Emma's answers to Outfit for the mother of the bride

Question

We live in Brazil where the weddings are almost all Roman Catholic and pretty informal. Our daughter, who is a divorced, non-practising Roman Catholic will be marrying a Protestant Englishman in England in mid-September. They will have a civil ceremony and reception afterwards. Not having been to a wedding in England for more than forty years, my wife, a Brazilian, would like to know, as the mother of the bride, whether it is obligatory or optional to wear a hat and gloves, and what the skirt length should be - the wedding will take place at midday.

Answer

It isn't obligatory for the mother of the bride to wear a hat, though at about 99% of UK weddings the mother of the bride and groom usually will. Gloves are totally optional.

The mother of the bride will often wear a suit -
either dress and jacket, skirt, top and jacket and sometimes trousers, top and jacket. Skirt length is completely up to your wife.

The mother of the bride would traditionally avoid wearing white or ivory.

Emma x