Why Are Mother Of The Bride Outfits So Expensive?

[TheCatsBlanket]

Just that really. Daughter’s getting married in June this year and I’ve been looking both online and trying some on in shops. None have impressed me enough to say yes, but dear god, the price of them is extortionate. I’ve tried to think that it’s my only daughter’s big day and I shouldn’t be so stingy, but I can’t get my head around the fact they’re priced in the region of £600 plus! And then of course I’d need to get some shoes and a hat too which will take the cost up even further.
Such a rip off

I have a friend whose daughter is getting married in May, and she's going to look in some of the top- endy charity shops in London - why not try that? The whole point is not to look too "Mother of the Bride".

You can find stuff elsewhere. As soon as you say the words, wedding, to a hairdresser, tailor, make up artist, venue - the price shoots up. No wonder weddings are so expensive!

There's a FB group called "Pre Loved Wedding and Occasion Dresses" - worth looking in there.

Yeah….same with “prom dresses” - DD got a lovely dress from Frasers regular section for £80 after we spent days looking at £400plus prom dresses.

Weddings/proms/anything “special” for a female = rip off prices. Men can just wear their “good suit” on every occasion but females are socially programmed to need something new. It really winds me up and more so that it would be other women noticing if I wore the same outfit to 3 weddings in a row! The men would hardly notice!

just do as PPs have said and get a “regular l outfit with nice accessories.

edited to add: I didn’t wear a “wedding dress” just a cream lacy/chiffony dress from Next for my non-traditional wedding. When I took it to dry-cleaners (in Sainsbury’s) they said £40 to clean it. I mentioned in conversation that I’d worn it for my wedding and the server said “oh it’s £150 for wedding dresses”!! Needless to say I took it elsewhere and didn’t mention it again!

I sympathise. A close friend and I both got married in 2023 and our mums both struggled to find outfits they liked.

Friends mum bought a linen dress that she looked great in, was very much her true style and could be worn again. Styled it with an amazing statement necklace and cool sandals. My mum found a nice dress that suited the day we were having in a catalogue she already buys stuff from. She bought a hat to match & used shoes and a bag she already had. She chose a colour she knew she looked good in already and could accessorise with. She chose the colour I knew she would tbh- she looks amazing in that colour. She looked recognisable as my mother. My only caveat was that she chose a different colour to the bridesmaids, which she was happy to do (she went deep blue, the bridesmaids had light blue) and I let her get on with it. I think you're over thinking it. Just look at normal shops and pick styles and colours you like.

Just don't do what another friends mum did. Creamy white Jackie Kennedy-ish dress & jacket. Great outfit, she looked nice but the photographer insisted on a photo of her with a bridesmaid (I'm one of them) on either side. We got dropped off at the venue together so she had time to play with before the bride arrived. MoB looks distinctly ... bridal in them.
Friend has also since expressed wtf did mum wear creamy white sentiments to me! MoB not really a look at meeeee type either!

With Vinted I ask for measurements of the clothes and then compare to something I already have that I know fits well.

Eh shoulder to shoulder, pit to pit, neck to hem, waist, crotch to waist, hips, inside leg, waist to hem

Just buy something from a good clothes shop. Phase Eight have some really lovely dresses and jumpsuits in the £150-200 price bracket or look for second hand. No need for something marketed as MoB.

I've got a son marrying this summer and a daughter marrying next summer so I'm in the same boat as OP. But I refuse to look at anything labelled Wedding Wear because it's double the price of anything similar that doesn't have that W word attached. I'm looking at ordinary dresses, possibly a bit fancier than I would normally buy, that I can wear again. I might splash out on a more expensive jacket and shoes, but that's all. Hopefully the attention will be on the couple, not me, and as long as I look smart (and not my usual look of a comfortable sofa with a hairy throw over it) I'll be happy.

Next have similar dresses for about £70

She's not in the US any more, telestrations, though the info could be useful to those who are.

Have a look at The Outnet. Their filtering is very good, and customer service excellent. I also found the sizing advice to be spot on

https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/clothing/dresses/wedding-guest-dresses?facet=adsf125011ntkcs%253A%2522Pink%2522&orderBy=8&pageNumber=2

Wolf & Badger also have some great dresses at various price points.

The traditional MoB dresses/shops tend to be as pricey as they are dated

Are you in the North West did you say OP? Try some of the charity shops in Wilmslow and Alderley Edge. Not sure re MOB outfit, but I’ve got some stunning ball gowns from them.

@TeaNtoast25 @GarlicStyle
Those are dreadful.
Monsoon always have nice dresses for occasions.
What style of wedding would help people offer ideas.

@Mummyoflittledragon
OP doesn't want that matronly rubbish MOB style.

I have to confess to being puzzled by the premise of this thread (and the immediate descent into US retailer options!). Surely lots of brands have MoB-type outfits for a huge amount less money?

Vinted is definitely the place to start too - decide how much money you’re willing to lose on something that doesn’t fit and start buying. You can ask the seller for measurements too. I’d be surprised if you couldn’t get something you liked for under £40.

@TheCatsBlanket if you are in the North West, St Catherine’s Hospice near Leyland do bridal events including MOB outfits a couple of times a year and they always have occasion wear in their shop next to the hospice. They have another event in March https://www.stcatherines.co.uk/shop/events/hospice-fundraising/wedding-dress-pop-up-shop-2/

Your question reminds me of this sketch

3

Just go to a clothes shop you feel comfortable in: John Lewis, M&S or wherever and choose a lovely dress or suit. I never, ever wear dresses and wouldn’t even if I was a MOB; it would be a lovely colourful trouser suit for me. Forget the MOB label, and just find something smart, colourful and comfortable that YOU will feel good in on the day.

My complete outfit was close to £2000 for my daughter's wedding. None of which will ever see the light of day again. Time over I would most definitely rent everything. X

There's one in Bury.

My friend was the MOB last year and boy, she struggled to find something that wasn’t mumsy and frumpy making you look like a 60-70 yr old woman.

she bought a dress on a whim in liverpool and tried it at home and it was awful. We both laughed but cried too😂

then she went local for a browse and saw a stunning dress (shes worn to another wedding) and it was beautiful! Orange, and a stunning hat off vinted, which she bought, again on a whim, but in matched!

plenty of choice online which won’t make you look like your granny

Why don’t you post in style and beauty the posters come up with amazing outfits from shops I’ve never heard of before

@TheCatsBlanket Don't know how close you are to Preston but Age Concern have a special shop there for weddings and occasion wear. https://regenerage.org.uk/shops/occasions-preston/

Also St Catherine's hospice have an online one with pop-up shops occasionally.

https://www.stcatherines.co.uk/shop/products/ebay-store/st-catherines-bridal/

Depends where you look.
As soon as they are labelled as MOTB then the price is raised but in actual fact it’s no different from something you might choose to wear to a christening etc.
No need to buy shoes / handbag / hair accessories from a bridal shop either. Accessorize / Monsoon do some lovely outfits and accessories to compliment each other.