Did I mention that my son was getting married this summer? (Scroll down to see what I wore).

Is your boy getting married and you might want to see some long sleeve Mother of the Groom dresses?

Do you hate showing your arms and prefer to wear a long sleeve Mother of the Groom dress? This link shows you some easy tips to improve the appearance of your arms.

My youngest son, Jake, just married his lovely bride Rachel this past weekend (photo, above). I was the proud mother of the groom. It was such a wonderful weekend. I loved Rachel’s dress, the bridesmaid dresses, all the tuxes, as well as the pretty wedding guest dresses.

I looked at quite a few dresses before settling on a slightly off-the-shoulder portrait neckline long gown for the wedding day. But, I saw so many gorgeous dresses that had long sleeves, three-quarter length sleeves, or even off-the-shoulder looks that I thought it would be helpful to show you a bunch of options.

In this post, I will show you some of my favorite choices for you to consider. I will include dresses for the rehearsal dinner party as well as the wedding day.

Here’s a video of six great Mother of the Groom dresses:

What are Some Mother of the Groom Wedding Fashions?

When considering mother-of-the-groom fashion, you should first of all pick styles that you feel good wearing. If your arms are bothersome, consider long sleeve mother of the groom dresses, dresses with some illusion sleeves, lace sleeves, or a sheer chiffon shawl. If you have a bit of a tummy, consider a dress with ruching which is strategically placed tucks and gathers that mask that area. If you have great legs, consider a knee-length, midi-length, or tea-length dress instead of a long gown. If you prefer pants, consider a dressy pantsuit.

What Color Should the Mother of the Groom Wear?

The question of what color should the mother of the groom wear is a hot topic. My advice is, first of all, to consult with your bride. Ask her if she has any preference for color as well as any colors she does not want you to wear. It’s best to avoid off-white and white for both the rehearsal dinner as well as the wedding ceremony as that should typically be left to the bride.

After consulting with my daughter-in-law-to-be, I decided to wear black. She preferred that I wear a full-length gown and I enjoyed wearing that length. I felt very elegant and stately. Even though it was a hot and humid July summer day (with major rain throughout the entire ceremony!), I am glad I wore the long dress! I might have felt differently if the reception was outdoors, but instead, as it was held inside a hotel, there was sufficient air conditioning to accommodate my long dress.

Can the Mother of the Groom Wear the Same Color as the Bridesmaids?

The answer to this is again, to consult with the bride-to-be. She gets to decide. When I learned that Rachel was leaning toward black for the bridesmaids, I asked her if she had any color preference for me, including black. She did not, and she said she was entirely good with me wearing black. Remember, you want to look great for your son’s wedding, but, much more importantly, you want the bride to be happy and comfortable with your choice. She is the Star of the Show on her wedding day. Ask her to opine before making your final selection.

Should the Mother of the Bride Pick Her Dress Before the Mother of the Groom?

Again the answer to this question is, to communicate with the bride and her mom. Let them choose first so that no bad feelings develop. There is an old adage that says, “The Mother of the Groom should wear beige and keep her mouth shut!”. There is definitely something to be said for being an agreeable Mother of the Groom!

I am incredibly lucky to have a (now) daughter-in-law (and her lovely mom, Michelle) who were very communicative and reasonable to work with with respect to every detail of the wedding. Pro-tip: Overcommunicate rather than assume. The goal is to have a lovely day but the overarching principle is to develop an easy relationship with your new in-laws. That’s forever!

Long Sleeve Mother of the Groom Dresses

As I mentioned above, there are many different styles of dresses and long-sleeved mother of the groom dresses work in many settings. They are glamorous and many middle-aged women feel more confident in long sleeves. If you are worried about being too warm, consider long sleeve mother of the groom dresses with sleeves made of a sheer fabric. The sheer sleeves mask the arms in a pretty way and are not as hot to wear at a warm summer wedding reception.

Dress #1 of the Long Sleeve Mother of the Groom Dresses

This first dress is by a designer named Mac Duggal. It is an embellished long-sleeve v-neck beaded hem gown in silver. (I am wearing a size 10, it is a bit loose.) I think it is very classy and comfortable. There is a slit on the front that could easily be closed somewhat if needed, and this is somewhat masked by the pretty beading on the slit. I found this dress to be very comfortable to move in and the price was $798. This would be perfect for a black-tie event such as a charity auction or a wedding.

Dress #2 of the Long Sleeve Mother of the Groom Dresses

This second dress is also by Mac Duggal. It is a midnight blue Sequined long-sleeve cocktail dress. The color is beautiful and the v-neck shape of the neckline is always flattering to the aging neck in my opinion. I think showing a bit of neck skin is pretty and this is an area where most of us haven’t gained weight!

I love the sequins on this dress as well as how the dress swings when you walk or dance. I believe this would be perfect for a black-tie event, such as a wedding. Even though it is short, it is still appropriate for a black-tie or black-tie optional event as it is so dressy. This is a size 10, (it’s a bit big) and the price was $558.

Dress #3 of the Long Sleeve Mother of the Groom Dresses

The third dress of the long sleeve Mother of the Groom dresses is so terrific! It is a gunmetal grey ruched twist column gown by La Femme. This is such an awesome dress! It has a very flattering sweetheart neckline and sheer lace mesh shoulders. The dress has a knot of ruching at the waist which is VERY flattering to the middle-aged tummy. There is gentle boning to the bodice which gives terrific waist definition while still being VERY comfortable. This dress is priced at $515.

Here’s a video of these six pretty dresses:

Dress #4 of the Long Sleeve Mother of the Groom Dresses

The fourth dress of the long sleeve Mother of the Groom dresses is such a terrific value. I think it looks like a Jackie O dress with the illusion bateau neckline and the rhinestone beading. I love the bell sleeves and the body-skimming lines of the dress.

It was made by Alex Evenings. It is made from a mid-weight fabric and has a bit of stretch. It is very comfortable and the price is $199. This is dressy enough as a guest at a wedding or a cocktail party. It could also be worn to a black-tie optional event. I probably wouldn’t wear it to a black tie event but that would be a personal choice.

Short Sleeve Mother of the Groom Dresses

Short-sleeved mother-of-the-groom dresses are a beautiful option. I especially like the dresses with a bit of off-the-shoulder detailing. Most women don’t gain weight in their shoulder area and it can beautifully elongate the neck to wear this type of neckline.

I love the look of a wrapped shoulder in several of the dresses below. As most women especially don’t love their upper arms, the wrapped shoulder helps camouflage that area. Or they wear a coordinating jacket with their dress.

Dress #5: Off-the-Shoulder Beaded Satin Trumpet Gown

Although this post is entitled Long Sleeve Mother of the Groom Dresses, as mentioned above, I LOVE an off-the-shoulder dress. This navy La Femme off-the-shoulder dress is such a neat dress! I am wearing a size 8 and it is supposed to run a big roomy. I love the fit and think it is so flattering! The skirt is a trumpet skirt that is fitted to the mid-thigh before flaring out. The lower skirt has tulle for added volume and very pretty drama. Another unusual feature is that there is a slight amount of beading on the sleeves and just the back of the bodice. So elegant. The price is $599.

Dress #6: Bow Off the Shoulder Scuba Knit Cocktail Dress

Have you ever tried these scuba knit dresses? I bought a very similar one of them last fall for an event and I loved it. The fabric doesn’t wrinkle and is very forgiving in that it skims the body in a flattering way. This plum-colored bow-inspired off-the-shoulder dress has a softly ruffled drape detail as well as a subtle sheen. It would be perfect as a wedding guest look or a cocktail party. I think the color is universally flattering and would be gorgeous at a dressy holiday party as well. The designer is Xscape and the price is $278.

Sleeveless Mother of the Groom Dresses

Sleeveless mother-of-the-groom dresses are the last option I will show in this post. These dresses can include classic sleeveless looks, halter necklines, strapless dresses, and even one-shoulder dresses. I love all of these necklines, but as I said above, be sure to pick a dress you feel comfortable in. That will make you look your most confident and lovely.

As you can see in the next section, I wore a sleeveless dress to the rehearsal dinner. I have made a widget immediately below that shows several beautiful dressy dresses with mostly sleeveless or halter necklines for you to look at. To see the details of each dress, just click on the individual dress.

What I Wore to the Rehearsal Dinner

I wanted my dress for the rehearsal dinner party to be a different look than the dress for the wedding. I picked an Eliza J dress in the fit and flare style. It was sleeveless and I added an ivory shawl. My dress was from last season, but I have included several Eliza J dresses in the links of this post (above). Also, scroll down to the very end of this post to see lots more choices of pretty dresses.

I think this fit and flare style, where the bodice is fitted to the waist and then flares out, is a fun style for a party. It’s very feminine and the dress also has pockets which are always a bonus.

What I Wore to the Wedding

I chose an off-the-shoulder portrait neckline long black gown to wear for the actual wedding (very similar here). This is me at the bridal shop trying on the dress for the first time. It was made of black crepe which was a fairly heavy fabric. It draped beautifully and was so comfortable all day and night. I have linked several similar styles above in the clickable photos.

Shoes for the Mother of the Groom

The first thing to consider in choosing a shoe is comfort! I wore a very simple black suede open-toe sandal with an ankle strap (similar, here). This is such a terrific shoe! And a tremendous value! It would be good with a dress, dress pants, jeans, and even dressy shorts. Check them out!

I am a huge fan of nude shoes, but with this long black dress, I decided to go with black. The suede fabric is so comfortable as it molds to your feet. Pro-tip: If you find your shoes to be a bit pinchy or tight, try this very cool product. You spray it on the shoe, put the shoe on your door, and then wear the shoe for a while as the shoe stretches. It really eases a tight spot on a shoe!

Pro-tip: Buy your shoes at least a month before the wedding and wear them often around the house. This will increase your chances of having comfy feet on the big day! And use Shoe Stretch if necessary.

Hairstyle Tips for the Mother of the Groom

I wear my hair short but some haircuts I get are perfect the day of the cut, while others look better two weeks later. To increase my chances of loving my hair on the big day, I decided to “practice” my perfect haircut by getting it cut several months ahead of the wedding and taking photos from every angle.

Then when I went back in May and June for my usual four-week cuts, I showed those to my hairdresser so she could replicate the cut. This worked well and I was happy with my hair both at the rehearsal dinner and at the wedding. Pro-tip: Having photos taken from around your style will make your hairstylist much more adept at recreating your favorite look, especially if she is doing your hair for the first time!

Many of you will have your hair done the day of the event by the hair stylists at the hotel you’ll be staying at (especially if the event is out of town, as was my situation). Thus, take the time to have your hair done at home or by the stylist you’ll be using if you’re in town, before the event. Consider bringing in photos of hairstyles you have liked of yourself from before as well as pictures from Pinterest. This will help the stylist do what you want.

Make-up Tips for the Mother of the Groom

I had my make-up done in Philadelphia at my hotel by the same make-up artist for the rehearsal dinner as well as for the wedding. (If I lived in town, I would recommend that you have the make-up done by the artist several weeks before the event and take photos with your phone so she can replicate the look.)

Pro-tip: I have very sensitive skin, so I brought my make-up products with me to both sessions. The artist used most of my products but also supplemented them with hers as she needed.

I wanted to try a few artificial eyelashes but was nervous that I might react to the glue. (I am highly allergic to the adhesive in bandaids and latex.) The artist listened to my concerns and suggested she put some of the glue on my forearm as a test. When I didn’t react in twenty minutes, we decided to “go for it”. She put a small length of lashes along the outside third of my upper eyelid. They looked very natural and I loved them! We redid the same look the next day, and I was delighted with the result.

Mother of the Groom Responsibilities

Typically, the groom’s family pays for a rehearsal dinner for the wedding party, the parents of the bride and groom as well as the grandparents, etc. We had a lovely dinner at the Union League of Philadelphia. This traditional setting was beautiful and we enjoyed cocktails, appetizers, a delicious meal, as well as a dessert platter.

The most fun part of the evening for me involved hearing the incredibly heartfelt speeches of several of the groomsmen and bridesmaids. There were 14 groomsmen and 11 bridesmaids, so it was quite a large wedding party! Jake’s dad, Mike, gave a wonderful speech as did Mr. G.Q. I also spoke as I was so excited to share memories of Jake as a younger child as well as stories of how much we love our new daughter-in-law Rachel.

Another very cool item involved the Groom’s cake. A Groom’s cake originated in Victorian England (no surprise!) and is typically a small cake served on the wedding day, usually as a cake everyone can take home in boxes. It is typically different than the airy white cake of the traditional wedding cake and may even have fruit inside.

We decided to have the Groom’s cake at the rehearsal dinner which was a bit more intimate of a setting. I thought that since the group was smaller, Jake might have a minute to check it out without all the excitement of the wedding day.

The cake was almost a poundcake in texture with a delicious white frosting. The topper on the cake was a black baseball cap made out of fondant. The White Sox logo (Jake’s favorite team) was prominently displayed. Then around the cake, we had multiple logos of Jake’s favorite things: Dave Matthews Band, Michael Jordan, The Bears, the University of Illinois, The Bulls, and the funniest was a heart with Rachel and Jake’s initials.

It was funny because although Rachel’s initials are RM, Jake’s are JB (not JM as the chef thought!). Jake laughed when he saw the mistake and said that he’s such a progressive guy, he can just take Rachel’s last name instead! Perfect solution!

A Few More Tips for the Mother of the Groom:

I found that there were quite a few last-minute details for the mother of the groom. Pro-tip: I found it helpful to put “all things wedding” in one spare bedroom for the several weeks leading up to the wedding weekend. My daughter Becky gave me this Mother of the Groom bag for Mother’s Day and I highly recommend it. I realized that I had several key items to transport from Chicago to Philadelphia that I would NOT be comfortable checking. I wanted these items in my line of sight on the inside of the plane.

The items I packed in here included:

• the guest list for the Rehearsal Dinner
• the seating chart for the Rehearsal Dinner
• the place cards for the Rehearsal Dinner
• the nametags for the Rehearsal Dinner
• my speech
• Rachel and Jake’s wedding card.

Then, on the day of the wedding, I packed the following items in this bag:

• my shawl
• my phone
• my clutch
• my small make-up bag for touch-ups
• Shoe Stretch for tight shoes
• Wineaway (this terrific product is sprayed on your clothes if someone accidentally spills red wine on Rachel’s dress!).
• bandaids for possible blisters
• Tylenol and Aleve
• hand cream
• Rachel and Jake’s card
• Kleenex

By having this marked bag, I could hand it to any of the bridesmaids, groomsmen, or wedding planners and they could retrieve it for me whenever I needed it. With photos and people greeting you all day long, you need to know your stuff is all in one safe spot.

The last tip is to carry your essentials onto the plane. I purchased this great lightweight garment bag and put the following inside it:

• Dress for the wedding and the dress for the Rehearsal Dinner
• Shawl for the wedding and the shawl for the Rehearsal Dinner
• Undergarments for the wedding and the Rehearsal Dinner.

Mr. G.Q. also used another garment bag for:

• his tux
• his tuxedo shirt
• his bow tie
• his tuxedo shirt with special buttons and cufflinks
• a blazer, shirt, and pants for the Rehearsal Dinner

We each also checked a bag that contained:

• Shoes for both events
• clothes for travel
• underwear
• pajamas
• Dopp kit
• my make-up kit.
• “care packages” for the couple’s honeymoon with their favorite snacks and a novel.

That about does it. These are the wedding tips from the mother of the groom.

Next, I’ve included a few more wedding photos for your viewing pleasure.

I also put together a list of wedding-related items, including long sleeve mother of the groom dresses, etc for you to check out. Click on any photo for product details and pricing. Happy scrolling!

XO,

Dr. Julie (Mother of the Groom!)

PS Here are a few more posts for you to enjoy:

Casual Mom Outfits

Date Night Outfits

Delicious Ina Garten Ginger Cookies for Fall!

Dermatologist Advice for Anti-Aging Products

Black Blazer Outfit, Six Different Looks