Celeb Moms That Proved Frumpy Mother Of The Bride Or Groom Looks Are A Thing Of The Past

There's little more special than the day your son or daughter gets married. But there's also little more difficult than finding the perfect outfit for the occasion. When your mom is a fashionable superstar in her own right, though? They're probably not going to opt for the frumpy, dowdy outfits we used to see on the mother of the bride or groom. 

Take Susan Sarandon. When her daughter Eva Amurri married chef Ian Hock in June 2024, she turned to SuitShop for a custom-made floral pantsuit that matched Amurri's wedding aesthetic. "Susan was very involved in creating her custom design. She helped with the creative direction by sourcing inspirational examples that led to a bouquet-esque floral pattern we all loved," SuitShop's co-founder, Jeanne Foley, told People.

But she's not the only celebrity mom of the bride (or groom) who's given drab ensembles the cold shoulder. From Caroline Manzo's strapless white dress (yes, she wore white!) to Kris Jenner's eye-catching feathered Dolce & Gabbana outfit, these looks are the ultimate chic wedding day inspo for today's parents.

In 2021, Katie Couric's daughter Ellie Monahan tied the knot with Mark Dobrosky. The mother of the bride stood out (in a good way!) in a pretty pink ankle-length dress, with gorgeous ornate flower detailing across the bodice. She paired the feminine number with shiny gold platform heels, which were anything but mumsy. In a photo on the journalist's Instagram Story highlights, Couric posed with a big smile and her hands in her pockets with a wooded lake in the background. Writing on the snap, she thanked Marchesa co-founder Georgina Chapman for designing the dress.

Not only do we love this outfit for its youthful color and flattering structure, but also for the way Couric purposefully matched her daughter's floral aesthetic. On Katie Couric Media, Couric explained of the event, "We wanted it to have that feel — kind of natural, but bright and varied. Flowers that felt alive and had a lot of personality." Her dress certainly fit that theme.

Victoria Beckham is a fashionista extraordinaire, so of course she wore something fabulous when she and David Beckham's eldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, married Nicola Peltz in 2022. From her own fashion line, Victoria's modern spaghetti strap metallic dress looked almost fluid. The slinky slip dress was the total opposite of frumpy, and we love the way Victoria used the super shiny silver as an elevated take on a neutral fabric. It also featured lace over the chest, which gave the garment a romantic edge. Beckham's look wasn't so bold that she stole attention from the bride and groom, but was still fashion-forward and true to her own chic, clean style. 

Victoria shared the details of her gown on Instagram Stories, revealing it took five days to make (via Metro). She confirmed it was the very first Victoria Beckham couture dress created by the luxury brand's London atelier, noting, "The bespoke fabric was developed by one of my favourite mills in Italy, it's like liquid metal and hangs so beautifully. The lace is actually three different styles, placed to create a new lace and then hand embroidered."

Hillary Clinton's ensemble was anything but boring when her only child, daughter Chelsea Clinton, tied the knot with Marc Mevinsky in 2010. Though Hillary is famous for her pantsuits, the political figure said no to pants and yes to a super feminine Oscar de la Renta dress for the big day. The floor-length gown was certainly eye-catching, with deep pink tulle across her shoulders and a matching bodice. The dress faded into a light pink as it got closer to the floor. It also featured ornate floral appliques, which added some texture and fun to the gown.

One of our favorite parts of the ensemble, though, was how it cinched in at the waist to create an extra feminine silhouette. The garment featured a deep pink sash around Hilary's waist, which added extra structure to the gown. Without the small addition, Hilary's frame could easily have been overwhelmed by the fabric, particularly the voluminous tulle. This dress proved that mother-of-the-bride looks definitely don't need to be muted.

White isn't usually the color to wear to someone's wedding. When you're the mother of the bride, though, exceptions can be made. Former "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Caroline Manzo proved that when her daughter, Lauren Manzo, wed Vito Scalia in 2015. Caroline caused quite a stir in a strapless white column dress that could easily have been mistaken for the bridal gown. Though she looked stunning, fans questioned the choice.

The reality star took to Instagram to post a photo of her smiling with Lauren (who was wearing her puffy white bridal ball gown) and hit back. "To answer the burning question @laurenmanzo asked me to wear white. You may resume living now," Caroline captioned the upload. Though we totally get that wearing white won't be for every mother of the bride (or groom), in this case, it complimented Caroline's red hair and demonstrated the mother and daughter's close bond.

But it was a different story when Caroline's son Albie Manzo married Chelsea DeMonaco in 2023. That time, as seen in an Instagram photo shared by Greg Bennett, the reality star avoided white and opted for a navy silk dress. Caroline kept things youthful and fun by not going too covered, and the dress gathered at the waist for a flattering silhouette.

When Catherine Middleton, now Princess of Wales, married William, now Prince of Wales, mother Carole Middleton knew she had to get her outfit just right. And she did. Middleton enlisted Catherine Walker to dress her for her daughter's special day, wowing in a light blue coat over a light blue dress. The pastel shade was perfect for the 2011 spring wedding, and light blue isn't too attention grabbing, so she wasn't accused of stealing focus from the happy couple. The color is also associated with calm and tranquillity – and we're guessing Kate needed a lot of that from her mom on the big day.

To make her outfit a extra special, Middleton accessorized with a large fascinator (or formal headpiece) which is traditional at British wedding ceremonies. She kept the rest of her look subtle, wearing gray low-cut heels with a matching clutch. The neutral tone underlined her subtle style and was appropriate for such a formal event. She also proved that mothers of the bride don't need to wear uncomfortable sky-high heels to still look formal and put together.

In 2016, Susan Lucci's son, Andreas Huber, married Courtney Velasco, and the queen of daytime TV pulled out all the stops to show off her glamorous style as the mother of the groom. In a photo she posted to Facebook where she stands alongside her late husband, Helmut Huber, Lucci looked chic in a bold strapless dress with a matching structured clutch.

The "All My Children" star's gown was predominantly deep blue, but also featured red, green, orange, and yellow geometric shapes. The mix of colors and lack of straps kept the look young and fresh, while the length made it appropriate for a fashion-forward mother of the groom. 

We love that this dress had plenty of movement too, as the flowy bottom was ideal for the summer ceremony (and probably pretty comfortable at the same time). Lucci also kept her jewelry on the simpler side, opting for a single silver necklace and bracelet, which will never go out of style.

Morning show host Gayle King looked stunning in a baby blue, one-shoulder structured dress when her son walked down the aisle in June 2024. William Bumpus Jr. married Elise Smith in the backyard of King's bestie, Oprah Winfrey. King revealed on Instagram that she wore the same designer as the bride, Amsale. The single shoulder design with a minimalist bow stopped her ensemble from looking too stuffy, and the layered material around her waist helped break up the dress' proportions.

The shade was breathtaking against the journalist's beautiful skin tone — and it was totally on trend, too. Baby blue clothing has been spotted on several spring/summer 2024 runways. But that wasn't the only way the "CBS Mornings" star's style was on point. She accessorized with a silver wrap and a metallic clutch, another big trend that spilled over from fall 2023.

Nicky Hilton and James Rothschild's London wedding was an incredibly lavish affair. So, Nicky's mom Kathy Hilton knew she had to step up her fashion game. For the 2015 ceremony, the former "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" guest stunned in a muted blue floor-length dress with a rounded square neckline, short sleeves, and ornate floral detailing on the bottom. The cool tone of the dress looked gorgeous against Kathy's blonde hair and skin tone, and her perfectly matching top-handle bag complemented the garment beautifully. Kathy accessorized the look with a large pearl necklace, which added an extra layer of glamour and sophistication.

Six years later, when Kathy's younger daughter Paris Hilton tied the knot with Carter Reum, Kathy looked just as stylish — but she totally changed up her vibe. She ditched pastel shades in favor of a long black dress with an embellished silver pattern and black mesh over her arms and chest. Sheer material is perfect for mothers of the bride or groom who don't want to be too covered up but also don't want to show too much skin. Kathy carried a beaded black bag and kept her jewelry to a minimum, which allowed the dress to have its moment without her looking too overdone.

Kathy Hilton isn't the only member of the family who knows how to avoid dowdy wedding dressing. When Kathy's half-sister, Kim Richards, attended a 2015 celebration of her daughter Brooke Brinson's 2014 marriage to Thayer Wiederhorn, she didn't don a traditional mother of the bride dress. In an Instagram video shared by bridesmaid Paris Hilton, Richards wore a long, multi-colored maxi dress. The garment boasted bold colors and prints, including bright and dark blue, neon yellow, and orange. Though the look may have been deemed a little too casual or too busy for some mothers of the bride, it very much fit Richards' style and the aesthetic of the wedding.

Richards' daughter a simple white gown walking down the aisle, but changed into a short, plunging white dress with sheer sleeves for the reception as her mom gave a sweet speech. "Such a beautiful moment between the bride & mother of the bride," Paris captioned her Instagram post.

Former "Full House" star Candice Cameron-Bure went super glam to walk down the aisle with her son, Lev Bure, in January 2024. In photos shared to Cameron-Bure's Instagram, she wore a textured gold A-line dress, which appeared to be strapless. This warm look was anything but frumpy, brightening up the winter ceremony with plenty of glitz and glam. The metallic number almost matched her golden locks, and it proved very popular with her followers. "This is so sweet, but can we just talk about that gold dress for a sec?" one person commented on the upload alongside two fire emoji. "You look gorgeous in that gold dress!" another wrote.

Metallics became a big fashion trend in summer 2023, but the bold look stretched well into 2024. Clearly, the actor knows how to keep up with trends. Though the garment may be a little out there for some mothers of the groom or bride, Cameron-Bure knew to keep her accessories simple because the dress was so flashy. She ditched bracelets and wore just a single gold necklace. Talk about a standout mother of the groom dress!

Barbra Streisand lived up to her own glamorous standards as step-mother of the bride for the wedding of Molly Brolin, daughter of Streisand's husband, James Brolin. In a snap Streisand shared to Instagram in 2021, the actor and singer looked every inch the star in all-maroon outfit that looked breathtaking against her blonde tresses. 

She wore a fur-look hat, which she paired with a textured coat and matching clutch bag with black clasp. Clearly, monochromatic looks aren't just for lazy days, anymore! This rich shade had an air of elegance and sophistication and shows it's possible to stay stylish even during cold winter weddings. And fans agreed. "That color looks amazing on you!" one fan commented on the upload. "Beautiful love your coat and hat," another wrote.

Streisand confirmed in the caption that the snap was a throwback from the wedding. She also revealed the event was a true family affair, telling her followers the snap was taken by her daughter-in-law, Kathryn Brolin, who's married to James' son, Josh Brolin.

The Kardashian-Jenner clan are used to dressing to the nines, so when Kourtney Kardashian married Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker in 2022, things were no different. Though the Kardashians' mom Kris Jenner is most famous for sporting more structured, dark outfits with clean lines (she's a big fan of a blazer or a pantsuit) the momager changed things up for the Italian ceremony. Jenner rocked a sheer, long sleeve Dolce & Gabbana smock dress covered in feathers, with a champagne slip underneath. 

While this outfit no doubt demanded attention, the muted, nude shade still made it appropriate for a mother of the bride. The see-through material gave the illusion of showing skin though Jenner was still covered — a concept many mothers of the brides are looking for. Unstructured dresses can be tough to pull off, but this fabric, the exaggerated trumpet sleeves, and multiple feathers gave it a lot of movement, making it easier to wear. Jenner shared the snap on Twitter, formerly known as X, writing, "Magical night in Portofino celebrating @kourtneykardash @travisbarker."

Goldie Hawn really embraced the beachy aesthetic of her son Oliver Hudson's wedding. Hawn — who's never been one to settle for frumpy outfits — shared a throwback photo from Hudson and Erinn Bartlett's 2006 big day on Instagram in 2022. She looked younger than her years in a muted green, almost grey, strapless sheer dress with a slim knot over her chest. Adorably, the flowy number almost matched Hudson's suit as the two walked together hand in hand. Hawn added a statement necklace, which gave a touch of glitz to the proceedings, and looked super cool with dark sunglasses over her eyes.

The dress was very in keeping with Hawn's easy-going persona. The unstructured, loose number was also perfect for the wedding's dress code, as the ceremony took place on a Mexican beach. The pleats allowed the dress to have some movement, and wearing her hair down really underscored her ethereal beach glow.

Lisa Vanderpump wore some of the most glamorous yet sophisticated outfits in "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" history. So it's no surprise she went super glam when her daughter Pandora Vanderpump-Todd tied the knot with Jason Sabo in 2011. Lisa Vander-frump she wasn't when she slipped into a figure hugging, strapless pink satin gown. The sweetheart neckline was young and fun, while the exposed crystals on one side of her chest cemented not only Lisa's glittering style, but also the sparkle of the big day. 

Accessories-wise, Lisa opted for a bedazzled waist belt, which helped balance the look and draw attention to her waist. In a somewhat controversial move, the entrepreneur also donned a sparkly tiara — though clearly Pandora didn't mind — and sparkly statement earrings. Lisa's look demonstrated her close relationship with Pandora, as her dress was very similar to the bridesmaids' gowns and was also in-keeping with the color scheme of the big day.

Of course, it's important to consider the wants of the couple getting married when choosing a wedding day outfit, but we give major props to the Lisa for choosing something she felt comfortable in. The star's love of pink has been widely documented, and the shade looked stunning against her rich, brown hair.