Mother of: Ruth
Venue: Mosaic Venue in Minneapolis
Vibe: Colorful party
Dress: Chiara Boni La Petite Robe from Saks Fifth Avenue
JoAnna’s daughter, Ruth, told her to wear whatever she wanted as mother of the bride. But Ruth had such a clear vision of her wedding day, filled with vibrant colors and party atmosphere, that JoAnna said she just wanted to dress for the mood of the day. “I usually don’t wear bright colors,” JoAnna explains, “but for Ruth’s day, I was open to whatever she thought would strike the right cord and contribute to the celebration.”
JoAnna and Ruth started the search with a New York shopping trip. “There are lots of great dresses,” JoAnna says. “Trying to find the one that works for you, your daughter, and contributes to the mood, and event they want”—that’s the challenge.
Back in Minneapolis, JoAnna attended a Mother Of shopping party with Saks Fifth Avenue and discovered the brand Chiara Boni La Petite Robe, known for its long, sleek (and unadorned!) column-style gowns and signature stretchy scuba fabric.
JoAnna chose a halter style with side ruffle at the waist in a vibrant Kelly green (it comes in several other colors as well).
“I loved the relative simplicity of this dress, and its ability to be bold, without overtaking anything,” JoAnna says. One of her main criteria: “I needed a high level of confidence that no one else would show up to the wedding in the same dress.” And indeed, the wedding coordinator’s go-to line on the wedding day: “Do whatever the lady in the green dress says.”
JoAnna laughs at the memory. “I was clearly easy to identify, and that was good for all involved.”
She paired her green dress with gold strappy kitten heels by Marion Parke (The Clara, currently out of stock, but here's a similar style). “They were comfortable from noon through dancing the night away and celebrating to 2:00 AM at the after party!” On her arm, she wore a stack of bangle bracelets by Gas Bijoux collected over the years, including a new one she bought just for the wedding day and a new pair of earrings by the same brand.
As for the July wedding day? “Pure joy” is how JoAnne describes it. “I remember looking at Ruth and thinking, oh my gosh this is literally a day of everything she wanted it to be, and that same joy was present with her husband, Nick. They both smiled and celebrated from the start of the day until the very last minutes and they were both completely drama free. As a Mom, I could not possibly be happier to have been a part of it, and to help them have that day as they start their lives together!”
