What Do the Mother of the Groom Wear?
By Kim Shaw
QUESTION
My daughter is getting married outdoors this August at
2:00pm. Her gown is floor length raw silk taffeta with no train; the bridesmaid's
are wearing dark pink, straight, ankle length linen skirts and white sleeveless
linen tops; the gentlemen are wearing white shirts, khakis, navy linen jackets
and festive ties. My question is this, what do the mother of the groom and I
wear? Since the color scheme is pink and white, should we wear outfits to coordinate
with that? My daughter tells me that the groom's mother has her eye on beige,
long, two piece outfit with a sequined jacket. I think we're going to look silly
wearing long skirts in the middle of the afternoon, but I don't want to offend
the groom's mother, whom I have not yet met, by being underdressed.
ADVICE
First, I would like to congratulate your daughter for having selected what sound
like absolutely charming bridesmaids' ensembles. Brides, instead of just speculating
whether their maids "can wear them again" ought to ask themselves, instead,
"Would I pick this dress to wear to the next formal/informal/casual wedding
I go to?" If the answer is "No, everyone will think I'm a bridesmaid", then
they've chosen a dress, that, after the wedding, will go straight to a high
school drama department. But we were talking about your outfit, weren't we?
Since neither you nor the groom's mother are members of the wedding party you
are not compelled to comply with schemes, color or otherwise. You're right,
you are going to look silly wearing long skirts in the middle of the afternoon,
long skirts are for the ladies in the wedding party only, not for mothers, or
guests. What you have here is a formal afternoon wedding (even though the bridesmaids'
dresses aren't quite full length and the gentlemen are a tad underdressed).
© Copyright Kim Shaw; all rights reserved.
Kim Shaw is the President of Moonlight & Magnolia - Exquisite Weddings and Special Events, located in Charlotte, NC.
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