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 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 fair.

　　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 In the past, mother of the bride dresses were often considered frumpy, outdated or unflattering. But, the days of rummaging through masses of gaudy lace dresses are, thankfully, no more.

　　Traditionally, mother of the bride dresses complemented the bridal party, but now there are really no rules to choosing your dress. As long as it isnt white or black, doesnt outshine the bride and follows a formal dress code, you should wear whatever you look and feel best in. Although, we would keep in mind the season, as even for a summer wedding, you still might still fancy wearing a smart jacket.

　　Closers best mother of the bride dresses at a glance: Best mother of the bride dress overall: Karen Millen Structured Crepe Roll Neck Dip Hem Midi Dress, £175.20 on Karen Millen

　　Best budget mother of the bride dress: Coast Satin Placement Print Wiggle Dress, £66.75 on Wallis

　　Best simple mother of the bride dress: Phase Eight Keyla Fluted Sleeve Fitted Dress, £99 on Phase Eight

　　Weve scrolled through hundreds of mother of the bride dresses, and these were the best by far, especially for your spring wedding. Heres our shortlist of the best mother of the bride dresses that youll 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 2024 1. Karen Millen Structured Crepe Roll Neck Dip Hem Midi Dress

　　Best mother of the bride dress overall

　　Karen MillenPrice:175.20 (was £219)www.karenmillen.com

　　View offer When we think mother of the bride the Structured Crepe Midi Dress from Karen Millen immediately comes to mind. Classy, sophisticated and elegant, the bestselling dress comes in a variety of colours, but we love this soft sage colour choice for summer months. The belted waist offers some definition, while the dip hem makes a statement and others will easily be able to spot you in the crowd.

　　2. Coast Satin Placement Print Wiggle Dress

　　Best budget mother of the bride dress

　　CoastPrice:66.75 (was £89)www.wallis.co.uk

　　View offer If the thought of showing your bare arms fills you with dread, just picture this Coast Satin Placement Print Wiggle Dress with a stunning lilac jacket, and a fascinator to match, of course. This beautiful dress is our favourite pick for the spring and summer, and is now reduced in the sale at Debenhams making it a fabulous budget option.

　　3. Phase Eight Keyla Fluted Sleeve Fitted Dress

　　Best simple mother of the bride dress

　　Phase EightPrice:99www.phase-eight.com

　　View offer For mothers of the bride who dont want too much of a fuss, but love the look of a timeless dress, this one is for you. It comes in a pretty blush colourway, a popular colour for the mother of the bride, and features fluted sleeve details. It looks so flattering with waist accentuating fit and classic pencil skirt.

　　4. Ted Baker Sirinna Draped Neck Satin Midi Dress

　　Best designer mother of the bride dress

　　Ted BakerPrice:157 (was £225)www.tedbaker.com

　　View offer Looking for luxury? Ted Bakers Sirinna Draped Neck Satin Midi Dress is it. This glamorous gown has a flattering cowl neck and a sumptuous satin feel, perfect for mums who want to want to stand out. Made with a bias cut, it skims dreamily over your figure and ends with a fluttery hem.

　　5. Ghost Grace Satin Swing Midi Dress In Sage

　　Best tea length mother of the bride dress

　　John LewisPrice:179www.johnlewis.com

　　View offer Tea dresses are a timeless design, and this vintage-inspired Grace Satin Swing Midi Dress from Ghost is just effortless. It comes with beautiful button details down the front, angel sleeves and a gathered detail empire waistline.

　　6. Phase Eight Petite Giovanna Floral Belted Dress

　　Best petite mother of the bride dress

　　Phase EightPrice:159www.johnlewis.com

　　View offer Phase Eight are really good at offering an inclusive size range, and their sizes come in petite and plus. For any petite mother of the bride, the Giovanna Floral Belted Dress is an easy choice. Its decorated with dainty floral print and cape-style sleeves that make it ideal for spring and summer weddings.

　　7. Ralph Lauren Jersey Off-The-Shoulder Gown

　　Best plus size mother of the bride dress

　　Ralph LaurenPrice:259www.ralphlauren.co.uk

　　View offer For plus size mother of the bride dresses, weve found this figure-flattering dress from Ralph Lauren. The Jersey Off-The-Shoulder Gown hugs your shape in all the right ways, with an off-the-shoulder detail for an air of elegance. And, you can also accessorise with a wrap or shawl to really set it off.

　　8. Nobodys Child Linen-Blend Balloon Sleeve Zora Midi Dress

　　Best modern mother of the bride dress

　　Nobodys ChildPrice:130www.nobodyschild.com

　　View offer Who says mother of the bride dresses always have to be traditional? This Nobodys Child dress is both modern and tasteful, in its bright green colourway thats really fashionable at the moment. With balloon style sleeves and a swishy skirt, the Zora Midi Dress can be worn again for future occasions. Dress up with a pair of killer heels and a statement fascinator.

　　9. Hobbs Samara Fit And Flare Dress

　　Best classic mother of the bride dress

　　Price:159www.hobbs.com

　　View offer Or, if you are going for something more classic, the Samara Fit And Flare Dress from Hobbs fits the bill. Royal blue is also an incredibly popular choice for mother of the brides, perfect for all seasons. Style it with a smart jacket to get the look, it has pleated details and is made from a lightweight floaty fabric.

　　10. Wallis Petite Mesh Satin Tie Midi Dress

　　Best budget petite mother of the bride dress

　　Price:71.10 (was £79)www.debenhams.com

　　View offer Petite dresses on a budget can be found at Wallis, and this Mesh Satin Tie Midi Dress is now reduced in the sale at Debenhams. This is an incredibly pretty mother of the bride dress, with its soft ballerina pink colour, a satin tie sash and long mesh sleeves.

　　11. Yours Curve Floral V Neck Pleated Dress

　　Best budget plus size mother of the bride dress

　　YoursPrice:58www.very.co.uk

　　View offer Shopping on a budget for a plus size dress? We love this popular Floral Pleated Dress from Yours that can be worn again and again. Wear as is or dress it up with a matching smart jacket and a formal hat for the occasion. As you can imagine with such a pretty dress, sizes are selling fast.

　　13. Monsoon Beatrice Crepe Bardot Maxi Dress

　　Best maxi mother of the bride dress

　　Price:93.75 (was £125)www.monsoon.co.uk

　　View offer If you want a floor length gown, the Beatrice Crepe Bardot Maxi Dress from Monsoon is a stunning choice. This sophisticated maxi features a Bardot neckline and subtle, flared hemline that exudes elegance. Its a fitted dress, but its flattering fabric will make you feel supported in all of the right places.

　　12. Monsoon Elizabeth Embellished Maxi Dress

　　Best sequined mother of the bride dress

　　MonsoonPrice:131.25 (was £175)www.monsoon.co.uk

　　View offer We often see sequined dresses worn by the mother of the bride, and Monsoon has these in abundance. The Elizabeth Embellished Maxi Dress has just a touch of glamour thats more than suitable for the big day.

　　14. Coast Crepe Ruffle Dress With Low Back

　　Best summer mother of the bride dress

　　CoastPrice:125.10 (was £139)www.coastfashion.com

　　View offer For the ultimate summer mother of the bride outfit, look no further than this Crepe Ruffle Dress from Coast in this bright orange colour. Its totally sleeveless, meaning its a great option to keep you cool in warmer months, or can be styled with a jacket if you prefer. It has a pretty ruffle detail on the front and along the hem, fantastic for dancing the night away.

　　15. Jolie Moi Rashelle Jersey Long Sleeve Dress

　　Best mother of the bride dress for winter

　　Price:95www.debenhams.com

　　View offer Complete with long sleeves and a navy colourway, the Jolie Moi Rashelle Jersey Dress makes for the perfect winter ceremony. Its fitted at the waist with a traditional shape, gracefully flaring at the midcalf for the

　　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.

　　Theres 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 doesnt mean you have to wear them if they arent 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, its 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 Beauty, Fashion Wellness Product Writer for Closer. With two years of experience at Bauer, she has worked on several projects, from championing the Closer newsletters to writing expertly crafted buying guides.