29 Special Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses for the Big Day
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We asked bridal stylists and moms for their recommendations
People / Marcus Millan
Second to the wedding party, the mother-of-the-bride’s dress is one of the most important wedding wardrobe pieces — after all, you’re going to have these family photos forever.
“The mother of the bride is either the hostess of the event or one of the most important people in the room, so you want to wear something that holds up to the importance of the occasion,” bridal stylist Julie Sabatino, tells PEOPLE. The best mother-of-the-bride dress is something you feel comfortable and confident in (bonus points if it coordinates with the wedding party’s aesthetic). Whether you prefer an elegant dress or even a fabulous pantsuit, you’ll remember your mother-of-the-bride ensemble for years to come.
We asked real mothers of brides (and bridal stylists) for their favorite mother-of-the-bride dresses, and they start at under $100.
The Best Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses Under $100
Lulus Eternal Satin Ruffled Maxi Dress
Lulus
If you’re looking for a pale pink mother-of-the-bride dress for under $100, consider this Lulus dress. The silky polyester gown features a high-low hemline with a chic wrapped skirt design and romantic ruffle details throughout.
Sizes: XS–XL | Colors: 2 | Material: Polyester
Ever-Pretty Chiffon Formal Evening Gown
Amazon
Amazon is suprisingly one of the best places to buy mother-of-the-bride dresses, like this Every-Pretty evening gown. Constructed from a breathable polyester and available in vibrant colors — like burnt orange, lavender, and mint green — this formal dress is an excellent choice for any season.
Sizes: 0–30 | Colors: 18 | Material: Polyester
Ignite Evenings Ruched Maxi Dress
Dillard's
If you’re drawn to bolder colors that pop without feeling too trendy, we adore this Ignite Evenings maxi dress. Made with a stretchy and breathable polyester material, the gown comes in hot pink and navy and features a one-shoulder neckline with the sweetest rose applique detail that's garden party ready and black-tie chic.
Sizes: 6–18 | Colors: 2 | Material: Polyester, spandex
Lulus Magical Romance Ruffled Maxi Dress
Lulus
The Lulus Magical Romance One-Shoulder Maxi Dress comes in the most stunning dusty blue hue, making it an excellent choice for matching with bridesmaids. Constructed from stretchy polyester for breathable and comfortable wear, this dress features a one-shoulder neckline with a ruffled front slit for added texture.
Available Sizes: XS–M | Colors: 1 | Material: 96% polyester, 4% spandex
The More You Know
Traditionally, the MOB’s outfit also dictates what the mother of the groom wears. If you’re following this etiquette, Sabatino says to make sure to communicate with the mother of the groom.
The Best Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses Under $200
Alex Evenings Sleeveless Dress
Amazon
Add a touch of sparkle to your MOB ensemble with this Alex Evenings dress from Amazon. The lace dress has a sweetheart neckline with a mesh scoop-neck overlay for subtle coverage and is available in popular wedding shades like plum, dusty blue, and pewter.
Sizes: 4–20 | Colors: 17 | Material: Nylon, polyester
Adrianna Papell Floral Chiffon Gown
Amazon
Floral print is definitely worth considering, especially if your daughter (or daughter-in-law) is getting married in the summer. This Adrianna Papell chiffon gown has a flowy silhouette with ruched detailing and a suitable length for more formal ceremonies.
Sizes: 0–18 | Colors: 7 | Material: Polyester
JJ’s House Tea-Length Satin Dress
JJ's House
For afternoon weddings, go for a tea-length dress in a traditional silhouette, like this satin style from JJ’s House. With almost 60 colors to choose from, plus the option to have it made for your specific measurements, the dress is about as close as you can get to custom made without the ultra-high price tag.
Sizes: 0–26W (custom sizing available) | Colors: 57 | Material: Satin
R & M Richards Lace Gown
Macy's
If you want an off-the-shoulder look with a little bit of security, the R & M Richards gown is a great choice. This dress features a V-neckline with added spaghetti straps to reinforce the fit, plus a stunning lace overlay for added detail.
Sizes: 6–18 | Colors: 8 | Material: Polyester, spandex
JJ’s House Asymmetrical Satin Dress With Bow
JJ's House
For an ultra-formal look, consider this stunning gown from JJ’s House. Combining the structural lines of a suit jacket with a flowy and feminine full skirt, this satin dress is sure to wow down the aisle. On top of that, it comes in a huge assortment of colors and sizes with the option to customize the fit based on your exact measurements.
Sizes: 0–26W (custom sizing available) | Colors: 56 | Material: Satin
Marina Off the Shoulder Trumpet Gown
Saks Off 5th
This style is an excellent choice for those who don’t love the look of a floor-length gown but need something formal enough for black-tie-optional wedding attire. Plus, it’s simple enough to personalize through your own accessorizing.
Available Sizes: S, M | Colors: 1 | Material: Polyester, spandex
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The Best Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses Under $300
JJ’s House Mermaid Tulle Dress With Sequins
JJ's House
This Mermaid-style silhouette dress has a timeless art deco feel to it and stunning sparkle detailing with tulle godets for added depth. Like other JJ’s House gowns, it comes in a huge assortment of colors and is available in custom sizing.
Sizes: 0–26W (custom sizing available) | Colors: 35 | Material: Lace, tulle
Adrianna Papell Mermaid Gown
Macy's
The Adrianna Papell gown comes highly recommended by Sarah Stephens, a fellow mother-of-the-bride whose daughter picked it out for her nuptials. “I like that it’s lightweight and doesn’t cost a fortune,” she notes. This polyester dress features lots of fun details, too, like the ruffled neckline and textured lace overlay.
Sizes: 0–16 | Colors: 1 | Material: Polyester
Adrianna Papell Cap Sleeve Gown
Bloomingdale's
Elizabeth Johnson is another mother-of-the-bride who swears by Adrianna Papell — particularly this Cap Sleeve Gown, which is similar to what she wore for her son’s Gatsby-themed wedding. “I wore a ‘20s style, knee-length silver beaded dress from Bloomingdales. That was years ago, so it’s no longer in stock, but this similar dress looks mother-of-the-bride appropriate yet still fun,” she notes.
Available Sizes: 2–16 | Colors: 2 | Material: Polyester
Sachin & Babi Kayla Halter Gown
Nordstrom
If you prefer simple material and a striking silhouette, the Sachin & Babi Kayla Halter Gown is an excellent choice. This MOB dress comes in colors like champagne and coral, and it has a classic design you can wear again for galas and other formal parties, too.
Sizes: 0–22W | Colors: 18 | Material: Polyester
Lauren Ralph Lauren Satin Gown
Macy's
For a seafoam green mother-of-the-bride dress, you can’t go wrong with this Lauren Ralph Lauren satin gown. Constructed from a silky and lightweight satin charmeuse, the floor-length dress features an A-line silhouette, a tied shoulder strap, and a shimmering buckle closure for added detail.
Sizes: 218 | Colors: 1 | Material: Polyester
Betsy & Adam Ruffle Bow Trumpet Gown
Nordstrom
If you like the look of a high-low hem, but you want a little more coverage, the Betsy & Adam Ruffle Bow Trumpet Gown is a great MOB dress option. This gown has a high scoop neckline with a V-neck back, a ruched waistline, and an open slit skirt with ruffle detail.
Sizes: 4–16 | Colors: 3 | Material: 94% polyester, 6% spandex
Betsy & Adam One-Shoulder Trumpet Gown
Nordstrom
This Betsy and Adam gown is another option that blends stylish details like a one-shoulder neckline with a little more coverage for formal occasions. This dress is made with a soft and flexible crepe scuba fabric and is available in navy, azure, and pine, as well as a bold red.
Sizes: 4–16 | Colors: 4 | Material: 94% polyester, 6% spandex
Xscape Evenings Embroidered Gown
Nordstrom
This Xscape Evenings embroidered gown is one of the best mother-of-the-bride dresses for a black-tie wedding. This ultra-formal look has a chic sweetheart neckline, fitted bodice, an empire waist, and a flowing mermaid skirt.
Sizes: 4–16 | Colors: 3 | Material: Nylon
JS Collections Daphne Column Gown
Nordstrom
The JS Collections Daphne Embroidered Sequin Column Gown is a fantastic choice for summer weddings. We love the printed floral sequin detailing and fluttering cape bodice. It adds stunning detail and texture without overpowering the look.
Sizes: 0–16 | Colors: 3 | Material: Polyester
Alfred Sung Satin Gown
Nordstrom
This Alfred Sung satin gown comes in stunning fall and winter wedding colors such as navy, emerald green, and burgundy. The satin construction also adds some subtle shimmer to the design.
Sizes: 0–4,12–18 | Colors: 2 | Material: Polyester
BHLDN Juliana Maxi Dress
Anthropologie
For another simple mother-of-the-bride gown, consider this high-neck maxi dress from Anthropologie’s BHLDN collection. The dress is constructed from a stretchy crepe material that fits to the body with a chic halter-inspired neckline, cutaway shoulders, and an elegant empire waist.
Sizes: XS–XL (standard), 1X–3X (plus) | Colors: 4 | Material: Polyester, elastane
Xscape Sequined Mesh-Sleeve Gown
Macy's
This Xscape sequined gown is another favorite, especially if you want some bold sparkle without the head-to-toe sequin look. The gown features a V-neckline with shimmering short-sleeve mesh overlay, a ruched bodice, and a ruffled wrap skirt for some dimension and draping.
Sizes: 4–16 | Colors: 1 | Material: Polyester
The Best Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses Under $400
Mac Duggal Beaded Column Gown
Nordstrom
This Mac Duggal beaded gown has a floral print that’s perfect for summer ceremonies. The stunning pale blue hue, intricate floral-beaded detail, and simple silhouette make it ideal for a garden wedding, but it would also work for more formal venues, too.
Sizes: 10–20 | Colors: 1 | Material: Polyester
Mac Duggel Sequin Column Gown
Nordstrom
If you have your heart set on a sequined dress but don’t want something too loud, consider this Mac Duggal number, which has a sleek column silhouette that hits right at the ankles. The one-shoulder gown also has a ruched bodice for added texture.
Sizes: 0–16 | Colors: 6 | Material: Polyester
Hutch Tulle Maxi Dress
Anthropologie
This tulle maxi dress from Hutch is a wedding look we think Carrie Bradshaw would wear. The one-shoulder gown features a subtle gradient of color with pleated texture. We love the way the dress drapes across the body to create a whimsical wedding look.
Sizes: 0, 2, 6, 8 | Colors: 1 | Material: Polyester
The Most Splurge-Worthy Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses
Amsale The Slouch Dress
Amsale
This Amsale Slouch Dress is another example of exquisite drapery. It’s made from a silky smooth satin material and has a slip-like skirt silhouette. We especially love the stunning over-the-shoulder wrapped bodice. The gown is available in a variety of colors and sizes, including made-to-order, so it’s easy to find a dress that will fit you flawlessly on your daughter’s wedding day.
Sizes: 00-28 (including made-to-order) | Colors: 16 | Material: Satin
Kay Unger Liliana Metallic Floral Gown
Nordstrom
For a floral but formal MOB dress, opt for this beautiful floor-length Kay Unger gown. Made with a stunning jacquard-like fabric, the pink floral dress has subtle pops of metallic shimmer that add dimension.
Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 | Colors: 1 | Material: 84% polyester, 16% metallic fibers
Sachin & Babi Ines Gown
Sachin & Babi
For a deep dusty blue hue and a stunning black-tie dress style, go for this Sachine & Babi Ines Gown. This splurge-worthy mother-of-the-bride dress features a classic column gown silhouette with a sash shoulder detail secured by a sparkling brooch. It’s reminiscent of Julie Andrews’ gown in The Princess Diaries, so if you want to feel like a queen for a day, this is the dress to achieve that look. (Don’t worry, your daughter can feel like a queen, too.)
Sizes: 0–14 | Colors: 1 | Material: 81% polyester, 14% nylon, 5% elastane
Rickie Freeman for Teri Jon Jacquard Gown
Bergdorf Goodman
The Rickie Freeman for Teri Jon One-Shoulder Jacquard Side-Ruffle Gown is another option worth considering as a contender for mother-of-the-bride dresses. This dress is constructed by a structural jacquard construction and features pops of shimmer, thanks to metallic threads in the fabric.
Available Sizes: 2–18 | Colors: 2 | Material: Polyester, metallic
How to Pick the Best Mother-of-the-Bride Dress
Dress Length
New York City bridal stylist Francesca DiSpirito says that long or floor-length dresses are the standard desired length for mother-of-the-bride dresses. “With most of my clients and the weddings we style, the moms want to keep their overall look on the more formal side,” she notes. Just because an event is formal doesn’t mean you can’t play with the hemline, though. With some dresses — especially A-line styles with full skirts — she says you can opt for a high-low silhouette without losing that formality.
For afternoon nuptials or more relaxed atmospheres, DiSpirito adds that you can break from the long dress tradition and have fun with ankle or tea-length styles, such as the JJ’s House Tea-Length Dress.
Wedding Color Palette
Sabatino also recommends taking the wedding color palette into account. While dresses traditionally don’t have to match the bridesmaid dress colors, they should coordinate with the palette so that photos look cohesive.
As far as specific colors are concerned, Sabatino says there aren’t any color rules about mother-of-the-bride dresses — though white is usually off-limits. Some mothers choose to wear darker tones like navy or black, while others opt for champagne or rosy pink hues.
Comfort
When all is said and done, comfort is one of the most important aspects of a MOB dress. “As long as the dress is appropriate for the formality of the occasion and within the right color palette, I want to make sure that the mother of the bride is comfortable and feeling her best,” wedding expert Sara Lucas tells PEOPLE.
While “comfort” can vary based on personal preferences, Lucas says some women prefer a dress with sleeves, others want a specific fabric or drape, and some go for an off-the-shoulder neckline. “It’s about finding what makes you feel amazing so that you can focus on the event and truly celebrate rather than worrying about what you’re wearing.”
Take Our Word For It
Jessie Quinn is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as Brides, Byrdie, The Spruce, Apartment Therapy, and more. When researching mother-of-the-bride dresses, Jessie tapped bridal style experts Julie Sabatino, Francesca DiSpirito, and Sara Lucas for their expertise on how to find the best mother-of-the-bride dresses, as well as insight on their favorite MOB dress styles. The PEOPLE staff team also reached out to real mothers-of-the-bride for their favorite dress picks. As a result, Quinn curated this list of top picks for every budget.
Meet Our Experts
Julie Sabatino is the founder of The Stylish Bride and author of Dressed, Styled, and Down the Aisle.
Francesca DiSpirito is a bridal stylist based in New York City.
Sara Lucas is the founder of Downey Street Events, a premier wedding planning and design firm that also offers bridal styling.
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Read the original article on People.
