Best Dressed

Fashion & Beauty

Kannon’s Clothing / Reign Beauty Heights House Hotel / Jillian Knight Photography

Wedding fashion do’s and don’ts for parents of the couple

By Kaylee Layman

FOR THE MOMS The mothers of the couple should match the formality of the wedding party. Consult with your betrothed children on what to wear – after all, it is their big day. Start shopping three to four months in advance to find your ideal dress with plenty of time. Mothers usually wear a color that is within the selected palette. It’s important that the color is a different shade than the bridesmaids’ dresses. The goal is for the mother to stand out without clashing. Some mothers wear the wedding party’s color within accessories or shoes as an outfit accent. If you aren’t sure what color is best, go for a neutral outfit. Remember to wear comfortable shoes for a long day of standing, walking and dancing!

According to traditional wedding etiquette, the mother of the groom selects her dress after the mother of the bride. We recommend that mothers use this occasion as a chance to get to know each other and bond. Consider collaborating together on length, style and formality. Wear complementary colors so that you both shine! For example, if one mother’s dress is blue, the other mother could wear a dress that is the same color in a different material or style, or a color like silver, black or other color that complements blue and is also in the couple’s selected wedding color palette. Still unsure? Ask your child, because he, she or they will likely have an idea of what you should wear. Select a dress two to three months before the wedding.

It’s almost time for your child to walk down the aisle. As their parent, you want to look and feel your best in pictures taken during this milestone moment. Don’t let the stress of choosing a perfect wedding-day outfit bring you down. There are no written-in-stone rules, but here are a few tips to help guide you:

FOR THE DADS The formality of the wedding will determine what the father of the couple should wear. Dress pants and collared T-shirts with a tie or bow tie is appropriate at less formal weddings. If the wedding is semi-formal, select a darkcolored suit and collared button-down shirt, and coordinate your tie with the wedding colors. If the wedding is a formal event and groomsmen are wearing tuxedos, fathers generally wear the same tuxedo with a different color tie.