Mother of: Ally
Venue: Public House on Page Hill in Tamworth, New Hampshire
Vibe: Whimsical and rustic
Dress: Kay UngerÂ

Trust your first instinctâand your go-to designer, advises two-time mother of, Julie. She wore a Kay Unger walk-through gown for her sonâs September 2023 wedding, so when it came time to shop for her daughter Allyâs May 2025 wedding, the Kay Unger website was Julieâs first stop. She searched all over the web for a month, but kept returning to Kay Unger for one of the very first dresses sheâd spotted.

The benchmark gown: Â a light blue belted sleeveless floral organza with metallic touches, and a high-low bubble hemline. Julie says the mix of floral print with silver metallic touches drew her inâgiving the dress a âunique, but not overpowering shimmer.â The silhouetteâfitted top, full skirtâwas flattering and comfortable, with the bubble hemline for an extra flounce. And, the dress had pocketsâvery important as this mother of the bride was tasked with holding onto the groomâs ring. She also slipped in hand warmers: it was just 50 degrees on the wedding day in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, a favorite place for Ally and her groom Leland, who grew up vacationing there with his family.

(Note: Julie's dress is the "Vivian," it's sold out through Kay Unger, but do a search and you just might find it on Poshmark or other resale sites.)
Next decision: shoes. âI learned from my sonâs wedding that shoes are truly so important so that you can last the day into the night.â Julie needed a block heel since the ceremony took place on grass. The high-low hemline meant theyâd be visible. She bought two pair: a bedazzled silver ankle strap for the ceremony, and a slip on flat sandalâalso covered in clear crystal rhinestones, both by Badgley Mischka. She also treated herself to a new pair of spectacles for the occasion, the Alderman by Warby Parker. âSadly,â she says, âI canât see a thing without them!âÂ

Julieâs best friend, Susie, also Allyâs Godmother, served as the wedding officiant. âI have never seen her nervous in our 45 years of friendship, but she delivered the most beautiful words of support and joy which allowed the bride and groom to deliver their vows with humor, grace, and genuine love. There was not a dry eye among us.âÂ

| Photography: Magic Arrow Photography