Mother of the Bride Outfit Guide 2025: What to Wear

The mother of the bride should wear an elegant dress, suit, or co-ord set that complements the wedding colour palette without upstaging the bride. The most versatile choices are tea-length or floor-length dresses in soft neutrals or jewel tones like navy, champagne, sage green, or dusty rose. Start shopping six to eight months before the wedding to allow time for finding the perfect outfit and completing any alterations¹.

Quick Reference: MOB Outfits by Dress Code

Choosing Your Outfit: Styles and Silhouettes

The mother of the bride has more style freedom than ever before. While traditional floor-length gowns remain popular for formal celebrations, modern weddings embrace diverse options from tailored trouser suits to elegant jumpsuits¹.

Most Flattering Silhouettes

A-line dresses remain the most universally flattering option, skimming the body from a fitted bodice through to a gently flared skirt. This silhouette works beautifully at any formality level and suits most body types.

Fit-and-flare styles offer a similar effect with slightly more definition at the waist, creating an elegant hourglass shape that photographs beautifully.

Structured co-ords—matching jacket and dress or jacket and trouser combinations—have become increasingly popular, offering versatility and the option to remove layers as the celebration progresses².

Jumpsuits provide a sophisticated alternative for mothers who prefer not to wear dresses. Look for tailored styles in elegant fabrics like crepe or satin, with flattering wide-leg or straight-leg cuts.

Dress and Jacket Sets

A dress with a coordinating jacket offers practical advantages throughout a long wedding day. The jacket provides coverage during the ceremony, warmth in air-conditioned venues, and an elegant finishing touch for formal photographs. Many mothers remove the jacket for dancing at the reception, creating two distinct looks from one outfit¹.

Best Colours for Mother of the Bride

Colour selection requires careful coordination with the bride and the overall wedding palette. The goal is to complement without matching the bridal party exactly.

Recommended Colours

2025 Trending Colours: Blush pink, sage green, and beautiful blues are particularly popular this season². Soft mocha and champagne tones offer sophisticated neutral alternatives.

Colours to Avoid

White, ivory, and cream are strictly reserved for the bride. This includes predominantly white prints or patterns that could photograph as white.

Black traditionally reads as funereal and should generally be avoided, though very formal evening weddings may be an exception. If you love the sophistication of black, consider navy, charcoal, or deep plum as elegant alternatives.

The exact bridesmaids' colour can create confusion in photographs and may appear as though you're trying to join the bridal party. Ask the bride about her colour palette and choose a complementary rather than matching shade.

Bright red is sometimes considered inappropriate as it can draw excessive attention, though cultural traditions vary on this point¹.

Coordinating with the Mother of the Groom

Traditional etiquette dictates that the mother of the bride selects her outfit first, then communicates her choice to the mother of the groom. This allows both mothers to coordinate without matching.

Coordination Guidelines

1. Choose your outfit first as MOB, then share a photograph or description with the MOG
2. Avoid identical colours—if you're wearing navy, she might choose champagne or sage
3. Consider similar formality levels—both mothers should match the wedding's dress code
4. Coordinate on length—if one wears floor-length, the other shouldn't wear knee-length unless the dress code varies

Communication prevents awkward situations where both mothers arrive in nearly identical outfits. A brief conversation or photo exchange several months before the wedding ensures everyone feels comfortable and confident³.

Regional Variations

United States

American MOB fashion embraces flexibility. Floor-length gowns suit formal celebrations, while midi dresses and tailored separates work beautifully for semi-formal and casual weddings. Headwear is not expected unless the invitation specifies a themed event.

Popular American retailers for MOB outfits include Nordstrom (dresses ranging $100–$775), David's Bridal, and department stores like Macy's and Dillard's⁴.

United Kingdom

British wedding tradition places greater emphasis on formal millinery. Hats or fascinators are customary at formal daytime weddings, particularly church ceremonies. The mother of the bride's hat traditionally should be larger than the mother of the groom's—a nod to hosting etiquette where guests shouldn't outdo their hosts⁵.

UK Hat Etiquette:

• Wear your hat from the ceremony through the wedding breakfast (formal meal)
• You set the tone for when other guests may remove their hats
• After 4pm, switch to smaller cocktail hats or fascinators
• Traditionally worn on the right side of the head
• Choose a size that complements rather than overwhelms your outfit⁵

Fascinators vs Hats: For smaller or intimate weddings, a fascinator or saucer hat is often more appropriate than a large-brimmed style, which could detract from the bride.

British retailers John Lewis, Hobbs, and Monsoon offer extensive MOB collections with coordinating accessories.

Australia

Australian MOB fashion balances elegance with climate practicality. Lightweight fabrics like chiffon, linen, and breathable crepe are essential for summer weddings. Beach and outdoor venues are common, making block heels, wedges, or dressy sandals practical alternatives to stilettos.

Hats and fascinators are less expected than in the UK but add elegant flair to formal celebrations. Melbourne Cup fashion influences Australian wedding style, with statement headpieces popular for those who enjoy occasion millinery.

By Season

Spring and Summer Weddings

Choose lightweight fabrics like chiffon, silk, cotton blends, and breathable crepe. Florals, soft pastels, and fresh colours like sage green, powder blue, and blush pink capture the seasonal mood beautifully².

Practical considerations:

• Block heels or wedges for garden venues
• A light cover-up for air-conditioned receptions
• Sun protection for outdoor ceremonies
• Avoid dark colours that absorb heat

Autumn and Winter Weddings

Embrace richer tones and textures with velvet, structured satin, and heavier crepe. Deep jewel tones—burgundy, emerald, sapphire, and plum—feel seasonally appropriate while remaining celebratory.

Layering options:

• Coordinating jackets in matching or complementary fabric
• Elegant shawls or wraps
• Long-sleeved dress styles for built-in warmth
• Closed-toe heels or elegant ankle boots

Accessories and Shoes

Footwear

Comfort matters enormously for a celebration lasting 6-10 hours. The Hobbs styling guide recommends "kitten heels, block heels, wedge sandals, or flats such as ballerina pumps" over high stilettos¹.

By venue type:

• Indoor formal venues: Elegant heels or embellished flats
• Garden weddings: Block heels or wedges that won't sink into grass
• Beach weddings: Dressy wedge sandals or embellished flats
• City venues: Your most comfortable elegant heels

Bags

A structured clutch or small crossbody holds essentials (phone, lipstick, tissues) without being cumbersome during dinner and photographs. Metallic or neutral tones offer maximum versatility across outfit colours.

Jewellery

Keep jewellery elegant but understated. Statement earrings work well with simple necklines, while delicate pieces suit more detailed bodices. This is an occasion for your best pieces, but the goal is to enhance rather than compete with your outfit.

Cover-ups

Plan ahead with a coordinating jacket, cardigan, or wrap that works with your outfit rather than appearing as an afterthought. Many MOB dresses come as two-piece sets specifically for this purpose¹.

Budget Guide

Additional Costs to Budget

• Alterations: $50–$150 USD (£40–£120 GBP) for hemming, taking in, or adjusting fit⁴
• Accessories: $100–$500 USD for shoes, bag, jewellery, and headwear
• Shapewear: $30–$100 USD for smoothing undergarments if desired

Money-Saving Tips

• Shop early spring or late summer sales for best discounts
• Consider A-line and tea-length silhouettes which require simpler (cheaper) alterations
• Choose versatile colours you can rewear to future events
• Some bridal salons offer package discounts when the bride purchases her gown there⁴

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Starting too late — Begin shopping six to eight months before the wedding to allow time for decisions and alterations¹

2. Wearing white or ivory — These colours are reserved for the bride, regardless of how fashionable the shade

3. Matching the bridesmaids exactly — Complement the wedding palette without appearing to join the bridal party

4. Choosing uncomfortable shoes — You'll be on your feet for hours; prioritise comfort alongside style

5. Forgetting to coordinate with MOG — Communicate your choice early so both mothers look harmoniously different

6. Upstaging the bride — Choose elegant styles without excessive embellishment, extremely dramatic silhouettes, or attention-grabbing colours

7. Ignoring the venue — A floor-length gown suits a ballroom but overwhelms a casual garden party; match your outfit to the setting

8. Buying without alterations budget — Even perfectly sized dresses often need hemming or minor adjustments for ideal fit

9. Neglecting a cover-up — Churches may require covered shoulders; receptions are often air-conditioned; evening temperatures drop

10. Last-minute accessorising — Plan your complete look including shoes, bag, jewellery, and any headwear to ensure everything coordinates

Sources and References