Is this not special enough/expensive enough for my son's wedding?

[flowersandmusic]

My son is getting married next year. June wedding. Someone on her recommended this dress for someone else. I went ahead and ordered it - a size smaller as that was all that was available. It has some weight to it and I love it but is it a bit cheapskate for mother of the groom. The money is not www.debenhams.com/product/jolie-moi-angel-sleeve-tiered-hem-maxi-dress_p-3e6c2c44-815f-42c7-b1db-67eae670cce8?colour=Multi&size=10&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22915808283&gbraid=0AAAAABevdS7lom0v68CypUOUtJ7wI713e&gclid=Cj0KCQjwio_RBhDMARIsAJPveNPX9QJHogyDX5JR4S_T4TALqJat6EcPACrQj2f_XntgPAeZTx04zrkaAnTFEALw_wcB

No one will know what ££ you spent. You like it it is fine

Lovely dress.

Elegsnt cerise hat

Well you ordered a smaller size as that's all thry had, does it fit you? Or does it look like you're squeezed into too small a size?

That looks like something I’d do the school run in, with trainers or flip flops. It’s not about the money. It’s just yet another, a bog standard, unspecial floral dress. Sorry, but I think something more structured and formal is required. That’s if you care about such things (which I’m guessing you do seeing as you asked). It’s also totally okay to just wear whatever the hell you want that isn’t white or offensive or too revealing!

My friend wore a dress from a charity shop to her son's wedding. She looked great.
Only today, Princess Anne wore a 45 year old hat!
It doesn't matter how much you spend. At all.

for clarity, the size small fits like a glove. It has slight padding in the shoulder and is the perfect length. I am torn because I really like it.

I love it!

It depends on the type of wedding.

If it’s an informal, reception in a pub garden type of do - the dress is fine.

Nobody will know the cost!! If you like it and it fits then go for it! Lovely colours

OP’s not the odd one of you’re doing the school run in angel sleeve, chiffon maxi dresses.

It looks lovely, OP. With the right accessories and shoes, you’ll look gorgeous.

It’s lovely and you know you look and feel good in it. Enjoy 🎉

I think it looks very nice and suitable. I would think it was a perfectly good "mother of the groom" dress. It doesn't look cheap.

I would probably wear it with a jacket and/or hat (in one of the pattern colours) for added formality, at least during the ceremony and photos. Plus a nice handbag and shoes. A lot depends on your accessories for this type of occasion. The dress itself is only part of the outfit.

I think it depends on the type of wedding. It's not about the cost but I think it's a bit casual.

My lovely Mum kitted herself out in a outfit from a charity shop for my wedding .
She looked absolutely stunning …this was an extremely expensive wedding 35 years ago ! She dined out on her wedding outfit charity bargain for another 21 years !
Edited to say the dress you have chosen is lovely along with a decent jacket hat,bag,jewellery and shoes .

I think it’s lovely. If it’s a really hot day then something similar in silk would be much nicer but if you’re inside a cool church or air conditioned building then no one will be able to tell the difference.

I’d wear it if the fit was right & I wear a lot of expensive clothes.

@flowersandmusic As the wedding is next year, why not keep it? The sleeves would be difficult to put into a jacket, but on a warm day, it’s great. As long as you have the money, keep it.

We tend to think the mums of the bride and groom should look more formal and special, but achieving that is so difficult.

Princess Anne keeps everything for decades but it looks like it too. She is herself but she’s not fashionable. If you want something better, there’s more fashionable people around for inspiration. Carole Middleton for starters!

It is a fairly relaxed wedding in a hotel, small gathering and a meal afterwards.

I was thinking I would go with cerise accessories. No idea what is fashionable, hat, hatinator, absolutely no idea. I do have expensive jewellery I can bling it up with though.

It is beautiful!

A nice fascinator, bag and shoes will set it off.

Both my MIL and my DM wore similar styles for our wedding in 2024. They both picked dresses that they liked and that meant they had confidence when they walked into the wedding.

This is MIL's dress.

It's lovely for a son's wedding.
It's a happy, celebratory dress and it's probably very 'you' because it suits your username.

I’d wear this in a much more casual context than a wedding, but it depends on what your usual style is and how you dress it up, heels, jewellery, jacket, bag etc.

This is VERY good advice and I agree completely x

The dress is fine. It's cheap enough that you can afford to keep it either way, whether you wear it to the wedding or to some other occasion.
Keep an eye out in case something else catches your eye in the meantime.

Last time I was at a rather grand summer wedding, many guests were wearing floaty dresses very like this one. Many were silk from LK Bennett or more expensive brands, but, to be honest, to the naked eye they don’t look a lot different. It all comes down to fit and cut - and the OP says it fits like a glove.

If in doubt , add expensive looking shoes and a fabulous hat.

I feel that very tailored structured traditional MOB and MOG dresses look a little outdated now.

I’m going to be a mother of the bride and I think the dress is lovely, I’m not a fan on those structured stuck up ‘look at me’ outfits, not my style at all, don’t get wrong , I could afford it but not for me , each to their own though . A lovely cerise hat or fascinator will look lovely