What state do you live in? Trying to figure out the heat and humidity factor would help too. Time of day? Long dress or short? Length of bridesmaids dresses?

I would try to avoid wearing their colors, though so many pretty dresses are in black these days.

Is this a casual garden wedding or something more formal?

Typically, the bride and her mother will make the suggestion, with the mother of the bride deciding short or long and she has first choice of colors too - although with the brides approval you don't necessarily have to have the same length skirt. You need to know at least what color MOB is wearing so you don't choose something that would make one or the other stand out in photos - similar or complimenting tones.

I would check Macy's and Nordstrom online. There is alot to choose from and most have reviews, specifically about sizing which is quite helpful. I ordered several from both places and took back what I did not like. Shipping was free and no charge when returned to the store. I am lucky that I live close to both. The selection in store is not that great.

For my last son's wedding I went to a bridal salon as per the request of my future DIL. Pricing was outrageous, but had to do it to keep the peace :)

Boscovs, JCP, Sears, Dillards

When I got married it would never have dawned on me to tell my mother or future MIL what to wear. As the mother of two sons and no daughters, I can tell you that no one will be telling me what/what not to wear when MY sons get married. Now, having got that off my chest.....

Comfort is key, if you're not comfortable in the style or colours you will not enjoy the day and that is paramount. Choose colours that flatter you and a style that you are comfortable with and will enjoy wearing. Blue is the complementary colour of yellow and so would be pretty, or for a garden wedding look at colours found in a garden, perhaps a blue-green.

Depending on weather in your area and if the wedding carries into the evening, perhaps choose a style that you can add a wrap or crop sweater to if it gets cooler.

My niece is getting married that same day but I have so many nieces who have gotten married/getting married I just rotate dresses. Not that same as a Mother of the groom at all. Have fun.

I should have mentioned I live in central Indiana, the heartland of the two H's Heat and Humidity. I need something sleeveless and light weight Temps could be in the mid 90's, with humidity in the 90's. God help me.

I have never been the type of women who let anyone dictate the way I should dress. This time is no different.

The MOB is wearing an ivory lace dress with a black belt, tea length.

I looked at Nordstroms they have a couple of selections online of course that I would consider. I would prefer to try on the dresses in the store.

I would not be interested in a "fit and flare" type dress that is all the rage right now.

I will post a couple of pics or links here later.

Thanks for replying,
Sid

I wore the dress in Taupe in the link to my son's wedding last year. The dress is comfortable and a little stretchy (bonus is it's machine washable and I can wear it to other things). I went up a size just to make sure I didn't look like a sausage.

Here is a link that might be useful: David's Bridal Neutral Cap Sleeve Dress

We used to call those 'fit & flare' dresses 'princess line', if I'm thinking of the same dress you're thinking of.

As long as you don't absolutely clash with the bridal party, I think you can wing it & choose what works best for you.

What is *your* best color & *your* best dress style?

Violet/lavender/etc are good;
they'll complement that yellow.

& if you wore black, even though it's a bridal party color, it might be construed that you're making a statement.

(& black in the garden in the summer...if you keel over with heat stroke you'll steal the spotlight from the bride, which I understand is a real faux pas.)

Tea length is always good;
you can wear tea length to any party or dinner or whatnot afterward.

I always like 2-piece dresses for 'dress-up'.
They're easy & graceful & you can split them up later & wear the top with a black velvet or satin skirt or pants & vice versa.

Main thing...
enjoy the experience, don't spill your punch, & smile for the camera!

when you say tea length do you mean true tea length or a length that hits just at the knee. With your shorter stature I think true tea length will be too long for you and not a flattering length. Knee length or where it falls just at the bottom of the knee cap will be a good length.

Tea length is about 2-3" below the knee, that is what MOB is wearing. She is not any taller then I am, maybe an inch.

I am not very found of the color of the above, but I like the dress.

Below is a color I think would look great with my skin color, I tan very easily and have a rather dark complexion.

Here is the dress in taupe.

What do you think of these two?

http://www.dressale.com/fabulous-brown-column-chiffon-dress-with-tiered-ruffles-p-35011.html

Sid

Here is a link that might be useful: Amythest

Years ago, at my sisters wedding, she did light yellow and peach.
Since you are the MOG, I think you should treat yourself to a dress made for you. This way you can choose the style and the color.

You might be lucky, but IMHO, you deserve to look and feel special.

When my daughters decide to marry, I think I would like to be told what to wear. Of course I would like the final say, but it would take the guess work out of deciding .

I don't know what your finances are either but for what it's worth...places like Macy's, JC Penneys have dresses that are just as nice as any of the high end places and so much cheaper...I would never have any or many places to wear that type dress and when our son got married i went to one tof the discount houses and found a beautiful dress for $60 dollars...it was a real hit and in a color that I wouldn't even normally wear. I have to tell you that the other Mother was upset when the pictures were taken according to daughter in law because she said I looked better than she did...how pathetic is that....this is or was the son's real Mother..I am the step mother...the dress I wore was actually 2 piece..can't remember where I bought it but one of those discount places like Ross's or some where like that..

The colour of that dress is striking - absolutely gorgeous. That is a dress I would gravitate to, not only because of the colour but also because I have no bust and the ruffles would help fill in what is lacking. LOL. However that doesn't mean that everyone, even those with a larger bust can't wear it.

blfenton and sidnee, I have never been one to allow someone to dictate what I should and should not wear, but as they always say, never say never. Sometimes one must pick and choose their battles and I was not going to let a MOG dress come between my future DIL and I. I also have two sons, no daughters. My other DIL was super easy to deal with when planning her wedding.

I got my dres for my son's wedding online through Nordstroms~~~I loved it and it was so comfy, I wish I could find some place to wear it agin;)

Ellen, when I was married 33 years ago, I used peach and yellow.

I really like both dresses but brown doesn't seem like a summer color to me. And with a darker skin tone, wouldn't it sort of muddy down your glow?

If your top half is broad as you say, I think that layery style would make you look like a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. The David's bridal style would work better IMO, and it does come in other colours. The brown dress with tanned skin IMO would look as rhizo suggests, muddy.
If your top half and bottom half are disproportionate you might consider separates to get the correct size for each half.

If you tan easily I think I would go with a peach colored dress. David's Bridal has some beautiful dresses for the MOB & MOG on sale right now. You send in your measurements and they make you a dress to fit those figures..

It must be the year for outdoor/casual weddings and yellow as a predominant color.... my niece will have an outdoor wedding in August w/ yellow & grey as her colors. I'm looking for something appropriate to wear and am thinking along the lines of a floral or polka-dot patterned 'tea dress' in colors that won't clash. I have no idea what to do about shoes if you're out in a field... sandals, I guess?! And if it turns out to be a cold and/or rainy day it's going to be really miserable!

Re wedding garb choices, I was never so horrified as when my brother got married and I showed up in a light pink dress with a matching sheer jacket that was almost *identical* to what the bride wore... but mine was nicer. lol! Ever since then I try to find out what people are wearing. :)

sid, re the amethyst dress that you like, take a closer look at the reviews. There are many low ratings where people comment unfavorably about the fit and the way the dress looks when worn. I like to read the reviews carefully before I buy on-line and that would steer me away!

Maybe someone can find a good site that gives dress style suggestions based on body type/shape?

Sidnee, my MIL used to say everything old is new again.
Then she would add, "you just THINK it's new.

I love the idea of peach or as Orchid mentioned apricot with yellow.

Throw caution to the wind and order, order order. I shop online because I am a petite size so little selection in the stores. But they are stores that I am familiar with and have an idea of fit and size.

But in your case, even knowing a designer won't guarantee if it will fit or look good.

Party, who would think that you would show up with a similar dress. It's true that now a days, brides are veering away from the traditional white and ivory.

Don't get discouraged, but you do need to make this a priority. It's a very special day and you want to look good and be comfortable.

Go for the peach and it will blend well with the MOB, I think it's nice for photos when both mothers wear similar colors and that would be the case if you choose peach plus it's a memory of your own wedding.

I love that tiered dress sidnee! That'd be a great reherseal dinner dress too!

I might be a little concerned with the color being so diffrent than the wedding party and her mom, but only because of pictures. How it might look in pictures? Seems like you might stand out? Is that ok? Just a consideration.

P.S. I love that dress dee. Fantastic. I bet you looked great.

I wore this dress as MOB last fall:

If it's going to be a summer wedding and outside, go with something that is flowing and hopefully cool...I've always loved dresses with a lacy jacket...For my last son's wedding, I wore a pale mint green tea length and I'm only 5'....
Just make sure it's something that is comfortable with comfy shoes...

Embroidered Lace Sheath Dress (Regular & Petite)
that one is really pretty comes in a ton of great colors and would be cool for outdoors. Purple, blue, cantaloupe all good colors.

I was in Macy's last week. They had a wide selection of beautiful summer dresses in navy/summer blues.

Nordstrom is my favorite store for dresses that are not fru-fru I got my wedding dress, 5 years ago. They do have dress clothing that someone over 40 can wear, that aren't brown,dark grey or black and dowdy.

and I found my plus size dress at lane bryants, but shock? it was on the rack as a beach cover?? wore a sheer short sleeve blouse as a "jacket" (it was sleeveless, and I have granny arms)

now for the oct wedding of ds2, wore pants and a beaded top (inside, and at greenfield village (ford's turn of the century park) that was woman within...

believe me don't care what anyone else was wearing...if it's hot and outside, I can't see wearing anything that makes you sweat...

ravencajun, I love the dress you posted. Great style and the color would look great on anyone with a tan. Sidnee, I hope you check this one out.

A friend of mine sent me pictures of a wedding she was in recently and the mother of the bride wore that dress it was really pretty on her and everyone complemented her on it so that made me think of it here. I like the look of lace dresses and they are very fashionable now.

dees_1 - LOVE that dress you posted/wore. Perfect color, hem length, etc. Very pretty!

Dees I love that dress too, I am not big on lace and I know it is the in thing. Chloe, that is a beautiful dress also.

This is the dress I have chosen. I so appreciate everyone's advice, I really love this group.

Sid

Here is a link that might be useful: Sids Mother of the Groom dress

I'm taking notes here! Will need a MOG dress next summer. Don't yet know venue or degree of formality, so can't start shopping.

Sidnee, I have the dress you have chosen and love it! I wore it to my neice's wedding last June and it was so comfortable. The fit is wonderful, it is a very "forgiving" dress, kind of hides the flaws lol. My best friend chose it as the MOB dress for her daughter's wedding 2 years ago, but in the long version.

Glad you found your dress!

Nice! Which blue did you choose?

This post was edited by ellendi on Thu, Jun 12, 14 at 12:01

yummy!
It reminds me of the dress that Kate Middleton wore for her first 'royal' event after she married William, except that hers was more severe & yours is more girly.

Her dress looked like ecru linen, with a band like the one on your dress;
seems like the press called it a 'bandage dress'.

It's so pretty. How about a picture of you in it?

You will be a knockout, for sure.

I like it!! Very pretty!!

My friend has three sons and went through the 'mother of the groom' role for all of their weddings. When my son was getting married she said, "Mag, just wear beige and a smile." Sage advice and I enjoyed the wedding.