How 5 Real Moms Found Their Dream Dresses

Moms are dazzling at the wedding, stepping out in stylish, fashion-forward gowns and dresses. No one’s playing themselves down or avoiding color — today’s mom is rocking the beaded bodice, showing some leg, and wearing the hottest colors right off the bridal fashion runways.

And the brides are cheering them on, wanting their moms to look and feel fabulous on the wedding day. They have almost as much fun shopping for Mom’s gown as they do shopping for the bride’s gown! Here are some real-life brides and moms, talking about what inspired Mom most for her gown choice.

Bride: Megan Stanton Stec
Mom: Mary Ellen Stanton

Photo Credit: The Artists Group 

Wedding Date: October 8, 2011
Wedding Location: The Park Savoy, Florham Park NJ
Style of Wedding: Daytime classic with outdoor ceremony
Fun Fact: Megan is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC 

Megan's wishes for Mom's dress: "I wanted to keep the fall color theme and, since the wedding would be in daytime, there was no need for a formal gown. I believe that everyone knows what works well with their own body type and coloring. When a person feels comfortable in their clothes, it looks 100 times better on them."

Mom's wishes for the dress: "A shade of blue or green, some beading, a long skirt, and that it feel comfortable." She also wanted something appropriate for a daytime wedding that would fit the formality of the venue. 

How they found "the one": While shopping at Nordstrom during the Christmas season, Megan suggested they look at some of the formal dresses there.  "When we saw this dress, I knew the color would be perfect with my hair. The fact that it was a crochet fabric was another plus, since Megan's wedding dress was lace, and it would coordinate perfectly. It's a three-piece dress, with a sleeveless top (perfect for a warm day), a skirt with an elastic waist, and a beautiful jacket with a scalloped hem," said Mary Ellen. "I tried it on and knew immediately that this was my dress."