Charlotte will be marrying James on 26th August 2018 at The Brewery, in London, UK.
THREE FACTS: (1) James proposed to Charlotte in Florence… on her parent’s 36th wedding anniversary (aaaah – we love that!) (2) They are planning a Jewish urban-rustic wedding in East London (3) They have already decided on their wedding hashtags — it’s #dropitlikeitshart !
My top tips for Mother of the Bride (and Groom!) are as follows:
1. Let the bride be your guide
Follow the bride’s guidance for what should be okay to wear for colour, style and how formal the wedding is. Both the bride and groom will set the tone for the wedding, whether it is lounge suit for a sunny beach wedding, or more formal in a grand hotel setting. You are an integral part of the wedding, and you will want to look the part.
2. Do your research
Look at shapes that flatter you, and what will photograph well. The most flattering silhouette is A-line, as it will nip you in at the smallest part of your waistline and float away from the hips. It will suit all shapes.
Choose colours that aren’t too pale, whites, off whites, nudes or pale silvers as these will wash out under the lights in any setting, and will look too bridal as well. If the photos on the website are pale, it will look like that in real life! Also don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone when picking a dress shape. You want that wow moment as well, as you are an important part of the day!
Image by Ashley Coombes from Nicole and Jonny‘s Jewish wedding
3. Where to shop?
- Dress 2 Party – lots of choice of evening dresses
- Anouska G – they offer a bespoke dress service
- Miri Couture – for more orthodox dresses and if you are happy to pay a bit extra
- TUAL Boutique – little boutique with some wow dresses!
- Dynasty – you can get samples and evening dresses that are one of a kind for a really reasonable price!
- Donna’s in Cockfosters
- Edressit – which is opposite Selfridges (Lisa’s mum got her dress here, see below)
Images by Jeremy Standley (STG Recommended Vendor) from Lisa and Joey‘s wedding (Charlotte was one of her bridesmaids and Lisa will be one of Charlotte’s!)
4. Pay attention to the bridal party colour palettes
Traditionally the mother of the bride’s dress should complement the bridal party, and definitely not match it in colour. It’s best to wait until their dresses have been selected, before looking at dresses.
For me I knew that my flower girls will be in navy, and they will be photographed with my mum. So we went looking for the MOTB dress with this in mind. Remember these photos are forever, I wouldn’t naturally pick a vibrant pink for an all shades of blue wedding party!
If you are going for mismatching bridesmaid dresses instead of everyone in the same style dress, I would suggest to pick one of the shades, rather an opposing. For instance if you are having soft lilac bridesmaid dresses for a beach wedding, the MOTB could wear a deep plum colour to complement them (as Lisa’s mum did!).
5. Think of the religious aspects
Think about any religious aspects that you may need to dress appropriately for. It may be okay for some Rabbis to allow you not to cover up your shoulders during the ceremony, but some may ask for it. This is especially for members of the family who are stood under the chuppah.
Luckily for us, my mum’s dress came with a matching shawl! This also goes for bridesmaids as well. As we having a very traditional ceremony, my bridesmaids will need to cover their shoulders as they walk down the aisle, but for the rest of the day it is completely fine to bare all!
Image by Alexey Kudrik from Hannah and Eitan’s Jewish wedding on the beach (planned by Bebke, STG Recommended Vendor), soon on STG
6. Time it right
For a summer wedding, start looking for dresses when the new season comes in February. For autumn and winter weddings look around September/October time in the UK. You also need to allow time for alterations, or even if you are going bespoke give yourself a few months buffer!
Don’t forget to look in bridal boutiques, as they have occasion and cocktail dresses. My mum got her incredible dress in Pronovias, where I got my wedding dress!
Once the Mother of the Bride has found their dress, it should then be the turn of the Mother of the Groom. The mother’s shouldn’t match (unless this is what the bride wants), but they shouldn’t clash either, and complement each other. Metallics are always a good option, as they won’t clash in colour, and will look more tonal to the wedding. Remember that there will be lots of photographs being taken and the only one who should stand out is the bride.
7. The finishing touches
Accessories, shoes, hair and makeup will finish off the look. There aren’t any special rules of what to do with this, it’s all down to what they feel comfortable with. Think understated, elegant and appropriate, and in touch with their own personal style.
Image by Barney Walters from Claudia and Nick‘s Jewish wedding in Marbella (tomorrow on STG)
Click here to read all Charlotte’s planning posts to date.
Charlotte & James’ Wedding Vendors booked so far:
Venue – The Brewery
Photographer – Adam and Hannah
Videographer – AT Motion
Caterer – Tony Page
Florist — Funky Flowers
Band and production – Creation Showband
Toastmaster – Steven Warwick
Hair – Gemma Harris
Bride and mother of the bride’s dress – Pronovias
Stationery – Oh Wonder Calligraphy
Bridesmaids – Phase Eight
