Mother of the bride, mother of the groom, or grandmother of the bride — this is one of the few days you'll be photographed as much as the couple. Our mother of the bride dresses are chosen for exactly that: elegant floor-length gowns, sophisticated midi dresses and beaded occasion styles by Mac Duggal, cut to flatter and comfortable enough to wear from the ceremony through to the last dance.

Choosing the right length. A floor-length gown is traditional for a formal or black-tie wedding and evening receptions. For a daytime, garden or destination wedding, a midi or ankle-length dress is easier to move in and just as polished. Browse our evening gowns for the former and our cocktail dresses for the latter.

Sleeves and coverage. Plenty of mothers want a little more coverage than a strapless gown offers, particularly for a religious ceremony. Our long sleeve and short sleeve styles cover it, and cap sleeves, flutter sleeves and matching capes appear throughout the collection.

Which colours work. The one rule is to avoid white, ivory and cream so you're not mistaken for the bride. Beyond that, navy, emerald, plum, dusty blue and champagne all photograph beautifully. Metallics in gold and pewter are a safe, elegant choice, and it's worth asking the bride about her palette so you complement the bridesmaids rather than clash with them.

Getting the fit right. Every listing shows both US and UK sizing with a Fit Calculator, so you can order confidently first time. We carry Petite lengths for anyone under 5'4" and plus sizes through to UK 28. As an official Mac Duggal stockist we can often source styles and colours you don't see here — send us the style number and we'll do our best. Exchanges are easy if the fit isn't quite right, and every order ships fully tracked.