Hey Moms! So your kid is getting married and you have no idea what you’re going to wear. And aside from finding something you like, you also have potential winter weather to contest with. Don’t worry. This post is going to cover all the styles and price ranges of the coolest mother of the groom dresses for winter.
First of all, congratulations! Your kid is in love and happy and ready to celebrate this momentous occasion with you! But I also know there can be overwhelm when it comes to what to wear. I know there can be a few small battles you have to fight when it comes to finding something appropriate.
The good news is finding a mother of the groom outfits for winter wedding (or for a wedding in any season, really) doesn’t have to be as difficult as you may think! I am here for you.
We’ll go through what to look for and where to look so you can shop confidently and find something to wear that makes you feel confident, look great, and want to dance all night in!
Mother of the Groom Dresses for Winter
First question you might be asking:
What color should the mother of the groom wear for a winter wedding?
Popular colors for winter wedding tend to be jewel tones (think navy, burgundy, emerald, etc), however, it’s always smart to check with the happy couple before committing to a dress. As the Mother of the Groom, you’ll probably be in photos with the bridal party and may need to coordinate to the color scheme.
That being said, if you have free rein of your color choice, then the world is your oyster, my dear! But if you’re looking for some direction, popular colors for MOBs (Mother of the Bride) and MOGs (Mother of the Groom) alike are navy, burgundy, blush, silver, light pink, and grey.
My personal advice when it comes to color choice is it’s more about the silhouette and how you feel in the outfit more than the color you choose. For example, if you’ve never worn a pastel color in your life, why start now? If you tend to wear black and that’s what you feel most comfortable in, wear black!
If your kid and their fiancé wants you color-coordinated with the rest of the bridal party, best to respect their wishes, but otherwise, don’t stress over the color too much.
Outfit choice
Ok this is the big one. Traditionally, mid-length dresses are at the forefront for Mothers of Bride/Groom, but if you’re on this blog, you’re probably looking to break tradition. Here’s a few questions I would ask to determine the direction you go with your outfit choice:
- Is the wedding going to be outside or indoors?
- If outside: does it snow wear the wedding will be? Will you need to consider shoe choice (i.e. will you be on a lawn where wearing heels might be a no-go?)
- If indoors: will there be photos outdoors? And if outdoors, will you need an extra layer if it’s cold?
- Is the wedding casual or formal? Is there an overarching theme?
- I wouldn’t read too into this, but if you’re like me, you might end up feeling self-conscious if you feel you’re too underdressed (or overdressed!) for the occasion.
- What kind of outfits do you usually wear? (I know this can be a loaded question, but rather than getting too in the weeds with this, think generally. For example: if you’re a jeans and t-shirt gal, your answer might be “simple clothing” or “outfits that are physically comfortable”).
- How much moving around will you be doing at the wedding?
- Are you a dancer? Are you going to be getting down on the dance floor to every song or are you more of the “dance when necessary” type?
- What do you want to wear?
- All the above questions aside, what do you actually want to wear? Can this be an opportunity to treat yourself (take it!) and splurge on yourself a little? Do you want something versatile that you can (maybe) wear to other special events?
The Weather
Similar to the above questions, I would try to make sure you’re somewhat familiar with the area where the wedding will be as well as logistics of arriving and leaving so you know what to expect. For example, if the wedding is held in a place where it snows and you have a long walk from the parking lot to the reception, you may not want open toed shoes. You may not want a floor-length dress.
The other thing to think about is your jacket/coat/shawl situation. Will you want one? Do you need one? Is the couple providing some sort of shawl or stole for an outdoor wedding? If you need to buy some sort of layering or outer garment, make sure you leave room in your budget.
indoor wedding options
Wrap dresses
- Can be dressed up with jewelry and heels (or a heeled boot)
- Can be dressed down with flats or tall boots
- Can easily be worn under an outer layer for coming and going
- No special bra needed!
- Examples: here, here, here, here
Cape Sleeve dresses
- Lean more formal without having to wear jewelry
- Difficult to wear a coat on top, so would be best if you have a short walk from the car to indoors
- No special bra needed
- Examples: here, here, here, here
One Shoulder or Off-the-Shoulder dresses
- Can layer easily with an outer layer for coming and going
- Special bra necessary
- Can be more or less formal depending on fabric
- Darker/moodier colors will read more wintery than bright colors
- Examples: here, here, here, here
Separates
- Perfect for indoors (you’ll lose the affect if you’re wearing layers for an outdoor wedding)
- Can easily wear an outer layer for coming and going
- No special bra needed
- Dressy without sacrificing comfort
- Examples: here, here, here, here, here
outdoor wedding options
Long Sleeve Sheath Dresses
- Come in a variety of fabric types to allow you to layer (or not) as needed
- No special bra needed
- Classic silhouette means it’s versatile for lots of occasions
- Examples: here, here, here, here
Beaded Dresses
- Perfect to wear under an outer layer as a flash of pizazz
- Wide variety of styles/silhouettes (could even go with a beaded pant!)
- Examples: here, here, here, here
Suiting
- Can easily wear layers under the pantsuit if you don’t want to wear an outer layer (like a coat)
- Choose a heavier fabric if staying outdoors (ex: wool)
- Versatile for other events
- Examples: here, here, here, here, here, here
Outerwear
- Use your outer layer as the statement piece
- Easy to add embellishments in your under layers to make it more interesting
- Easy to layer as much as the weather requires
- Use accessories to amp up what might be considered ‘simple’ or ‘boring’ outerwear
- Examples: here, here, here, here
The last bit of advice I have for when you’re shopping for your Mother of the Groom dresses for winter is to not be afraid of playing with accessories if you think something is too boring.
For example: if you already have a blazer, maybe you just need to find a nice brooch to add to the lapel. Or maybe you’ve found a black wool shift dress, but you’re not sure if it’s too plain, grab a colored silk scarf to make it more celebratory.
Just remember: this will be an awesome day and you’ll look great no matter what. Have fun playing around until you find an outfit that works!