How to Shop for a Mother-of-the-Bride Dress

What is fair about this? A father of the bride makes 2 trips to a tuxedo store. One trip is to be fitted for a pre-selected style of tux and a pair of shoes. The second trip is simply to pick it all up. Add a shower and a shave, and he's ready to roll!

The mother of the bride doesn't get off so easily. In fact, many women consider the mother-of- the-bride dress the most difficult part of wedding planning. The search for a mother-of-the-bride dress can be excruciating and extremely stressful.

Before shopping, the mother of the bride has to figure out what kind of dress is appropriate for the type and time of day of the wedding. She has to determine an attractive color, not only for herself, but also one that coordinates with the wedding party, her daughter's wishes, and the mother of the groom. That's a tall order, and she has yet to shop.

Shopping for a mother-of-the-bride dress can take days or weeks and includes canvassing multiple stores. Sometimes she has to shop out-of-town or shop on-line, which involves returns for dresses that aren't near as stunning as their pictures.

Finding the mother-of-the bride dress does not mean her shopping is finished. Accessories, appropriate undergarments, and razzle-dazzle shoes that don't kill her feet or make her tower over her husband still have to be bought.

Many women "live to shop" and embrace the mother-of-the-bride dress challenge with glee. Other women break out in a sweat at the mere thought of entering a clothing store. I know all about the latter group. I was one of them.

I've been mother of the bride 3 times, and I've stressed about the mother-of-the-bride dress every time. I will say that my third wedding was much less worrisome. I learned strategies along the way that strengthened my mother-of-the-bride-dress-shopping confidence.