Mother Of: Jordan
Venue: Pellegrini Vineyard, Cutchogue, NY
Vibe: Formal
Dress: ML Monique Lhuillier from Saks Fifth Avenue
Andrea started her mother of the groom dress search at a department store, but never set foot in a fitting room.
“I don’t wear what society says a woman over 60 should wear,” says Andrea, who intentionally went to a better department store rather than a special occasion boutique because, she says, “I don’t like any of the traditional mother of the bride gowns.” But the department store selection was just as disappointing. “Where were the fashion forward gowns? I never tried on one dress.”
The sales associates told Andrea to try online. The first dress that caught her eye on saksfifthavenue.com turned out to be the one: a ML Monique Lhuillier strapless navy floral jacquard ball gown with cascading ruffle detail at the waist. (And pockets!). “One and done!” Andrea says. She had the hem shortened and some of the underlying mesh removed for a slimmer silhouette.
The bridesmaids wore a paler blue, so Andrea’s navy gown fit right in. “I loved that mine had a pattern. I loved that it had pockets and was so structured that I did not have to pull or arrange it the whole day.” But most of all, Andrea says, “I loved that it wasn’t a traditional mother of the groom dress.”
She kept her accessories simple: nude heels and earrings. She wore her curly hair down because, “I wanted to look like myself in photos.”
Andrea’s son Jordan and his bride Melanie wanted to get married at a vineyard. He’s from New York; she’s from Pennsylvania. The two met post-college in Pittsburgh and moved together to Baltimore.
Pellegrini Vineyards, located just 85 miles from New York City in the North Folk wine region, was one of the few vineyards they toured that had a rain plan. And good thing—it poured on Jordan and Melanie’s September, 2023 wedding day, so the ceremony moved to the wine cellar and the cocktail party took place under covered areas. “Not optimum,” Andrea says, “but it worked out great.”
The groom is Jewish; the bride was raised Catholic, and they were married by Andrea’s college friend who is a Unitarian reverend. “The couple wrote their own vows and Jordan shocked almost all in attendance with his—he’s normally shy,” Andrea says. “But his words were so heartfelt and wonderful. He truly loves her.”
