Weddings are notorious for cost blowouts, and this doesn’t stop at items such as wedding dresses, the reception, or honeymoon costs. Mother of the bride dresses can be another expensive item on a wedding list, so it’s important to do a little research about how much they should cost.
Setting a budget or limit for mother of the bride dresses doesn’t sound very exciting, but smashing through a card limit and causing stress is what will matter in the long run. Let’s break down how much this can add up to!
The Dress
The cost of the gown should be the biggest outlay when it comes to dressing the mother of the bride. This is a cost that can be quite manageable for just about anyone, but can be so expensive it rivals the cost of a wedding gown!
Off-the-rack mother of the bride dresses will set you back around $40 – $300. A mid-range dress can then go up to around $700; however, it’s probably not going look too different from less expensive options.
Cheap mother of the bride dresses that are good quality are easy to source both in store and online, and you will probably find there is a massive variety to choose from. The trouble with mid-range and couture dresses is the choices tend to reduce, along with the range of sizes.
The Shoes
When budgeting for mother of the bride dresses, one of the biggest mistakes is to forget it’s not just the gown that makes up a complete outfit! Shoes are another cost that must be considered – particularly because two pairs might be needed!
A wedding day is a long day for the bride and groom, but the mother of the bride will also be on her feet for many hours as well. If the mother of the bride wears high heels, it’s always a good idea to budget for a pair of formal flats and keep them handy for when the feet will need a break!
Both pairs of shoes should add up to no more than $200 in total, as the formal flats are not usually very expensive, and you should not spend too much on heels that you may never wear again.
The Accessories
The mother of the bride will no doubt be looking for a clutch to go with her lovely new outfit, but there are other items to remember to include as well. Depending on the level of formality of the wedding, you may need to budget for things like fascinators as well!
If statement jewelry pieces are needed to complete an outfit, this is another cost that needs to be added, but it’s difficult to calculate without knowing if costume jewelry or actual gems will be chosen.
Shapewear is another item that is very much a hidden expense – literally and figuratively! The cost of these will differ depending on what type of shapewear is needed, and you can expect to pay around $50 on average for this – but it will probably be worth it!