women?

I think that was my point. 🦊 🧤 🧤

My son is getting married next April so I am starting to think about what to wear. I've asked what colour the bride's mother fancies wearing, she doesn't know but is also starting to look around.

I do have a pretty handbag I bought several years ago, just because I liked it, that I've never used.

So far I've bought some lovely shoes I'd had my eye on for a while, so I'm working from there! 🤞

I'm going to be a MOB this summer. The reception will be a high tea for a relatively small number (20-30). I'm going to wear a summer dress (no hat). I have one in my wardrobe, which I've never worn, and might wear that and splash out on shoes.

I'm more worried at the moment about the cake, which I rashly offered to make. I don't eat cake, so I never make them. I've been practising, which means that everybody who comes anywhere near my house is being given cake. So far, the feedback has been positive, so the next stage is deciding how to decorate it, which is why I've been bombarding myself with pictures of the latest fashions in wedding cakes.

There’s a Facebook group called Pre-loved Wedding and Occasion Outfits UK that makes for very interesting viewing!

Yes that is the Facebook page that set me a wondering if all the world dressed thus. I am glad this site has reassured me that not all weddings have MOBs dressed up like a dogs dinner.

congratulations. Growstuff. I am going to be MOG in June, my youngest son. It's at a farm with a rather fancy yet rustic open barn. I just ordered and received a flowy floral sleeveless dress, which fit perfectly. It is long, but I will have it hemmed to tea-length, and look for some low heeled shoes.

No hats here; I've never seen anyone wear one! And I do agree that the pop-up adds for MOB/MOG outfits are not something that I would ever choose. Usually featuring a pastel dress with lacy jacket.

NotAGran55

There’s a Facebook group called Pre-loved Wedding and Occasion Outfits UK that makes for very interesting viewing!

OMG! I am obsessed with that group! I started looking at it last year before my son's wedding (I'd already bought my outfit, which was very reasonable from Roman, and never saw anything that I preferred). So now the wedding has been and gone, so why am I still scrolling through page after page of 'MOB' and 'MOG' outfits? I think it's a addiction!

When DD got married (26 years ago!!!) I bought a jungle patterned dress from M&S and wore it with a linen jacket I'd had for years. DD's best friend dressed as the bride's mother in a floaty, flowery, dress that wasn't me at all.