Both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom are expected to pay for their own wedding attire. Typically, these gowns do not need to match the bridesmaid dresses, however, some brides prefer for the gowns to coordinate in some way.
Time It Right and Communicate Your Choice
It is customary for the mother of the bride to buy her dress first and then share her choice with the mother of the groom. The mother of the groom might also need special orders and alterations, so be sure to give her ample time to accomplish this before the wedding.
Dresses and Suits
The bride and groom are responsible for paying for what they will wear on the wedding day. Oftentimes the bride's mom will help pay for her dress and accessories. The groom should handle any costs associated with their suit.
Assist With Day-of Dressing
"Helping the bride into her dress and placing the veil is, and will always remain, such a sweet, time-honored tradition [for the bride's mom]," says Easton.
Traditionally speaking, though, the bride's family pays for the bulk of the wedding—venue, reception, photographer, flowers, etc. As such, the mother of the bride is typically more 'in charge' of these things (along with the bride, of course) than the mother of the groom is.
Of course, it would be amazing to give your daughter thousands and thousands of dollars as a wedding gift, but not at the risk of making your own financial situation dire. Depending on their relationship with the bride, wedding guests typically give between $50 – $150 when making a monetary gift.
The mother of the bride traditionally buys her own dress before the mother of the groom, and then contacts the mother of the groom to describe her dress.
Navy is the most popular mother of the bride dress color. Not only is navy timeless, but this color dress will work in a variety of wedding venues and locations. We have many navy gowns from which to choose.
The mother of the bride is traditionally escorted by her son if she has one. Otherwise, any close male relative, the best man, or a groomsman walks with the mother of the bride during the procession.
There's no definitive answer of who foots the bill on bridal party glam. That said, the bride or the bridesmaids will pay for the bridal party's hair and makeup. Some brides cover the cost of glam as a “thank you” to their friends for supporting the wedding. However, this isn't always the case.
Traditionally, the bride and her family are responsible for paying for all wedding planning expenses, the bride's attire, all floral arrangements, transportation on the wedding day, photo and video fees, travel and lodgings for the officiant if he comes from out of town, lodging for the bridesmaids (if you have offered ...
According to the WeddingWire Newlywed Report, parents pay for 52% of wedding expenses, while the couple pays for 47% (the remaining 1% is paid for by other loved ones)—so parents are still paying for a majority of the wedding, though couples are chipping in fairly significantly.
There's not one specific color the mother of the bride should wear. But unless you've received approval from the couple, it's best to steer clear from white, ivory or champagne hues as not to take attention away from the bride.
Avoid Matching with the Bride
Remember that mother of the bride should not wear the same color or even shade of the bride's wedding dress. The bride's gown is usually in shades like ivory or champagne, so make sure that you don't choose any shade of white.
Yes, it's customary for the couple to give gifts to the wedding party, including the MOB. Many brides give their mom a personal, sentimental gift before or after the ceremony as a token of their appreciation.
Unless the bride asks both Mothers to wear the same color, make sure you avoid wearing the same color on the occasion. The mother of the bride and the mother of the groom's outfits must complement each other, especially for photos. Another thing that you need to remember is the formality of the dress.
Traditionally, the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom wear a corsage at the wedding. These days, a corsage can take many forms. Classic pin-on corsages are still popular but many mums prefer to wear a wrist corsage or even a corsage which can pin on to their clutch bag.
The mother of the bride plays the role of hostess, meaning you should spend some time greeting guests during the reception. Although there are exceptions, other wedding-day duties may include sitting at the parents' table and dancing with the father of the bride to help warm up the dance floor.
Mother of the Bride
Your mom will likely want to get her hair and makeup professionally done, so be sure that she is included as part of your hair stylist and makeup artist's schedules. Don't forget to take a few quiet moments among the craziness of your wedding morning to spend some private time with Mom.
While the mother-of-the-bride doesn't typically give a toast at the wedding—that honor is often reserved for the father-of-the-bride—there are situations in which a mother may opt to raise her glass to the happy couple, such as when a father has passed away or in the case of a divorced household.
Ideally, you should start shopping for your mother of the bride dress six to eight months before the wedding date, leaving any shipping time and alteration needs in mind. This is enough time to give yourself to find a dress you love that you're comfortable in.