Mother of Groom advice needed please.

[LilyTheSavage]

My PFB is getting married next year to a wonderful girl for some reason the first time I typed "girl" it came out as "tiger.

The wedding will be in our garden here in France (official bit in UK registry office a week beforehand). It is very rural and the garden is looking great. Think rustic, elegant shabby chic and you're along the right lines.

Very sadly the bride's mum died a couple of years ago so I am the only mum (IYSWIM).

There will be a ceremony in our garden followed by champagne and canapés on the terrace and garden and dinner/dancing in a marquee.

I would like to look elegant, groomed and lovely. I am 5'6" and a size 16 at the moment, although I hope I will be able to get a grip and lose some weight again before that. Short dark hair and blue eyes.

Any suggestions would be very gratefully received.

What a lovely day you, though in biased as it sounds just like my wedding in my in laws garden but UK.

My mum had two outfits, a fitted dress in a light block colour (in case it was hot, plus it means you can use any hat and jewellery) in the day with a short jacket in a different colour and a fab hat to match the jacket (plus emergency pashmina in case it got chilly) then she changed into an A lined dress with bolero for the evening so she could enjoy the dancing. The evening dress was a swirl ribbon (they do a range) from Phase Eight. I love their stuff. She had a low heel as well as a flat option to cope with the grass if needed.

A bit off topic bit - I would advise a hard floor in the marquee (I work in events) if you haven't already booked it, it adds about £1000 to the bill but makes a huge difference especially if you get rain and if not already planned have a number of window panels so you can enjoy your garden from inside too and some clear roof panels to see the stars.

www.phase-eight.com/fcp/product/phase-eight/dresses/ottoline-tapework-dress/202865143

HI CC

Thank you for your suggestions. I love Phase Eight so will have a look. The idea of having two outfits hadn't actually occurred to me and is something I will consider seriously. Wedge heels and flats are very much on my mind and I've been advising any ladies who are attending that this would be a good plan as they will be on grass most of the time. The bride and bridesmaids are also going to have wedges.

I'm organising the marquee and it is going to have a hard floor which will be levelled as well. Thank you for that tip. I'm also going to have plenty of citronella lanterns around for the evening and also insect repellent available for those (like me) who tend to get eaten by the bugs.

Thank you very much.

I forgot to say thank you for the dress link. It's gorgeous.

Let me know what you decide to go with in the end.

Also vanity baskets in the loos are also a salvation - the plasters always go.

Happy shopping

Try Roman www.romanoriginals.co.uk/icat/dresses

Just last season www.justlastseason.co.uk/dresses-2/

My Mum also did two outfits. A knee length dress with a short jacket, kitten heels and a hat for the day and a maxi dress with flats for the evening. She looked fab and comfortable.

I think she likes Wallis for her maxi dresses www.wallis.co.uk/en/wluk/category/dresses-265974

Absolutely will have vanity baskets in the loos. We're getting trailer loos in and I'll put vanity baskets in there and also in my own bathrooms/loos as well.

It's not for another 15 months so I still have plenty of time, but actually unless you go to a big city the shopping here in France isn't actually great. (Where I live is very rural). I'll probably go outfit shopping when I'm back in the UK and do a lot of browsing online first.

Thanks very much not, I'll have a look at both the links you kindly suggested. I'm really taken with the idea of changing after the dinner in the evening into something more comfortable or "evening-y" glamourous.

You are going to have a wonderful time.