Watching your pride and joy say 'I do' at the altar might just be up there with one of the most special moments in your life, which is why you need to shop for the best mother of the bride dresses to match the occasion. When your daughter is ready to commit to the love of their life on their wedding day, wearing a dress that takes it up a notch from the best wedding guest dresses only seems right.
But, where to start? With so much choice out there, it can be difficult to know what to go for. In the past, mother of the bride dresses were often considered 'frumpy', 'outdated' or even 'unflattering'. But, the days of rummaging through masses of gaudy lace dresses are, thankfully, no more.
Traditionally, mother of the bride dresses complement the bridesmaid dresses, but now there are really no rules to choosing your outfit. As long as it isn't white or black, doesn't outshine the bride and follows a formal dress code, you simply should wear whatever you look and feel your best in. Although, we would keep in mind the season, as you may still fancy wearing a smart jacket layered over the top of a dress, even for a summer wedding.
We've scrolled through hundreds of mother of the bride dresses, and these were the best by far, especially for a spring wedding. Here's our shortlist of the best mother of the bride dresses that you'll look fabulous in, and feel proud to look at in the wedding album for years to come.
SHOP: The best mother of the bride dresses UK 2025
Coastwww.coastfashion.com
If you're lost on what colour to opt for as the mother of the bride, navy is a sophisticated option to try. This stunning choice from Coast is an elevated version of a typical navy midi dress, differently designed with fluttery ruffle accents and a modern slit detail.
Karen Millenwww.karenmillen.com
We've noticed that orange may be the 'it colour' this spring/summer 2025, so why not try it out for your mother of the bride look. One of Karen Millen's signature dress styles, this pleated midi dress will flatter you in all the right places, through its gorgeous pleated skirt, high waistline and stylish oversized belt.
Phase Eightwww.phase-eight.com
Nothing screams mother of the bride more than this beautiful light blue tux dress. Promising to not overshadow the bride, this is the perfect special occasion dress and will offer a sophisticated silhouette to any figure. We also think you could easily get away with wearing this dress again on other special occasions, such as race day or a fancy summer event.
Phase Eightwww.phase-eight.com
If you love florals, but want to go for something a bit more elevated than your usual floral summery dress, then this Phase Eight Natalia Floral Maxi Dress is the elegant dress you need. Made in an easy-to-wear crepe pleated material, we love the dress' oversized pink floral pattern and pretty blouson sleeves.
Nextwww.next.co.uk
This striking dark green floral dress is just the outfit you need to look and feel your best on such an important day. Made from a feminine, flowy floral material, this midi dress comes with a wrap-over neckline and cascading hemline, adding drama and an ultra-feminine feel to your typical floral midi dress.
Hobbswww.hobbs.com
If you know you tend to steer towards jumpsuits when buying occasion wear, there's no rules to say you can't wear one on your daughter's big day. This jumpsuit is also perfect if your family is having a black-tie themed wedding. Watch you win best dressed guest in no time...
Coastwww.coastfashion.com
This midi dress definitely has a va-va voom feeling to it, and we're super here for it, if you want something a bit more out there. Designed with a cascading one-shoulder ruffle design and asymmetric hemline, it's perfect for a spring/summer wedding. Pair with a matching coloured hat and silver or white heels.
Hobbswww.hobbs.com
If you are on the smaller size height-wise, Hobbs has a brilliant range of petite mother of the bride dresses. One that caught our eye was this pretty pink polka dot knee-length fit and flare dress. We love how they have also styled it with a sophisticated matching jacket, for that head-to-toe pink look.
Finery Londonwww.finerylondon.com
Seen on the likes of Kate Middleton and Duchess of Edinburgh, Finery London nails simple, yet stylish occasion wear. This stand-out green polka dot dress is a personal favourite of ours, and we know the Princess of Wales loves the classic pattern too. With ruffle puff sleeves and an elegant round neckline, you simply can't wrong with this dress as the mother of the bride.
Coastwww.debenhams.com
If the black and white jumpsuit wasn't quite right, we also love this option from Coast at Debenhams. Featuring a striking wide-leg design and bell sleeves, we think this would be a great fit for the mother of the bride. Team with matching navy accessories for an effortless wedding fit.
FAQs
Where to buy mother of the bride dresses?
If you want to splash out, you might want to go with Karen Millen, Selfridges, John Lewis, Phase Eight, Coast, Monsoon or Hobbs. After all, an event like this might only be once in a lifetime, so why not? Alternatively, high street retailers, such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Wallis, Roman, Very and Yours offer mother of the bride dresses on a budget that are still fashion forward. There's an endless amount of retailers to shop for the whole wedding party. Retailers like ASOS have made it much easier, where you can filter through size, colour, design and budget. Some sites even have mother of the bride edits on their websites, ready to browse.
What colour should the mother of the bride wear?
Popular colours for mother of the bride dresses are usually navy or blush, but this doesn't mean you have to wear them if they aren't your favourite. Shades like silver and gold would work well, along with blues, purples, yellows and greens for all year round. Consider your own colour palette, as well as the season, themes and venue of the wedding when selecting your dress. Is it a beach wedding? How about something printed and floaty to keep you cool. Is it at a countryside stately home? Dainty floral prints all the way. For something more toned down, like a registry office, block prints and fitted midi dresses always work a treat.
What colour should the mother of the bride avoid?
At a wedding, there are two particular colours you should avoid, white and black. Unless, of course, it's specifically written in the invitation. As you can imagine, white is reserved for the bride. Lighter shades that could be mistaken for white should be avoided as well, such as cream, champagne and extremely pale pastel colours. Black tends to be associated with funerals, so wearing black is a no-go, especially as the mother of the bride. Navy is a much more acceptable option, though, especially for a winter wedding guest dress.
Samantha Price is a Senior Commercial Content Writer for Closer. During her time at Bauer, she has worked on several projects, from championing the Closer newsletters to writing expertly crafted buying guides on beauty, fashion and lifestyle.