While a wedding is all about the bride, her mother deserves to feel just as amazing on such a special day. Part of that is finding the perfect mother of the bride dress! In the past, mother of the bride gowns have been seen as conservative and matronly, something boring and meant to fade into the background. We’re here to tell you that you can wear an elegant mother of the bride dress! Styles and traditions have evolved and there is a bevy of trendy mother of the bride dresses for you to choose from to feel just as incredible as your daughter at her wedding. We’re sharing ideal silhouettes, lengths, styles, and colors so you can find elegant mother of the bride dresses for 2023.

A-line Mother of the Bride Dress

A-line dresses have long been considered the most flattering style, and as a mature woman, you may be looking for a mother of the bride dress that’s going to look and feel amazing on your body type. With a fitted bodice and flowing skirt, an A-line dress will give you an ideal silhouette that is both fashionable and comfortable making for elegant mother of the bride dresses. A style like MGNY’s Square Neck Evening Gown with Floral Appliqués (style 72704) is a great choice. This A-line sits beautifully on the body with an effortless chiffon skirt and delicate crystal beaded, floral embroidered appliqués on a square neck bodice with cap sleeves. It’s a style that can easily be re-worn for future events. If you’re looking to feel a bit more elevated, MGNY’s Soft Net Evening Gown with Beaded Lace (style 72503) is our choice! This elegant A-line mother of the bride dress, in soft net, is dreamy with a draped, off-the-shoulder bodice adorned with stunning three-dimensional beaded lace appliqués and a flowing skirt.

Elegant Mother of the Bride Dresses for Summer

As the hottest season of the year, there are some things to factor in when choosing the right mother of the bride dress for summer. Fabric, silhouette, and sleeve choices are all things to keep note of when selecting your gown. We recommend opting for lighter fabrics like net or chiffon that will help you to feel cool during the summer wedding. It’s in your best interest to go for looser silhouettes, like A-lines and sheaths, that won’t cling to the body to allow more airflow to reach you. We say, avoid fit and flare and mermaid styles. Summer is certainly not the time to wear a long sleeve dress. Strapless styles would be ideal, but if you’re not comfortable going strapless, a one-shoulder dress is definitely a chic move. Straps and cap sleeves are both great options if you’re looking for extra support in your dress. Our pick for an elegant mother of the bride dress for summer is MGNY’s One Shoulder Ruffled Evening Gown (style 72505). The stretch crepe fabric is lightweight and breathable, making it ideal for the summer, and the trendy one-shoulder neckline will keep you looking and feeling cool. A sparkling beaded brooch helps to cinch in your waist, defining your figure, and the beautiful skirt ruffle creates a stunning texture that totally reminds us of ocean waves. In a soft periwinkle tone, you’ll be summer wedding ready in this elegant mother of the bride dress. Your daughter will be ready for her summer wedding too with these beach and summer wedding dress ideas! 

Elegant Mother of the Bride Dresses with Jackets

For women who would prefer to keep their arms covered, but don’t want to feel constricted by a long sleeve dress, you can wear a mother of the bride dress with a jacket. Ideal for fall or winter weddings, the jacket can help keep you warm or offer a great transitional look from ceremony to reception. Whether trim and tailored or loose and flowing, an elegant mother of the bride dress with a jacket is a great choice! For the woman who wants the non-traditional or just prefers pants over gowns, we say try a pantsuit! MGNY’s Three-Piece Chiffon Evening Ensemble with Crystal Beading (style 72303) is a refined mother of the bride outfit that features wide leg chiffon trousers, a sparkling crystal beaded top, and a billowing chiffon jacket for a truly unique mother of the bride look. 

Knee-Length Elegant Mother of the Bride Dresses

If your daughter is throwing a more casual wedding, a knee-length mother of the bride dress may be more appropriate. Though it’s short, a knee-length dress can still feel elegant and elevated to suit even more formal weddings, and it’s a great piece to wear for future events. These dresses from our MGNY cocktail collection are simplistic and refined to make you feel like a stand-out at your daughter’s wedding. Our Short Jersey Evening Dress with Beaded Neckline (style 72548) is a stylish choice with a soft-sweetheart, off-the-shoulder neckline accented by beautiful beading with modest three-quarter sleeves. The soft jersey fabric makes this dress ultra-comfortable to wear and ultra-flattering on the body with the ruching detail. A short dress can still make a statement and our One Shoulder Short Evening Dress (style 72543) proves that! The bold dress features a one-shoulder neckline with a statement ruffle detail at the shoulder, perfect for the chic mom who doesn’t want to blend in with all the other guests.

Classic Mother of the Bride Dresses

It may be your daughter’s big day, but you deserve to feel special too. Wearing a classic mother of the bride dress can help with that. These timeless styles embody grace and elegance, perfect for the dignified woman and a great option for a black-tie wedding. These pieces will stand the test of time for a classic mother of the bride dress that’s in fashion now and will be for years to come. MGNY’s Embroidered Net Fit and Flare Evening gown (style 72726) is definitely a timeless piece. The luxe evening gown has an elegant fit and flare silhouette with a sultry off-the-shoulder neckline and stunning beaded appliqués over sheer net. MGNY’s Fitted Stretch Crepe Evening Dress with Beading (style 72607) is also a great option. This stretch crepe style has a softer, flowing silhouette, with delicately beaded cap sleeves, and a refined bateau neckline. The beautiful appliqué at the waist has the effect of an elegant brooch and leads to a lovely sash. 

Tea-Length Mother of the Bride Dresses

The tea-length dress gets its name from the skirt length, as it was the dress or skirt style that women wore to high tea in the 1920s. Falling somewhere between the knee and ankle a tea-length dress offers a more modest look than a knee-length dress. Though the style has vintage origins, these tea-length mother of the bride dresses are chic, modern, and a great option for a more casual wedding. MGNY’s Tea Length Beaded Evening Gown (style 72512) is a unique tea-length mother of the bride dress. The illusion neckline detail, sleeveless bodice, and palm-inspired beaded design make this the perfect choice for a summer wedding. For a gown that feels a bit more glamorous, there’s MGNY’s Beaded Fringe Evening Dress (style 72525). An elevated tea-length mother of the bride dress that definitely takes inspiration from its 1920s namesake. The dress features a soft scoop neckline and short sleeves with an allover art-deco beaded design and chic fringed skirt. These looks prove that a mother of the bride dress certainly doesn’t have to be traditional or boring. 

Elegant Gold Mother of the Bride Dresses

Your mind might not instantly go to gold mother of the bride dresses, but gold is a color that embodies royalty, wealth, luxury, and regality making it the perfect color for an elegant mother of the bride dress. It’s a shade that will beautifully compliment the white or ivory of your daughter’s dress without competing. If you want to feel absolutely regal, our Mermaid Brocade Evening Gown (style 72701) gets our gold medal. This luxe brocade gown features a cuffed v-neckline on a wrapped surplice bodice with a sparkling crystal beaded waistband in a sultry mermaid silhouette. Flirty and fun, for the stylish mom, MGNY’s Fit and Flare Flutter Sleeve Evening Gown (style 72413) is an elegant gold mother of the bride dress in a fit and flare silhouette with a classic v-neckline and flutter sleeves. The allover beaded botanical embroidered appliqués are a unique touch that will help you stand apart from the other guests in your important role as mother of the bride.

Elegant Boho Mother of the Bride Dresses

A bohemian wedding doesn’t necessarily mean the hippie 70s like some moms may be thinking of. Modern bohemian weddings are a trending theme that take inspiration directly from nature. Think dresses in earth tones with beautiful botanical details and flowing silhouettes. Here are our picks for an elegant boho mother of the bride dress. For a subtle approach to an elegant boho mother of the bride dress, there’s MGNY’s Embroidered Chiffon Evening Gown (style 72517). The effortless A-line floats off the body in delicate chiffon with a leafy-look beaded bodice and free-spirited flutter sleeves for a beautifully boho gown. Another stunning option is our Embroidered Lace Evening Gown with Botanical Appliqués (style 72713). This boho mother of the bride dress has a chic square neckline and flirty flutter sleeves over romantic Chantilly lace on a soft fit and flare silhouette. The crystal beaded, botanical-inspired embroidered appliqués really make this dress a bohemian dream!

Elegant Plus Size Mother of the Bride Dresses

With our MGNY evening wear collection available in sizes ranging from 2–24, we make our dresses inclusive for women of all shapes and sizes. Plus size women deserve to feel sophisticated, elevated, and incredible while celebrating their daughter’s marriage. With a variety of silhouettes and designs that will flatter every body type, we’re positive you can find an elegant plus size mother of the bride dress. MGNY’s Lace and Chiffon Evening Gown (style 72524) would make a stunning plus size mother of the bride dress. The A-line silhouette is considered one of the most flattering with a tightly fitted bodice and skirt that comes down in an “A” shape. The airy chiffon fabric is incredibly forgiving, with a loose fit that floats off the body, and with a v-neck bodice adorned in beautiful beaded lace and illusion sleeves, this dress is an easy choice. If you’re looking to show off a bit more of your curves, an elegant dress like MGNY’s Fit and Flare Ruffled Jersey Evening Gown (style 72724) would be a great option. The jersey fit and flare is a supportive and figure-hugging fabric that will help to smooth out your shape. The off-the-shoulder neckline is perfect for showing off your decolletage, and strategic ruching can help to conceal any problem areas. The ruffle detail on the skirt is a fun twist and leads to a skirt slit to show off a bit more skin.

Mother of the Bride FAQs

What is the most popular color for mother of the bride dresses?

Mothers of the bride may often be caught wearing darker shades like navy, bordeaux, charcoal, and even occasionally metallics like gold and silver. This could be because bright colors or pale colors could be considered more youthful and the mother of the bride is meant to be more mature. The truth is there is no right or wrong color for the mother of the bride to wear. The only rule of thumb is to stay away from whites, ivories, or any color family similar to what the bride is wearing. You don’t want to take attention away from the bride by wearing a color too similar to hers. A clashing color could also detract from the bride’s vision, so unless you have approval stay away from overly bright colors too. If you’re unsure what color mother of the bride dress to choose, a helpful tip is to take cues from things like the venue, time of year, and bridesmaid dresses. Spring might call for pastels, while fall and winter suit sophisticated jewel tones. If the venue is an outdoor setting maybe a lighter champagne shade or pale blue is a better choice to keep you cooler in the sun while still looking classy. Or if you want to blend in with the wedding party, take inspiration from the bridesmaid dress color. If they’re wearing a light pink, go for a darker rosewood or even a fawn shade; something that feels cohesive without matching. When in doubt, neutrals are always a lovely option. Delicate and subdued, without being boring, a well-balanced neutral tone can really make your coloring pop. Take into account your skin tone and hair color to find the right neutral that will enhance your features, while still being an understated shade, so as not to steal the show.

What style of mother of the bride dress best hides a tummy?

The dress you wear to your daughter’s wedding should make you feel beautiful and confident, and part of that might mean finding a mother of the dress style that helps you conceal your insecurities. Oftentimes for women, this is their stomach area. As we’ve mentioned before, A-line dresses have long been regarded as one of the most flattering silhouettes for all body types. This shape is designed to give you the look of a narrow waist, with a form-fitting bodice that reaches the natural waistline where the skirt flares out in an “A” shape. Some women might think that their only option is a frumpy mother of the bride dress, but that is certainly not the case. Our MGNY collection is full of stylish A-line gowns that will make you feel as incredible as you look at your daughter’s wedding. A beautiful choice is MGNY’s Crystal Beaded Chiffon Evening Gown (style 72510). The effortless A-line gown features a draped v-neck bodice with sparkling crystal beaded lace appliqués and a flowing skirt. The chiffon fabric delicately billows off the body and the ruching on the bodice helps to disguise what some women might consider a problem area.

Should a mother of the bride dress be long or short? 

The length of your mother of the bride dress is definitely dependent on the dress code, venue, and time of year of the wedding. If the bride and groom want a casual, backyard wedding then a short dress is totally appropriate. Short dresses are also acceptable for summer weddings, beach weddings, tropical destination weddings, and even courthouse weddings. MGNY’s Short Jersey Evening Dress (style 72545) from the cocktail dress collection is a short, yet elegant mother of the bride dress that’s sure to wow guests. The knee-length dress has a cuffed, off-the-shoulder neckline, a banded waist to define your figure, and soft ruffle detail. Long dresses are typically the norm for mother-of-the-bride attire and would be expected at most cocktail attire weddings, as well as black tie, or ultra-formal white tie weddings. Long mother of the bride dresses would also be more appropriate for the cooler seasons like fall and winter to help keep you warm. MGNY’s Crepe Fit and Flare Evening Gown with Organza Sleeves (style 72721) is a simplistic, sophisticated, and chic long mother of the bride dress. The sleek crepe hugs the body for a shapely silhouette and the sheer, organza bubble sleeves are a trendy touch. Regardless of length we have many classy mother of the bride dresses to choose from.

Should the mother of the bride dress match the mother of the groom?

The mother of the bride and the mother of the groom certainly do not have to match. Each woman should be able to express themselves and their individual style with their dress choice. It can help to take cues from the wedding party when it comes to color choice or sit down with each other to discuss outfit ideas. Both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom should have a conversation with the couple to know the level of formality of the wedding to ensure they select an appropriate dress. It never hurts to ask the bride for her thoughts and opinions on what she’d like to see you in. Ultimately,  the mothers of the bride and groom should select dresses that make them both look and feel amazing!

What should the mother of the bride not wear?

Sometimes it’s easier to know what to wear to an event rather than what not to wear. When it comes to mother of the bride dresses, the rules aren’t clear as to what you can and can’t wear. In truth, as long as you have the bride’s approval you can wear most any formal attire. You’re not restricted to a dress, though long evening gowns are considered classic mother of the bride dresses, non-traditional mother of the bride dresses are acceptable too. Think outside the box by wearing a jumpsuit or pantsuit, or go trendy with unique embellishments. MGNY’s Beaded Lace Evening Gown with Feather Sleeves  (style 72621) is perfect for the trendsetting mom who wants to feel chic and glamorous. While at a glance this fitted scuba jersey dress may seem typical, the off-the-shoulder feather sleeves take the gown to a whole new level that we’re sure guests would never have expected. For an unconventional mother of the bride dress, the Two Piece Chiffon Bridesmaid Pantsuit (style 21739) from our bridesmaids collection is our choice. This unique two-piece pantsuit features a draped cowl neck top with a cold-shoulder sleeve detail and sash to help define your figure. The wide-leg pants and chic, flowy, and totally on trend giving you a mother of the bride look that will be hard to forget. 

To find an elegant mother of the bride dress that’s perfect for your daughter’s wedding visit one of our incredible retailers!