Mother of the Bride Etiquette

Hey ladies!

A few weeks ago one of my readers emailed me this question:

“Have you ever done a story on ideas for fashion for the mother of the bride? My daughter is getting married in July and I am feeling a tad over whelmed by the daunting task of picking out my dress!! Any ideas would be welcomed. Thanks and Blessings,”

I loooove questions like this and I have lots of things I’d like to share with you

about being the mother of the bride and picking out your dress.

First, the etiquette rules for the mother of the bride are much more flexible

today than ever before. Mother of the brides can choose from lots of styles and colors.

There’s really no hard core rules except that you need to

feel good in the dress and it should coordinate with the wedding colors.

My daughter, Courtney married in June 2010. It was both fun and stressful!

After we picked out Courtney’s dress, we started on my dress.

I was in a little different situation because my daughter had asked me to be her Matron of Honor.

I had never seen this done before but I was honored that she asked me, so I played double duty,

mother of the bride/matron of honor!

I was picturing myself looking and feeling a little like Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind.

Courtney was picturing me looking a little more like Melanie from Gone With the Wind. Ha!

Oh boy!! Let’s just say we did a lot of laughing while picking out my dress!

Here’s what I ended up wearing and of course it matched the bridal party~

 I think it’s important to pick a dress that you’re comfortable with.

If you don’t want to show your arms, there are still lots of beautiful dresses to choose from.

Although the wedding is all about the Bride, (my daughter reminded me of this often) I think

the mother of the bride should feel special too.

How many times do you get to dress up like this? Take advantage of it!

Here are a couple of things I would suggest to make the mother of the bride feel good

on the day of the wedding:

  • Have a manicure and pedicure before the day of the wedding.

Courtney and I did ours together and had some great mother/daughter time.

(The only picture I found of my toes!)

  •  Have your makeup done the day of the wedding.

The makeup artist was doing Courtney’s so I let her do mine too and I’m so glad I did!

I loved wearing false eyelashes!

(If you don’t want to pay a makeup artist, find a friend who likes to do makeup.

I’ve done makeup for several weddings)

I also got a spray tan and a bikini wax (yes I just said that, Courtney got one

and for some reason I decided since Wayne and I were going to the beach

in a few weeks after the wedding, I would too.

I have birthed two babies naturally, one being 10 pounds, but the bikini wax nearly

killed me! She assured me it would get easier every time.

I will never know, because I’ll never do it again! 🙂 )

Okay, I realize I haven’t answered her exact question so come back tomorrow

for some dress ideas!

Thanks for sticking with me ladies!

Beauty For the Heart~~The most important thing we did was to bathe Courtney and Chris’

marriage in prayer. Too many couples today, worry over the ceremony and the

reception, but forget about Christ.

Marriage takes three and Christ needs to be the focus of our marriage.

I love this photo taken right before the ceremony started. Such precious memories!

This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called ‘woman,’ 

for she was taken out of man. That is why a man leaves his father and mother

and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 2:23-24

Don’t forget my Savvy Stitches giveaway ends tonight!!!!

Photo Credit: Scarlett O’Hara and Melanie.

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  2. Question…My daughter is getting married their 6 yr old daughter is the flower girl…I am a widow, my husband passing last year. my daughter says that I should be going home after the wedding & take her daughter…yet our entire family have rooms at a local hotel H I was going to be with my other childrwen, & Grandchildren…. Other family members that are coming from out of state…sheys I’m selfish…Is this true? My husband & l had been married for 40 yrs… She just broke my heart and said not to come!!! they live in my house! If I am suppose to stay home please tell me???

  3. What a fun post! So funny about the bikini wax~ I cringe when I get the moustache removed OUCH!! Never had the spray tan and am wondering the same thing as Debbie G. You and your daughter are so beautiful and the love and closeness you share with each other shines through.
    I attended a wedding where the brides mom was her matron of honor and his dad was the best man. What a testiment of love that was.
    When our oldest daughter married they each had only one attendant, their dads, stand up with them and no one else. It was very touching to see these two big, grown men in tears as thier oldest children declared their vows to each other. (And tux’s are cheaper than bridesmaids dresses ;-D ). Any hoo, no matter what the day brings as long as Christ is the center of thier home they will have a blessed union.
    Blessings, Pam

  4. Cindy, what did you think of the spray tan? Had you done it before. Did it look orangey? Are was a more natural tan? What was the procedure? Thanks, Debbieg

  5. You looked beautiful the day your daughter got married! And thanks. I am on a hunt for my “mother-of-the-bride” dress. Just 9 weeks to go! Yikes!

  6. You both look beautiful!

    You are too funny sharing about your bikini wax. Compared to an underarm wax a bikini wax is a piece of cake – either that or I was so numb from pain after my underarm wax that I didn’t feel the other. I’m with you, never again! ;o)

  7. You look so beautiful at Courtney’s wedding and always!!! What beautiful pictures they are :-). Take Care..

  8. Some ladies are not comfortable in dresses. My daughters mil wore a nice pants outfit to her sons wedding because she is just not comfortable in a dress. I thought it looked fine.

  9. First of all, I LOVE the KY blue gowns!! Secondly, your daughter is as beautiful as you are. She is absolutely adorable. You must be so proud. Lastly, I love your etiquette notes. You are a gem, full of amazing information for all your readers.
    You’re such a sweet friend!

  10. Hi Cyndi – I loved your article. My daughter was married in June of 09. Since she was across the country and unavailable to help, my sister-in-laws helped me find my Mother of the Bride dress. It was a WONDERFUL group of women, with nieces who dragged me all over the county to find the perfect dress, just for me. I treasure that time they all took from their busy schedules to do this special task!
    Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos! Becky

  11. Forgot to add….I’m excited, too, because my husband isn’t performing the ceremony so I’ll get to sit with him!!! 🙂 As you know, that’s a big thing because it rarely happens!!

  12. How fun! I’m assuming Courtney wore the blue shoes in the photo–I bet that was beautiful with her white dress!! I love the photo of you all praying–what a way to send her off as the new bride! We’re going to a wedding on Saturday. I haven’t dressed up this much in a long time, so I’m a bit nervous! I just keep telling myself that nobody will be looking at me, they’ll be looking at the bride! 🙂 I’m looking forward to it, though, as I do love weddings!

  13. Cyndi, your daughter and you are simply beautiful! Love the article, as I know someday I will be a “mother of the bride – or groom” – now I’ll know what’s proper!