Page 45 - HDG1173 - CWD Fall 2015

Here, the Coastal Weddings staff lifts the veil on
wedding-related topics readers want answered.

Q. I’ve always heard that the groom’s mom should
wait until the bride’s mom chooses a dress before
shopping for hers. Is this true? And when should the bride’s
mom start shopping?

A. Once the bride selects her wedding colors, the
mothers should start browsing around for styles that
interest them. But custom dictates that the order of
gown selection is as follows: First, the bride selects bridal and
bridesmaids’ dresses; then the mother of the bride chooses her
dress; and finally, the mother of the groom purchases hers.
That way, the mothers can coordinate their attire with the bride’s
and bridesmaids’ gowns, as well as with the wedding colors
and with each other, to prevent clashing or overdressing. Both
moms’ dresses should reflect the formality of the wedding, as
well as the season in which the wedding takes place. Here are
more tips for moms:

• Swatch for clues. The mother of the bride should consider
giving a fabric swatch of her dress to the mother of the groom
to aid in gown selection. In regard to style and color, the
mother of the groom’s dress should coordinate with, but not
match, the mother of the bride’s dress. The two dresses do
not have to be the same length, but the moms should look as
if they are attending the same event.

• Don’t try to be a bridesmaid. It’s OK to buy a gown from
a bridesmaid's line, but don’t wear the same dress that the
bridesmaids are wearing.

• Shop with a full-service boutique, where professionals
can fit you in fashionable styles that flatter your body and that
can be worn again.

• Shop and order early. It takes just as long (about three
months) to order and then to tailor a mother’s gown as it does
to make the bridesmaids’ gowns. If you wait until the last
minute, you may have to settle for another dress because the
company may not be able to order your No. 1 choice of color
or of style.

( continued on page 57 )

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