One of the most common questions we hear from mothers is: When should I start shopping for my Mother of the Bride dress?

Our general recommendation is to start looking about 6 to 8 months before the wedding.

That may sound early, but giving yourself a little extra time makes the entire process feel much more enjoyable. You have time to explore different silhouettes, colors, and levels of formality without feeling pressured to make a quick decision.

Why 6 to 8 Months Before the Wedding Is Ideal

Mother of the Bride dresses often require a little more planning than an everyday special-occasion dress. You may need time for:

• Finding the right silhouette & color

• Ordering your size if it is not currently in stock

• Alterations

• Choosing shoes & accessories

• Coordinating with the bridal party & Mother of the Groom

• Allowing for any unexpected changes along the way

Starting early doesn't mean you need to purchase the first dress you try. It simply gives you the opportunity to shop thoughtfully instead of feeling rushed.

When Should You Actually Buy the Dress?

Ideally, we recommend having your dress purchased about 4 to 6 months before the wedding.

That gives you enough time to schedule alterations and make any final styling decisions.

If the dress fits beautifully right away, wonderful. But most special-occasion gowns benefit from at least a few small adjustments, whether that means hemming the length, taking in the waist, adjusting the shoulders, or fine-tuning the overall fit.

However if you find a dress you love.. no matter the timeline... you should get it to ensure it does not sell out. In special occasion wear this happens quite a bit and we hear so many women tell us " I found the perfect dress but I sent it back and now its sold out"... when this happens it can be stressful so go with your instincts and if you love it go for it!

Is There Such a Thing as Shopping Too Early?

Sometimes.

If the wedding is more than a year away and details such as the venue, formality, season, or bridal party colors haven't been decided yet, you may want to wait before making a final purchase.

You can absolutely begin gathering ideas and trying different silhouettes, but having a few wedding details established will make choosing the right dress much easier.

If those details are already decided on you should be OK to shop a year before the wedding. Its always better to get started early than waiting too late.

What If the Wedding Is Only a Few Months Away?

Don't panic.

We work with many mothers who begin shopping much closer to the wedding date.

If you're shopping 2 to 3 months before the wedding, focus on dresses that are currently available in your size and allow enough time for alterations.

If you're within a month or two of the wedding, try to avoid ordering something that requires major changes. Look for a dress that already fits well and only needs minimal alterations. Or call a seamstress & let them know of your timeline to see what they are able to do for you.

Should the Mother of the Bride Shop Before the Mother of the Groom?

Traditionally, the Mother of the Bride chooses her dress first & then shares the color and level of formality with the Mother of the Groom.

Today, we think it can be much more relaxed than that.

The two mothers do not need to match, and they certainly don't need to look like part of the bridal party. The goal is simply to make sure the dresses feel appropriate for the same event.

A quick conversation about color, length, and formality is usually all you need. Then you can both shop at your own pace with no stress.

Don't Wait Until You've Tried Everything Else

This is something we see all the time.

A woman may have been looking at a particular dress for months, but keeps waiting because she thinks she should explore every other option first. Then suddenly the wedding is only a few weeks away.

If you've found a dress that feels like you, fits the wedding, and makes you feel confident, you don't need to keep searching just because you feel like you're supposed to.

Sometimes the right dress really can be that simple.

Our Favorite Timeline

If you want an easy guideline, we recommend:

6–8 months before: Start shopping and figuring out what you like.

4–6 months before: Purchase your dress.

6–8 weeks before: Begin alterations.

2–4 weeks before: Final fitting, shoes, accessories, and any last styling details.

And then you're done.

The goal isn't to find the most elaborate Mother of the Bride dress. It's to find something that feels special enough for the occasion while still feeling completely like yourself.

At Camilyn Beth, we design dresses for women who want to feel like themselves, just a little more dressed up.