Plus Size Mother Of The Bride/Mother Of The Groom 101



Your child is getting married! And more than likely, you were one of the first to know. Finding the perfect plus size mother of the bride/groom dress is such an important part of the wedding because you are such an integral person in their life, their Mom!

Some tips for making the process as painless as possible include the following: 

Many brides/grooms decide to incorporate their mother’s dress into the color palette of the bridal party. 

Of course there are exceptions to the rule if you are a lady that likes to stand out! Ask your daughter what she would like best, since it is her special day after all.

Communication Is The Name Of The Game

This is a joyous event and the last thing anyone needs is unnecessary stress. Keep in mind that Plus Size Mother of The Bride and Groom dresses may need to be special ordered and will most likely need multiple fittings to ensure your dress fits you perfectly. Usually 4-6 months before the wedding is sufficient. Make sure to voice your opinion if anything makes you uncomfortable, but also be sure to make others aware if something doesn’t quite look or feel right to you. You are the mother and you deserve to look AND feel fabulous!

Be color conscious

As a general rule of thumb, a mother of the bride should not wear white or off-white to a wedding as to not take away from the bride.  In certain circumstances, such as a snowball wedding, would it be appropriate and is a special request made by the bride!. Mid range colors such as burgundy and teal as well as navy and black are popular color choices for plus size gowns.

What Does The Plus Size Mother Of The Bride/Groom Wear?

One of the many reasons why I started this business was to satisfy the needs of plus size women that weren’t being addressed. Many times clients come to us after exhausting the big box retailers who tend to offer a small selection of matronly styles that are not flattering to the curvier woman. Your child’s wedding is a momentous day, and you want to look and feel your best on such a joyous occasion!

The plus size mother of the bride/groom, shouldn’t look like they are wearing a prom dress, but also shouldn’t look like they are wrapped in layers of chiffon. Choosing the right color and style will vary from woman to woman depending on their individual shape and what they feel comfortable wearing. With over 26 years of expertise in the plus size fashion industry, I have learned which styles suit an array of body styles, shapes and sizes. I personally dress every woman that comes into the store. Queen of Hearts is happy to offer one of the largest selections of plus size formal wear in the tri-state area. Our expert seamstress will ensure your dress fits you properly in all the right places!

When MOB/MOG shopping, there are some things you will want to keep in mind:

  1. Ask the Bride if they have any color preferences and what the formality of the wedding will be in order to follow suit with the overall theme if applicable.
  2. Be conscious of what the weather will be like, as well as any cultural or religious customs that may be appropriate. 
  3. Time it accordingly! You should start the search for your dress no later than three months before the wedding. This will allow time for any alterations or custom orders. 
  4. If traveling, keep in mind fabrics that won’t wrinkle and check if there is professional pressing available. If flying, check with the airline if the gown in a gown bag can be used as your carry on piece.

Queen of Hearts serves plus size women sizes 16 and up, and can also accommodate custom orders. We recommend that all of our clients schedule an appointment before coming in so that we can deliver the best quality customer service possible. Give us a call at 516-377-1357 or email us through the website at www. queenofheartsusa.com with any questions that you may have!

Why Shop At A Specialty Store VS A Department Store?

Many of our customers will ask this question. If you are a plus size lady over a size 26 there is limited selection in the department store. For our customers, sizes 18-26 we help them look and feel special, carry a select group of styles, colors, whereas the mother of the bride or groom you would want to feel more special than anything offered in a department store. If you shop in a department store, any guest could come to the wedding wearing something you may have purchased. I do not know of any mother of the bride or groom who would want a guest wearing her gown! Custom Alterations are also done on premises in our specialty store, to help you look and feel your best! We also suggest the proper accessories and undergarments to flatter your figure. 

Years of experience are available to you in a specialty store, where a department store may be lacking sale staff and plus size expertise. The overall shopping experience is much more personalized in a specialty boutique like Queen Of Hearts.

Ruching, ruching, ruching. Here’s the scoop on ruching!

Although ruching may seem like the perfect solution to a figure flaw, it may not be perfect for “every” plus size body type. Depending on where the ruching is, and how it draws the eye away from the figure flaw, can be a positive thing. Where the ruching is situated and draws the eye to the side, and sits lower on the body, can be affected. If the ruching and gathering is too high under the bust, it can have a negative effect. So be careful when choosing ruching as a plus size gal!

If I Order A Plus Size Gown And Then Lose Weight…What Happens?

This is a question that I get asked every day. My answer is; go ahead and lose the weight! We can always take a plus size dress in, but cannot let it out. Manufacturer’s do not give us much inseam allowance to let gowns out. It is always better to order the size by your measurements at the time of order placement and take the item in if you should lose the weight. Keep in mind the timeline for ordering. Most manufacturer’s on a special order require 6-8 weeks, so even if it’s only 5 pounds, it is going to make the gown look better when it comes in.