10 Stunning Colors for Mother of the Bride Dresses

With so many gorgeous mother of the bride dress choices available, it’s easy to wonder, what color does the mother of the bride wear? Add embellishments, like sequins or beadwork, and the options feel infinite. Our Tadashi Shoji bridal stylists are asked many questions, from what styles to what color should the mother of the bride wear. In this blog post, we touch upon our most commonly asked questions, discuss mother of the bride dress etiquette, and share this season’s most popular color for mother of the bride dresses.

In addition to being asked what color does the mother of the bride wear, many mothers ask about a specific color. Such as, Can the mother of the bride wear black? Or is a cream mother of bride dress okay to wear? It depends. Ideally, the bride and mother of the bride should select a dress they both capital L-Love.

One thing to note about mother of the bride styling is that there are no resolute rules. Weddings have evolved over the years, allowing for so many personalized options and tastes. As a result, traditions are no longer steadfast. If a bride wants to wear pants, she can. If she wants to wear black, she does. The same trends apply to mother of the bride dresses. Traditionally, mother of the bride styles were conservative or considered dowdy. But the new rules of wedding dress codes allow for the mother of the bride to be sexy, chic, and fashionable. Gone are the frumpy and drab looks. Instead, wear an elegant illusion gown or a figure-skimming floor-length dress, and make sure you feel beautiful.

However, and this is a big however, our number one recommendation when it comes to bridal etiquette is that the mother of the bride should always consult with her daughter. Both the bride and her mother should absolutely love the dress. Also, mothers, take note. We want you to look stunning. So, if you want to compete with the mother of the groom, by all means, be our guest. But never compete with your daughter. Your dress should ultimately complement her style, not overshadow it.

So, to answer the question, is a cream, ivory, or white dress an acceptable mother of the bride dress color? Our recommendation is no because a mother of the bride dress should not take the attention away from the bride. Always defer to the couple getting married regarding acceptable colors and styles to wear.

Lastly, we wholeheartedly recommend consulting with your daughter before shopping. This way, you have discussed what to look for and what not to look for, including color, silhouette, and formality. Also, it’s always best to start shopping early to allow extra time to alter or hem your dress if necessary.

When discussing what color does the mother of the bride wear, it’s also helpful to call attention to style attributes specific to mother of the bride dressing. So, in addition to presenting Tadashi Shoji’s most popular colors for mother of the bride dresses, we’ve also included style suggestions. So, without further ado, what color dress should the mother of the bride wear? Keep reading for our top recommendations.

10 Most Popular Colors for Mother of the Bride Dresses

Royal Blue Mother of the Bride Dresses

Royal blues, including sapphires, mystic blues, and jewel-tone blues, are delightful color options for the mother of the bride. These saturated hues are a modern update to the timeless and classic navy and look good on many skin tones. Tadashi Shoji’s royal blue gowns are formal in styling and suitable for semi-formal and black-tie weddings. This season’s standouts include the Copley Shoulder Drape Gown and the Witkin One-Shoulder Draped Taffeta Gown. Since these styles are both glamorous and high impact, make sure they will not compete with your daughter’s bridal dress.

Teal Mother of the Bride Dresses

Teal is a picture-perfect hue for mother of the bride dresses. It’s bright, happy, and perfect for springtime weddings. We love the Cassia Bow-Shoulder Crepe Gown for the mother of the bride because it features a softly sculpted statement bow that falls into an off-the-shoulder draped sleeve. This MOB style exudes effortless elegance.

Navy Mother of the Bride Dresses

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. For a long-sleeved option, we adore the Serina Peak Lapel Gown with its tonal shimmer. This style merges conservative styling with a dash of rebellion, making it a leading mother of the bride choice.

Meanwhile, the Oden Belted Lace Gown is a versatile silhouette suitable for various dress codes, from cocktail to formal. Its floral lace and alluring sheerness make it a dreamy look brimming with relaxed elegance. Plus, it has elbow-length sleeves, and we love a flattering sleeve for the mother of the bride.

Magenta Mother of the Bride Dresses

If you’re looking for a bright, bold color that packs a punch, a magenta mother of the bride gown is for you. With its sparkly embellishments and tactile ornamentation, we love the dahlia-hued Corina Sequin Embroidered Flounce Gown for the mother of the bride. This silhouette, cut in a light-catching paillette and cord-embroidered tulle, features a timeless and always-flattering V-neckline that continues into off-the-shoulder cap sleeves and an hourglass-defining spiral flounce. It’s a style that will look as gorgeous in person as in the wedding photos.

Petal Pink Mother of the Bride Dresses

Blush-tinged petal pink mother of the bride gowns offer a refined take on pink because this season’s pink is all about sophistication. If you love the modern cut of a halter gown, then try our Senna Embellished Halter Gown. It’s an eye-catching stunner cut in an exquisite pearl, paillette, and beaded tulle. Another blush pink standout is the Dorine Sequin-Embroidered Cape Gown. Many of our mother of the bride dresses offer appealing arm coverage; this style is no exception. It features a flowing cape sleeve overlay, a V neckline, and a modified A-line. A modified A-line differs from a traditional A-line skirt in that it skims the hips before flaring into soft, flattering volume.

Two-Tone Mother of the Bride Dresses

For effortless sophistication, try our two-toned mother of the bride gowns. These styles pair ivory bodices with black modified A-lines to create ultra-flattering looks dripping with sartorial refinement.

Slate Blue Mother of the Bride Dresses

Slate blue is a beautiful choice for a mother of the bride dress, and what we love about this season’s slate blue styles is the play of matte and shine. On the Farley Flared Sleeve Gown, eye-catching paillette embroidered tulle shimmers and sparkles when layered over luxe stretch jersey. We also adore this style for the mother of the bride because it features delightfully sheer, flared long sleeves.

Champagne Mother of the Bride Dresses

Champagne mother of the bride dresses are wild cards. Why? Because champagne can look similar to cream or light gold. If you have your heart set on wearing this color, make sure that champagne is not close to your daughter’s dress. You don’t want to take attention away from her on her wedding day. Our champagne-hued recommendation, the Nadine Draped Bow Gown, enjoys a pebble-grey cast, which gives it a luxe feel while also making it distinct from ivory and cream. This stretch jersey crinkle foil gown enchants with its off-the-shoulder neckline that accentuates a draped bow. It’s a style designed to exude elegance yet feel as soft and comfy as a favorite t-shirt.

Duchess Grey Mother of the Bride Dresses

Duchess grey is a desirable option for mother of the bride dresses because of its monochromatic elegance. As evident on the Pratt Embroidered Illusion Gown, Duchess grey also pairs well with tonal metallic accents. Plus, an illusion neckline can be your best friend, especially if you desire an alluring neckline with coverage because an illusion offers both.

Floral Mother of the Bride Dresses

While floral isn’t necessarily a color, we love sophisticated multi-colored florals for the mother of the bride. The Rumi Floral Illusion Gown features a fresh take on florals with its open-mesh tulle adorned with painterly flowers that pop against a black background. Plus, the silhouette is timeless. It features a tulle illusion sweetheart neckline, a fitted waist accented by a stretch ribbon belt, and a floor-sweeping A-line skirt. Shop this style for a chic update to mother of the bride dressing.

So, what color does the mother of the bride wear? It’s ultimately up to you and your daughter. Navy honors tradition, muted pastels such as duchess grey and dusty petal pink radiate sophistication, and two-tone color options deliver a modern take on mother of the bride dressing.

That wraps our Bridal Guide: What Color Does the Mother of the Bride Wear? You can view all of the styles highlighted above plus more on tadashishoji.com. If you have additional questions about what color mother of the bride dress to wear, please email our customer care team or book a virtual styling appointment. Our stylists bring their wealth of special occasion dresses to you and look forward to assisting you in finding the dress of your dreams, so don’t wait. Book now.