MOTHER OF THE GROOM DRESS

HELP! As I am a working mother, I have no time to shop for a mother of the groom dress and my son is getting married next month. Everyone keeps asking me what I’m wearing and I’m embarrassed that I don’t know. My son said the color is purple and that the mother of the bride will be wearing a lavender cocktail dress meaning knee length. Can you recommend a dress that would end just below my knees that is not sleeveless or backless, please?

–Elizabeth, Boston, MA

Dear Elizabeth, the sooner you find your mother of the groom dress the better you’ll feel. Not that you’re not already under a lot of pressure, but let’s get going. We’re here to help. Let’s get started.

As you know, everyone may have to have such a special occasion outfit altered a bit…here or there. Either the shoulders, sleeves, hem length, or waist. Wedding photos last forever and for your dress to be misfitting would be regretful. Better department stores and small specialty dress boutiques are best for finding an establishment that will alter your dress once you’ve purchased it. Be advised that it is not uncommon to need two fittings for one dress. So be sure to try it on when you go to pick it up after any alteration.

My best advice is to go onto the website of a store in your area and click on dresses, after that you can click on color, hem length and sleeve length, and, of course, click on a price range. When you find a couple of choices that suit you either order a couple (if they are returnable) or visit the store in person and seek out a friendly salesperson.
Your outfit should look as good from the front for the wedding photos as it does from the rear when you’re walking back down the aisle after the ceremony.

For a church or outdoor ceremony or reception (as many weddings are being held outdoors due to the continual surges in the Covid pandemic), a dress that falls just below your knees, such as a cocktail-style dress with a bit of sleeve would work nicely. You say the mother of the bride is wearing a lavender cocktail length dress, and I gather you’re taking her lead, so any shade of purple would be beautiful.

Go online ahead of time and spend some time looking at dresses in both the bridal department and the dresses/cocktail department in your size before heading out to the store and you’ll wast less time.

Have fun! It’s your special day, too!