My soon to be Mother-in-law is standing up for my fiance and my Father is standing up for me, my wedding is in July and in a park by a beach in a gazebo at 5:00 in the afternoon in Minnesota. I have one groomsman and one bridesmaid, two flower girls and one ring bearer. The men will be wearing black tuxes, I will be wearing a white formal long dress, the flower girls will be wearing white tea length dresses with black tiny flowers. My mother-in-law and bridesmaid will also be wearing black, my soon to be mother-in-law wants to wear a black long skirt or a black pants wide legged with pleats on the sides. My bridesmaid is 30 years old and MIL is late 60's. I don't feel that my bridesmaid would look appropriate in this type of clothing, I have suggested they both wear tea length black dresses. My mother-in-law thinks that they should both wear shawls and I don't think that this is appropriate for my bridesmaid either. Do you think that a sleeveless tea length dress would be o.k? Or should they both wear long black dresses? My mother-in-law could wear a shawl and my bridesmaid not. I was thinking both should wear black shoes also. Is this too much black? My mother-in-law says that it is my wedding and that my bridesmaid should wear what I want her to wear - which is true but the one who does not want to listen is the MIL. She seems to want things her way. Help?
jmartini
Etiquette Now
WEDDING ETIQUETTE EXPERT
Jun 3, 2007, 5:59 PM
Post #2 of 2
(680 views)
Re: [jmartini] Mother in law is best man
[In reply to]
Dear Jmartini,
You are correct that she should dress the same as your attendant. She could wear a shawl, while your attendant does not though. They could wear either length as long as the dresses appear formal.
Having said all of that, it isn't such a huge problem if she wears what she wants to. Sure it wouldn't be exactly as it should be, but it isn't a major faux pas and it would make her happy. Hopefully her outfit is as formal as your attendant's.
Mother in law is best man
