While there’s plenty of advice out there for brides-to-be & their besties, we can’t forget about the women who made it all possible—the mothers of the brides! We’ve rounded up our top wedding dress shopping tips for MOBs to make the shopping experience extra enjoyable. Take a look.
Come prepared.
What better way to arrive to your daughter’s appointment than to arrive prepared? To make for a more fun and efficient shopping experience, discuss a budget with your daughter ahead of time so you’re both on the same page. Also, make sure to eat a little something before the appointment, so everyone is focused on finding the perfect dress for your daughter and not feeling hangry!
Listen and offer advice when asked.
The shopping experience is all about finding that dress that makes her feel her best, and therefore happiest! With that, make sure to listen to what she wants and offer your advice when she asks. While you may have your opinions and reservations, her wedding day is about her, so definitely make sure to keep her wants and wishes in mind.
Let her lead the way.
While it may be very exciting to think about what you want to wear on the big day, wait to shop for your MOB dress until after she finds the wedding dress of her dreams.
Be flexible.
While what you wore when you got married may gave been the latest trend, your wedding dress may not be in style any more. Your daughter may want to keep up with the trends just like you did—so be prepared for possible pops of color, bling, or intricate details!
You’re there for support.
As her mom, your daughter looks up to you for advice as has since she was little—and this day is no different! Try to keep the day as relaxing, calming, and enjoyable as possible for her, and most importantly, offer love and support during this very exciting time.
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FAQs
Most bridal shops are set up so that tipping is not mandatory or expected—but always appreciated.
Do you tip when wedding dress shopping? ›
Most bridal shops are set up so that tipping is not mandatory or expected—but always appreciated.
How do you support a bride while dress shopping? ›
Be receptive to see if the bride is looking for guidance or just some extra feedback to support what she feels. Let her make the decisions and evaluate what she needs from there. Remember to frame all suggestions and feedback in a way where the bride keeps the control of her appointment. This is her time.
How can I make wedding dress shopping more fun? ›
Scope out stores prior to visiting by checking online reviews, photos, and testimonials to choose the one or two stores you most want to visit. Visiting too many bridal salons can be confusing, and is definitely exhausting. Focus on quality over quantity! Bring your biggest fans.
What should the mother of the bride wear when wedding dress shopping? ›
Traditionally, the mother of the bride's gown should complement (but not match) the color of the wedding party's attire. That's why fashion expert Shea Jensen shares that mothers of the bride should wait until their daughters have chosen their bridesmaids' dresses before heading to the mall.
How many people should you take wedding dress shopping with you? ›
We recommend limiting your gown shopping entourage to about three people at most. This will help make your experience the best it can be with the very most important people by your side. Now that we know how many people you should bring, let's talk about who!
What should a maid of honor do for wedding dress shopping? ›
As the maid of honor, etiquette dictates you accompany the bride-to-be to shop for dresses, if possible, and put the finishing touches on the bride's look for her wedding day. You've known the bride for a long time and can offer the best second-opinion when it comes to her unique style and layout for her wedding.
Who traditionally goes with the bride dress shopping? ›
Traditionally, the mother of the bride, sisters, and the closest friend (or friends) are involved in the dress hunt. Your future mother-in-law can be invited, too, if you're tight with her and you want her to take part.
Who should help the bride get dressed? ›
Once the bride knows who she would like to assist her as she steps into her dress (Typically, this is a mom or close family member, maid/matron of honor, sisters, a close friend, etc.), she should let them know that they should be fully ready to go 10-20 minutes before she steps into her gown.
Does the groom's mother go dress shopping with the bride? ›
So do you have to invite her along on your wedding dress search? The choice is really up to you. If you'd rather share this time with just your mom and, say, your sister, then do it. You can have a private moment with your fiancé's mom at the wedding if you want, before the ceremony begins.
Typically, we suggest making your bridal dress appointments 9-12 months prior to your wedding date. This date is suggested with the goal of picking out and ordering a dress 8-9 months before the wedding. This gives you plenty of time to shop around and find the dress of your dreams.
What color is the mother of the bride's dress supposed to be? ›
Typically the Mother of the Bride's dress should complement the bridal party's color palette. Not necessarily match with the bridesmaids, but choose a color in the color family. The most popular color for the mother of the bride to wear is navy or a royal blue, followed by blush or a shade of nude.
What does the mother of the bride do for dress shopping? ›
ACCOMPANY THE BRIDE DURING WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING
Depending on the bride's wishes, she may ask you to accompany her on dress-shopping appointments to help narrow down the choices until she finds that one perfect gown.
Is it customary to tip wedding dress seamstress? ›
Seamstresses usually own their own business, so you never have to tip someone who owns their own business b/c they keep 100% of the profit. My seamstress owns her own, so I know I don't *have* to tip her, but I feel like she doesn't charge me enough so I throw in a little extra.
Do people tip their wedding florist? ›
While at a restaurant, a patron will usually tip cash based on a percentage of the total bill; there's usually a flat rate for tipping a wedding florist. You can expect to tip your wedding florist somewhere between $50-$100. But eventually, it all depends on you.
What should you not do when wedding dress shopping? ›
Take our advice and avoid shopping burn out, stress and so much more! BOOKING TOO MANY APPOINTMENTS OR OVERSHOPPING: This quickly leads to dress burn out - everything starts to look the same, nothing feels special, it's mentally and physically exhausting trying on wedding dresses and it's just not fun anymore.
