Short Mother of the Bride Dresses

Knee length is polished, fresh and easy to wear all day. Our short mother of the bride dresses suit church services, courthouse ceremonies and garden weddings. Choose fitted pencil shapes or softer A-line skirts, many with 3/4 or long sleeves. Every dress is designed and made in England from stretch fabric, so you stay comfortable through the photos, the meal and the speeches.

Why choose a knee-length dress?

A shorter hem feels lighter and less formal. It is ideal for daytime and courthouse weddings. It also shows off your shoes and is easy to walk in on grass or gravel.

Knee length works at any age. It looks polished with a jacket, and relaxed with bare legs in summer.

Styles to look at

For a classic fitted shape, try the Andorra V-Neckline Pencil Dress or the Malvern Pencil Wiggle Dress. The Olgivy Long Sleeve Knee Length Pencil Dress is a good pick for spring or fall weddings.

Want a softer skirt? The Abaline A-Line Skirt Dress and the Haddington 3/4 Sleeved A-line Dress flare gently from the waist. The Fabienne has handy pockets, which are useful on a busy day. The Mirabelle adds a pretty floral shoulder detail.

Styling a short mother of the bride dress

  • Add a fitted jacket from our coats and jackets for a church service.
  • Match your hat or fascinator to one shade in the dress.
  • Pick nude pantyhose in cooler months for a smooth finish.
  • Choose a block or mid heel you can stand in for hours.

Stretch fabrics such as Ripple Crepe and Bi-Stretch hold their shape. They also resist wrinkling in the car on the way to the venue.

Color ideas for a daytime wedding

Soft blues, reds and classic black all feature in this edit. Blue is calm and kind to most skin tones. Red feels confident and warm. Black looks chic when you brighten it with a hat, bag or shoes.

Ask the couple about their color scheme early. That way your outfit sits nicely beside the bridal party in the photos.

Short mother of the bride dress FAQs

Is knee length formal enough for a wedding?

Yes, for most daytime weddings. For a black-tie evening, a longer hem may suit better. See our long mother of the bride dresses.

Do these dresses have sleeves?

Many do. You will find 3/4 sleeves, long sleeves and cap sleeves in this edit. A few styles are sleeveless or one-shoulder, like the Phoebe.

What size should I order?

Sizes run from S (UK 10, US 6) to XXL (UK 18, US 14). Our size guide lists bust, waist and hip measurements for each size.

Can the mother of the groom wear these?

Of course. These dresses suit anyone with a starring role at the wedding.

Where can I see every mother of the bride style?

Our full mother of the bride dresses collection includes every length in one place.

Do you ship to the US?

Yes. Every piece is made in England and shipped to the US. Rates show at checkout. Import duties may apply, see shipping & returns.

EU Right of Withdrawal

Under EU consumer law, customers may withdraw from their purchase within 14 days of delivery.

When submitting a return request, you may select Other as the return reason.

You do not need to provide a reason when exercising your EU withdrawal rights.

Returns are not available after 14 days from delivery.