MOG: Mara Comadena
Mother of: Jansen
Venue: Cuvier Club in La Jolla, California
Vibe: California vintage
Dress: Mac Duggal sleeveless floral chiffon ruffle ball gown
Guests were invited to “leave a message” for the bride and groom on an ornate white and gold rotary phone positioned on doilies at the wedding reception welcome table. That sweet detail set the tone for a day filled with vintage charm.
Carlie and Jansen chose the Cuvier Club for their February wedding in La Jolla. The coastal venue is just 90 minutes south of where the bride and groom grew up, knowing one another. The two reconnected after college.
The groom wore a brown suit. The bride told her mom, and mother of the groom Mara to wear whatever felt right. Her color theme included pink, chocolate brown, cream and sage.
Mara focused her search on dresses in shades of deep pink and berry. She ordered a dozen dresses from department stores and bridal boutiques. She ended up selecting the brand before she chose the specific dress: Mac Dugggal. “After trying on different quality dresses, the fabric and construction was excellent.”
Ultimately, she focused on a sleeveless chiffon ruffle gown in a wine colored floral print that perfectly matched the vibe of the day — her son in brown, husband in tan and bridesmaids in pink. “I fell in love — the vintage floral vibe, the full ball gown length, the light chiffon fabric.”
Mara offer these Mother Of do’s and don’ts:
-
DO check return policies. Some brands/retailers charge a restocking fee, which can add up when you’re ordering a lot of dresses to try on.
-
DO consider many styles — don’t limit yourself before you try it. For example, a gown with a low back when you know you need a bra. There’s shapewear for that!
-
Speaking of… DO take the time to find the right shapewear. “There are so many different types that can enhance how you look in the gown.”
-
DON'T be afraid to make alterations. Mara had a seamstress add a modesty panel to the deep V-cut of her dress. “I didn’t want to have so much cleavage spilling out,” she says. “It was funny because my daughter-in-law loved the V-cut. I just felt a little too exposed for the mother of the groom!”
-
DON'T compromise on footwear. “There are a lot of comfortable and pretty options if you don’t limit your style to a certain look.” Mara wore block heel booties in a berry suede that matched her dress and kept her comfortable on the dance floor.
-
DO get a spray tan a week or so prior to the wedding. “It felt like the perfect accessory, giving me just enough glow.”
-
DO consider a makeup team for the family. Mara hired someone to do hair and makeup for herself, her mom and mother-in-law, and her niece, who was the flower girl. “It was so fun to be together in our wedding suite and have the team come to us!”
-
DO carve out time alone with your child before the wedding. Mara asked Jansen for just 10 minutes. “I got to say some things I wanted to say to him on his wedding day and look him in the eyes and get some emotions out so we could just have fun the rest of the day,” Mara says. “It was a very special visit and I cherished having that one-on-one time with him before the day’s festivities started”
