Reddit Users Have This One Unexpected Tip For Mother-Of-The-Groom Style

Wedding fashion can be tricky to navigate, especially if you're a part of the happy couple's family. In general, there's less pressure on regular guests, who already need to avoid this one color that you should never wear to a wedding. Meanwhile, both bridesmaids and groomsmen typically have their ensembles determined as part of the wedding planning. But if you're a mother of the groom — or the mother of the bride — trying to select the right look for your child's happy day, then there can be a lot of pressure to get it right. Fortunately, Reddit users have one simple tip that can make this high-stakes decision pretty simple. 

According to the online forum, as a rule of thumb, mother-of-the-groom dresses should be a touch more formal than the general dress code. But the real key to nailing this style is by wearing something that will work well in photos. "I think most of the nice ones I've seen have been not super different to what people would wear to the wedding as a guest, but maybe less patterned so it looks better in group shots with the rest of the immediate family," explained one Reddit user. In fact, just following this advice will help you sidestep most of the fashion mistakes that every mother of the groom should avoid.

As mother of the groom, the biggest fashion faux pas you could make is stealing the spotlight from the happy couple. That means avoiding white, obviously, as well as any looks that are too ostentatious or dramatic. Still, traditional mother-of-the-bride dresses have a reputation for being rather dowdy. That means it can be hard to find a look that feels elegant or modern, so consider taking inspiration from any of the celebrity moms who proved frumpy mother-of-the-groom looks are a thing of the past.

Most Reddit users advised looking beyond the dedicated "mother-of-the-groom" section. Instead, simply focus on matching the formality of the event, and clarify whether your color palette should match or coordinate with the rest of the wedding party. "From what I've seen, your goal [is] to be about the same level of dressiness as the rest of the wedding party," wrote one Reddit user. "If you can find a similar vibe — beachy/architectural/romantic — that's even better."

While there's a lot of focus on what's appropriate, many social media users stress the importance of selecting a dress that leaves you feeling great. "People always talk about wanting the pictures to look good, but they don't realize that if their guests are all wearing things they feel confident and amazing in, then that will shine through and the pictures will look like a really, really good time!" wrote one Reddit user.