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
Post #2 of 2
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Re: [jmartini] Mother in law is best man
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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
