Irish wedding

[bouncydog]

Can any mumsnetters point me to anything about dress code for Irish weddings. I’m MOB and need to make sure I don’t look totally out of place! All day event starting around noon and going on into the early hours at a single outdoor/indoor location!

I’d say a lot depends on the couple and how they anticipate the day being (ie laid back or less so). In general, people do get dressed up for weddings. Normal guests will usually get hair/make up done, and probably have a spray tan.

It also depends on your usual style too. There are a lot of shops catering to the MOB market, some of the clothes are incredibly expensive.

There seems to be a trend recently of MOB wearing lighter, neutral colours (creams, pale nudes etc). Often too, the bride might like the MOB to ‘match’ the bride maids.

I’m assuming at least one of the bride or groom is Irish?

Very dressy!
Pale pink coat dress with pearls. Hat.
Professional make up.

Though recently went to a same sex marriage and less formal. The MOGroom wore an off shoulder dark green dress. It was stunning and more simple.

As MOB you can go all out. Definitely wear a hat or fascinator. I've seen long sparkly dresses worn by MOB, short sparkly dresses and even suits.
Talk to your DD and see what she suggests and perhaps pick a colour that coordinates with the wedding colours.
Enjoy yourself.b

Thank you everyone. I'm not dress, coat and pearls I'm afraid - more long and sparkly to take me into evening! Groom is Irish and fairly large affair at a very nice (can I use that word?) venue! Info on the hat is very helpful thank you. I'll start looking for something suitable.

My mil went to a shop called McIlhennys, they specialise in mother of the bride/groom in rural communities. In Dublin, you're thinking maybe Marian Gale, in Wexford, a shop called Lá Creme gets people from all over the south east. They all have websites so a quick look at those will give you an idea. You'll probably see the same ríg outs on the actual day!

I would be having a
Spray Tan
Make-up done
Nails
Hair
Eyebrows/Lashes
Facial/ Botox
That's me on a night out never mind a wedding 😂
I would be having regular facials and hair appointments before the wedding so I looked my best.
I would find a local Independent designer dress shop.
I did all of the above for dd Christening and I will do it for her First Communion.
Two of my nieces and one of my nephews are getting married later this year. I can't wait to go shopping with my sisters. I'm buying one of them their dress(as a thank you for looking after dd) I've booked us in to have beauty treatments she is not happy.
I LOVE shopping for special occasions 💃👠🛍💄

Enjoy the Wedding 👰

Don't bother with fake tan and lashes if that's not your normal going out look.
My Mam doesn't and she's still often the best looking of the lot of us!
Nails, hair and professional makeup unless you are very good at it yourself are pretty standard, especially for photos. Ask your daughter if you can be done by her makeup artist or if she can ask her future in-laws for local recommendations. If a few of ye go together a lot of them will come out to you at the venue, also ask the venue if they could give you a room to get make-up/hair done in if not sharing your daughters.
Outfit wise the one venue saves effort as you don't need to worry about a coat/jacket.
People will be very dressed up so if you choose a long evening gown you won't stand out.
Hope you have a lovely day!

I like your style *ParkheadParadise)!

I'd said v v dressy! Part of wedding in church? If so, in my family parish, they tend to cover the low off the shoulder tops/low cleavages until later on in the event (no judging from me, I'm lapsed, just saying for info). Phase eight always a good starting point, just to see roughly what's available, the sort of styles people are going for but that sounds a bit formal, old fashioned for you.

Very very dressy at an Irish wedding for MOB but definitely okay to tailor the look to your own style :)

Wow such a lot of help - thank you. 😀 No church - civil ceremony. Spray tan? Definitely not for me - Hopefully my week in Europe before will help! Nails done on regular basis, hair and makeup already booked. Hair cut/coloured every 5 weeks as routine. Facials - will investigate. Botox? Too late for that I’m afraid 🤣🤣. Seriously this is all so helpful as when I asked my daughter she said to wear what I felt happy in - as I spend every day since working from home in jeans, T-shirts and Ugg slippers not sure they will cut it! 😁😁

Wear what you like and what you feel happy in.
It's almost like a uniform now what MOB and MOG are expected to wear. 🙄
Do liaise with the Groom's mother though re the colour you are going to wear.

You don’t need a hat unless you want to wear one. I actually think most MOB look better without and they are fairly rare now for the more stylish mother’s

Honestly wear what you like and what makes you feel comfortable. MOB varies so much. My mother went fairly low key but still very dressy and looked fab. You definitely don't need pearls lol. It totally depends on the age of the MOB and her personal style. I know someone who wore a Penney's (primark) jacket and shoes over a plain dress and looked amazing. It's a great excuse to really glam up if that's your thing.

@merrygoround51 I’m glad about the hat! I’d look like a mushroom! DD has said to wear what I like so exploring all options. Choices very difficult as I’m only 5’2” and to date all MOB outfits seem to be for tall ladies who are ultra glam or for larger sizes and I’m a 10-12. Trip to London coming up I think as don’t live in Ireland but offshore. Thanks again for all your help ladies 😀

Some of the french brands might suit you - Claudia pierlot perhaps

From your description of yourself and your style, I would simply aim to look and glowy and chic and almost put the while MOB thing out of your head. If your outfit is not 'you' then that will come across. I'm a big fan of dresses with fuller skirts (and pockets!) where you feel less exposed and more comfortable. I think trousers can look amazingly chic but maybe not at your (our!) height.

I also would be wary of getting my makeup done professionally if you're not a big make up person. There is a very good chance they will be heavy handed (because that's 'the look') and you might feel like you're wearing a mask. I really dislike my own wedding photos for that reason

Choose a nice dress and a nice fascinato - maybe a shrug / shawl or jacket to go with it for ceremony but then taken off for later. My mam was MOB 3 times and didn’t go for the standard long coat and matching dress. She wore nice dresses, fascinator and matching shawl.

I’d be wary of wearing a full length gown unless it’s black tie - MOB wouldn’t usually do that and in my opinion could be seen as attention seeking/ taking attention away from the bride. Especially if it’s sparkly!

I’d also ask your daughter what the colour scheme is - you don’t have to match in but you don’t want to unmatch either I.e bridesmaids in red and you in bright pink.

The first pic would be classic MOB style in Ireland - or all one colour of this style. Personally I find it a bit dowdy. Second pic is the style my mother went for - she’s quite young looking and she looked great.

The issue is the second style is more like a normal wedding outfit so you need to consider if you want to stand out as MOB in more traditional outfit or just wear a nice outfit. Also worth asking if the MOG will be in standard attire.

Definitely some sort of headwear and liase with MOG as to what colour she is wearing. The last few I've seen photos of the MOB and MOG are coordinated in the wedding colours.
I'd second advice about not going OTT if that is not how you are comfortable. Make it clear to make up artist that you prefer a more natural look. The saying "less is more" doesn't really apply to Irish bridal parties 😁

merrygoround51
You don’t need a hat unless you want to wear one. I actually think most MOB look better without and they are fairly rare now for the more stylish mother’s

I agree to no hat and definitely no facinator.

MOB always wears a hat!

Ime glam, glam & glam

A hat would be normal for mob