You may also be interested in:

Do the outfits of the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom have to be the same length? What is the wedding dress code for long vs. short dresses?

–Brogan, Buffalo. NY

When deciding the wedding dress code for the length of the mothers of the bride and groom’s dresses, think about the wedding photos. In group photos, consistency works best. Here are real life recent photos of mothers at their children’s wedding that illustrate their camaraderie because they’re wearing dresses similar in style and color tone, and yet in the cut and color that suits them best as individuals.

Here below, the color tones of the mothers of the bride and groom dresses work well in this photograph as they frame the bide. The colors of the mothers’ dresses reflect their personalities, and having the same sleeve and hem length,and low neckline shows a certain uniformity.

My personal favorite is below. The elegant Dowton Abbey look for these mothers of the wedding couple, who are dressed in similar (although not the same) style tea-length dresses, one is in a pink taupe and the other is wearing ecru.

Above, at this less formal wedding, notice that the mothers of the bride and groom are both wearing sleeveless cocktail dresses that fall just below their knees. The necklines of their dresses are also the same. The colors, black, white and brown, don’t clash. The full-length of the bride’s dress steals the show making it evident that she is the belle of the ball.

At the below more formal wedding, the wedding couple and their respective parents are totally coordinated in a rather dignified style and colors.

Even though the mothers of the bride and groom below look are a bit too match-matchy, you get it that they are really in sync with their outfits. (Traditionally, neither of the mothers would be wearing white, because the only woman wearing white at the wedding should be the bride.) However, these two mothers illustrate harmonious compatibility, which as everyone knows is rather important.

Here below, the two mothers of the wedding couple are wearing similar cocktail-style, knee-length outfits in compatible summer colors, coral and turquoise. Colors that work better for their individual personality and coloring.

Lastly, and most traditionally, you’ll find two lovely mothers framing the beautiful bride wearing similar style pastel, sleeveless, long dresses.

~Didi