Petite Plus Size Mother of the Bride Dresses

Choosing a Mother of the Bride Dresse

Choosing from the available mother of the bride dresses is always a challenge, but it's even more so when you require a petite plus size. Regardless of dress size, there are some basic things you'll want to keep in mind.

Styles

First of all, you want to look good for your little girl's wedding, but not too good. You want all eyes focused on the bride, so you'll want to tastefully and elegantly blend into the scenery. Now is not the time to try to look sexy or over-the-top. Avoid deep cleavage and extreme side slits. Instead, opt for a long dress, preferably either tea length or floor length. If the wedding is extremely casual, you may have some flexibility here, but you should still err on the side of conservative and classy. You can't go wrong with a solid-colored dress with a moderate neckline and an elegant bolero jacket. If you absolutely hate wearing dresses, a dressy pantsuit is another option.

Colors

In addition, you'll need to take care when choosing your colors. Etiquette dictates that only the bride should wear white, so white and shades of white are off limits. Black is also out as that indicates mourning and that's the last message you want to convey on your daughter's wedding day! Likewise, the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom should not wear the same color, so you might want to consult with your daughter's future mother-in-law. Traditionally, the mother of the bride should get first dibs on color choices, but it's a good idea to check anyway just to be on the safe side.

Also find out the colors of the bridal party. While you shouldn't wear the same color as the bridesmaids, a complementary color would be a great idea. That way, the wedding photos will be harmonious.

Where to Buy Petite Plus Size Mother of the Bride Dresses

While many department stores and all formal wear stores sell plus size mother of the bride dresses, finding petite plus size mother of the bride dresses is much more difficult. For the best chance of finding the perfect dress in the right size, start looking months before the wedding.

If you have time and room in your budget, having your dress specially made is another option. That way, the dress will be made to your exact specifications. If you don't have that kind of money or time, don't worry. Some specialty stores do stock petite plus size formal dresses. Here are some online outlets offering the dresses:

• Mother of the Bride Dresses focuses exclusively on designer mother of the bride dresses in a wide range of styles and sizes. They sell dresses by both Cameron Blake and Montage (you can find the designers listed in the left menu) in sizes up to 26WP. Jovani, Evenings, and Destinations offer dresses in 12P and 14P.
• Brideway.net offers dresses and pantsuits for the mother of the bride. Although not all dresses are available in petite plus size, some dresses can be bought up to a size 28WP. One example of a designer offering petite plus sizes at this site is Ursula of Switzerland.
• Cordell Couture sells high end mother of the bride dresses in all sizes. Since custom orders are allowed and any dress can be made to your measurements, you’ll have no problem getting a dress that fits. Off the rack dresses start at $600 and custom orders start at $900.