MOB: Shelley Kirkman
Mother of: Grace
Venue: The Wisteria Arbor at Cheekwood Botanical Garden in Nashville, Tenn.
Vibe: Moody outdoor garden
Suit: Antonio Melani from Dillards
Grace works in the music industry and owns a creative design business, so mother of the bride Shelley knew her daughter’s wedding style wouldn’t be traditional.
“When she started trying on dresses, she realized she didn’t feel like herself in white, so she chose black instead,” Shelley says of Grace. “I loved that she embraced something unexpected and stayed true to her personal style.”
That inspired Shelley to do the same.
“A typical mother of the bride dress just didn’t feel like me—I’m a jeans-and-blazer girl at heart,” Shelley says. “Once my daughter decided on a black wedding dress, I somewhat jokingly asked if I could wear a white suit. She immediately said, ‘Oh my gosh, yes, Mom! That would be awesome.’ So I did!”
She bought an Antonio Melani suit at Dillards and paired a white satin camisole under it to keep her look monochromatic. She wore heels for the ceremony and switched into sneakers for the reception.
“I loved that I felt so comfortable and at ease in my outfit,” Shelley says. “On a day when stress and emotions can run high, I was able to lean into being present and enjoy our family, our friends and the sweetness of the moment.”
Independent style runs in this family — Shelley works as a stylist, primarily for women over 50.
“it's such a transitional season of life,” Shelley says. “So many of my clients have spent the last 20 years taking care of everyone but themselves. Now they are staring at a closet full of clothes that they don't know what to do with. Or, they're working with 30-year-olds and want to feel put together, polished and confident without feeling like they have to compete with their younger colleagues.”
Her focus for clients tends to be everyday style, but Shelley offers this advice for mothers of the bride:
“As moms, we dream of the day our daughter walks down the aisle. We have a vision for what we think it’s going to be like, what she's going to wear.
"I've learned that the most important thing you can do is give her the freedom to plan the wedding of her dreams, not yours. My relationship with my daughter is so much more important to me than what color her dress is, how many people are invited or what music is played at the reception. The wedding is one day, the relationship is forever.”
| Photography by Tabitha Turner Visuals