What to wear as mother of the bride for a quirky wedding

[ForPinkCrab]

My daughter is getting married beginning of September . It’s going to be a quirky wedding , she has lots of weird and wonderful friends. Wedding will be colourful and diverse . All on a budget as they are saving for a house but money spent where it needs to be spent on the things that matter . As the mother of the bride , a casual dressing 60 year old , and fairly conservative when it comes to formal outfits I am lost as to what I should wear . I’m usually a River Island, Next type of dresser, If I want something nice I head off to the outlet and grab something from one of the designer shops .
I’ve lost a lot of weight on skinny jabs and am a size 14 which I’m happy at . My shape is large bust 38f , and a bit up and down with no waist so I wouldn’t say my figure is great but loads tell me I look great now and def not to lose any more. Only colours that don’t suit me and I don’t like are Red and Yellow .
my Arms are very flabby from weight loss so looking for a long or 3/4 sleeve and I have a horrible scar on my knee so looking at midi or maxi dress .
pleats aren’t great on me, make me look huge.
If it was one of my other children I would be going down one of the traditional mother of the bride looks, Veni , Jon Charles etc as that is what I’d be comfortable in as I’m quite a glam mum but this is not going to be that type of wedding . Help please girlies! Want to spend around £200, could squeeze more if I need to .

…..actually just adding that I can spend more, we are ok for money, didn’t want to sound like I am being cheap 😉

Way more difficult to do this than more formal. Have a look at Sahara if you can get to a shop, they do some unfitted dresses where the prints are what takes the eye rather than the fit. I hesitate to use the word kaftan. If you like Indian type prints look at Katy Barton or Daughters of India. If you are near enough to a city maybe just have a wander round to see what appeals. I usually see loads when I don’t need anything and then struggle when I have to find something.

I like this:

https://www.monsoonlondon.com/ie/perrie-floral-print-frill-maxi-dress-green-20004900164.html

This is nice IMHO.
How tall are you?
https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/summer-carnival-printed-maxi-dress-wf486?colour=457

Have you tried Boden or Farm Rio? They tend to be quite colourful

I am going to be that person and recommend that you get a bra fitting because if you wear a size 14 dress then you are not a 38” back. You may be astonished at the effect that a well-fitted bra has on your whole shape.

Also Liberty have some fab designs in at the minute

Jo Brown does some slightly bohemian dresses a bit hippyish . They are comfortable and longish.

Will echo @EgregiouslyOverdressed I recently lost a load of weight on jabs and am now a size 12/14 - went to Rigby and Peller for a fitting to treat myself to some nice new lingerie and came back with comfortable bras which are 32 for one brand and 34 in another - I haven't worn these sizes since I was about 12!

Brush Stroke Lola Maxi Dress | Beatrice von Tresckow | Wolf & Badger
Ellia Shimmer Dress | Phase Eight UK |
Liberty Silk Floral Dress | Hobbs UK |
Mabel Long Sleeve Floral Maxi Dress Pink | Evening Dresses | Monsoon UK.

At a size 14 I’d say 38F is the wrong bra size!
What defines the wedding as quirky? Is it a quirky location? Having weird and wonderful friends doesn't mean you have to dress like them, you can still dress be glam.

Just for context, I'm a size 14 and I wear a 30" back.

I’m a 14 on top and my bras are 36 band size, don’t think I could get into anything smaller and my sports bra is 38 🤷🏼‍♀️

If you wear a size 14 then your total bust circumference at the widest point will be around 38", so unless your cup size is no bigger than a B then your underbust is likely quite a bit smaller than this. If you were to measure your underbust with a soft tape measure you would likely find it is somewhere around 32". If you're wearing bras from M&S or another retailer which still adds 4" to your true underbust measurement then this would be how you'd end up in a 36" band.

Your description makes me think vintage/Lindy style dresses like Collectif. Or for contemporary, Sugarhill.

Twisted Wunder dresses always look nice (no idea what the fabric is like) but they are all bright and eye catching. This would be under budget

At the other end and a bit over budget would be Farm Rio. All a bit quirky but utterly gorgeous

I was going to say the same and something you could wear again.

https://www.vivienofholloway.com/

Our family plays a lot of board games and computer games so this was the theme our daughter chose for her wedding - or at least close family 😁
One dad was Steampunk style, the other in a scarlet 3 piece suit, I wore purple satin embroidered with symbols for my favourite computer game and a purple top hat, groom was in 18th century breeches and frock coat etc.
I suspect most of the guests thought we were nuts but we all had fun!
nb. Shoes from Irregular Choice

Disturbia is my go to for quirky, I have 3 amazing dresses from there. No idea where you are based but Deady is the female in Frome is great for quirky, they do mail order too

hell bunny?

Going against the grain here but if you would be comfortable in a traditional MOB, fairly glamorous outfit then that's what you should wear. Maybe make a nod to the overall vibe of the wedding in a bright colour or with a statement hat but the 'colourful, diverse' nature of the wedding should include something that suits you! PP's suggestions are great but I really cannot see someone glam who would be happy in Veni feeling comfortable in a dress from Disturbia.

Definitely look at Liberty, beautiful dresses from their own brand which would fit the bill bit maybe also fit your own vibe.

I like this Rixo polka dot one too, and the band would create a waist

this is one of the liberty shirt dresses, classic but pretty prints that would be perfect

Their silk dresses are truly gorgeous, but more like £400

What height are you, OP, & what's your colouring?

What colours do you really like wearing & think suit you best? And in bright or pastel or muted or pale shades?

Do you prefer plain or patterned? Florals or not? Dots/stripes or other graphic patterns?

Rixo, Needle and Thread, Anthropology and brands like Mac Duggal, Sister Jane and Self Portrait are my go to for close family weddings. I am a 12/14 36G and no waist to speak of - I have my eye on this for a summer ball but would make a beautiful mother of the bride dress Sister Jane Dress

Also, by quirky do you mean just that you expect her guests to be wearing fairly unconventional wedding guest outfits? Or that the wedding itself (location, reception etc) will be a bit different to the norm?

I looked at those brands you mentioned, OP. They are certainly very smart, but I'm only a year younger than you & wouldn't wear them - I find them conservative to the point of old-fashioned. And I think that style of full-on frock & hat look can be quite ageing, when you should be wearing something that celebrates both your daughter's wedding AND your new figure!

The PP who said you shouldn't move too far from your comfort zone is right though, as it sounds as if your idea of quirky maybe just means more casual/boho than you'd usually go for? And no hat?!!! (Fascinators & hats I would also avoid ...!)