Who wants cute, elegant mother of the bride dresses in plus size? Raise your hands! Yep, that’s what I thought. Our kids don’t get married in their early 20s anymore unless they are from Oklahoma or Alabama. The rest of them wait until their mums are older and fatter (dare I say the word “fat”?) before they're ready to tie the knot.
Older Women Need Plus Sizes
I was reasonably thin until I hit about 56. Oh, enough of my whining. The point is that the older we are, as mothers of the bride, the more likely it is that we will be looking for plus size mother of the bride (MOB) dresses. Fortunately, there are more options, now. We can shop online from our desks while eating Kroger’s Gummy Bears and drinking diet Cokes. How cool is that?
Here’s the Plan
First of all, your daughter will be deciding what she’s going to wear for her wedding gown. (Fortunately, she’s young and still looks good, so that part should be easy.) Around the same time, your kiddo will decide what her bridesmaids' colors will be.
After Li’l Precious gets all that straightened out, you get your turn to find your MOB dress. Some mothers care more about what they wear than other mothers. If you are competing with a new wife, you might be considering lipo right now, but I can tell you that lipo doesn’t last. So, spend your money on a good dress and undergarments. And, maybe a pair of killer shoes. I’ve also heard that spray-on tans, the kind where you walk into a box and are professionally sprayed, are definitely worth the money. Tanned fat is prettier than pale fat.
Formal, Casual, Long, Tea Length Dresses
You are at the point where you know what kind of wedding (level of formality / theme) for which you will need a dress. I’m using West Coast standards, where we have weddings such as:
- Formal: Traditional extravaganza to impress daddy’s friends
- Formal garden wedding / mid-day luncheon
- Informal / casual
- Beach casual
- Casual garden wedding / mid-day luncheon
- Indie / bohemian
- Indie / hippie
- Retro / rockabilly or Goth
Other than trying to find a decent dress that fits, there are some rules that are usually followed by most mothers concerning length of dress and “fanciness” of dress. Not all families are fussy about these rules.
If the mother of the groom is a larger plus size and might have more difficulty locating a suitable dress, it would be gracious of the mother of the bride to give the groom's mother the option of shopping first, or "at the same time". This is a courtesy and is not expected.
Rules for Mother of the Bride Dresses
Formality is related to the time of day. Here are the traditional rules, as I know them:
- Formal weddings in the evening: Mother of bride and groom wear long dresses with more ornamentation (dressier), which often have long sleeves or a jacket over a sleeveless dress.
- Formal daytime weddings: Mother of bride and groom may wear long or tea-length dresses. Formal garden party weddings are a good place to wear tea-length dresses with hats.
- Casual or informal weddings: Mothers may wear tea-length or long casual dresses. If the bride is wearing a tea-length dress, the mothers should, too.
- Photos come out better if both mothers are wearing dresses of the same length.
- If one mom wears a hat, the other mom should, as well.
- Don’t wear white or off-white.
Mother of the Bride Dresses in Plus Sizes
When I talk about “dresses,” I am referring to any outfit, such as:
- Two-piece dresses
- Full-length gowns
- Pantsuits
- Two-piece pant sets
- Women’s suits
Pictures of Mother of the Bride Dresses
Here are a few of the outfits (mostly dressy) that I like and the names of some designers.
- Mon Cheri Mother of the Bride Dress: Burnout Organza Dress Set (to size 16)
- Alfred Angelo Two Piece Pant or Dress: This plus size, two-piece mother of the bride dress is nice because it could be used for a fairly formal or informal wedding. I like two-piece dresses because I am an apple shape. I can get a smaller top, then get a larger skirt that fits my tummy. Pear shapes can do the opposite and have the waist made smaller. (to size 30W)
- Alfred Angelo Pantsuit
Elegant Mother of the Bride Dresses:
- Terani Mother of the Bride (up to size 24) Terani dresses are expensive, but they are amazing and beautiful for a formal wedding.
- Plus Size Prom Dress Some articles say, “Just don’t look like you are going to prom,” and I say, “What’s wrong with prom?”
- 2011 Alex Evenings MOB gowns: This type of drape is fabulous for apple shapes, and the pear-shaped model wears it well. Here is another dress by Alex Evenings.
- Blue mother of the bride dress: Try Amazon.
Once you know the color-options and the level of formality, you’re set to go. Dresses come in all price ranges, so don’t be shy about trying TJ Max or Nordstrom Rack. If you start about six months before the wedding, your life will be easier.
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Mother of the Bride Dresses: Tea Length
Mode Trends 2011: Fashion Clothes for Women Over 40 & 50
Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
