Mother of the Bride Dresses: Best E-Tailers

Whether you're the bride to be or her mother, shopping online for mother of the bride dresses makes this potentially contentious issue a lot simpler. With the wide selection of mother of the bride dresses available, you'll easily find something that not only looks great on Mom, but fits in nicely with the bridal party, too. Here are some places to start your hunt.

MotherOfTheBrideDresses.biz

As the name implies, this company specializes in mother of the bride dresses and has a huge selection to choose from. While there are man dresses with clean, tailored looks that could do well at any special occasions, there are also plenty of dresses with fuller ballroom or princess skirts and lots of flowing fabric just right for a wedding. Most models come in four or five colors and most are available in sizes four through 24W, although you'll need to pay an extra $40 for anything over size 18. Prices are a bit higher than elsewhere, ranging from $300 to $500. UPS shipping is offered free for the continental U.S. Just keep in mind that they don't have a lot of inventory in stock, but they do have a ready to ship section on the site if you're in a hurry.

AudreysMotherOfTheBride.com

Audrey's is a great place to look for flashier styles jazzed up with appliqués, beadwork, ruffles, rhinestones. If Mom's not the type, they also have simpler styles that are more like a fancy business dress. Most dresses come in sizes eight to 16, but there are special sections for petite and plus size mother of the bride dresses, too. The prices are hard to beat, with plenty of dresses for less than $200 and almost all less than $300. They have very limited stock in hand, so you'll most likely have to special order and wait up to three weeks for the dress to arrive. Keep in mind that although the site lists a physical address, this isn't their retail store.

DavidsBridal.com

David's Bridal, one of the most popular sites for bridal wear, also has a good selection of mother of the bride dresses. Since they aren't listed separately, you'll need to use the site search function to find them. The styles offered are graceful and feminine, yet elegant and not overdone with ruffles and lace. Here you can pick up a truly gorgeous dress for less than $200. Although a lot the dresses come in only two colors, David's make up for it with a great line of accessories including shoes, handbags, gloves, and lingerie. As for dress sizes, certain models are available only in plus sizes, while others come only in sizes four to 16. Tailoring is available, but, you'll need to schedule a session in a David's Bridal retail store at least three months ahead of time. The site has a retail store locator, so it's easy to find a physical location.

TheRoseDress

If you're looking for discount mother of the bride dresses, this is the place to come. Most of the dresses here go for less than $100. The styles are sleek yet feminine, with figure-flattering cuts and many with gracefully tiered skirts or classy matching jackets. There's a large selection of petite dresses in sizes small and extra small, but the plus sizes only go up to 4X. You can also pick up accessories like handbags, jewelry, and under garments. One major benefit if you're pressed for time is that they have a lot of inventory in stock. That and their expedited shipping option will get your dress to you within seven days.

BestBridalPrices.com

Although the name of this site is a little misleading, in terms of style and quality the dresses they offer are worth the higher-than-average prices. Most are designer models in elegant, refined styles with a touch of lace or delicate appliqués. You can choose from a variety of colors and sizes ranging from 4-26, although there's an extra $50 charged for sizes 22 and up. Prices range from $300 to $600. If that's a little high for you, you can still stop by to browse their range of hard-to-find accessories such as hats, hair pins, and even wedding wear for small dogs. Not all items are in stock, though, so plan up to eight weeks for delivery.

TheEveningStore.com

This dress shop offers a number of exclusive designs in simple, draping styles that are excellent for making the most of a less than perfect figure. Tasteful beadwork and appliqués lend charm to these modest designs. At $200 to $250, the prices are modest, too. Most models are available in sizes small through 6X are available, but most only come in only one color. If you want to jazz things up a little, browse the site's selection of coordinating accessories like a handbags and pashmina shawls. This is the perfect place to shop if you're on short notice because most of the dresses are in stock and shipped within 24 hours. If you happen to live in New York, though, you can visit the retail store at 3539 Hampton Road in Oceanside, New York.

Choosing a mother of bride dress is always a little tricky, but as long as you have some idea of Mom's sense of style and know what colors look good on her, you stand a good chance of getting a dress she'll love. Better yet, get online with her and shop around together before you buy.