Mother of the Bride Dresses for a Beach Wedding

This is our shopping guide with details on where to find Mother-of-the-Bride dresses for a beach wedding. We've updated mother-of-the-bride dress picks for the current season with elegant dresses for Mothers-of-the-Bride and Mothers-of-the-Groom for beach, coastal chic, island, and destination weddings!

 Shopping sources on this site use affiliate links

Image credits and shopping sources: 1. Camille Gown by Abbey Glass 2. Aidan Mattox Multi Peony Chiffon Gown at Adrianna Papell  3.  Sabina Chiffon Gown by Theia at Nordstrom

Mother of the Bride Dresses for a Beach Wedding

The sand-and-sea setting of a beachside wedding requires a special kind of mother-of-the-bride dress suited to the location and to a mother's role of honor. These mother-of-the-bride dresses for a beach wedding will allow the Mother-of-the-Bride, Mother-of-the-Groom, stepmothers, grandmothers, and other mother wedding roles to elegantly celebrate their child's big day in a style well-suited to a beachy, waterfront location.

Where to Shop for Beach Wedding Mother of the Bride Dresses

This shop section showcases Mother-of-the-Bride dresses for beach or coastal weddings that are currently available in stores. We always find places like Dillard's, Nordstrom, and  Adrianna Papell, and  have styles that are great for beach weddings

What Should The Mother of the Bride Wear for a Destination, Beach, or Coastal Wedding?

Here are some ideas for what to wear to the various types of weddings that fit the beach wedding theme. Each image links to the store where the dress can be purchased. In general, if the entire ceremony and reception will be on the sand, then a shorter style is the way to go. If the wedding itself is in a more formal venue like an upscale beach club, seaside resort, or coastal hotel, then longer gowns and dresses are perfect for marrying the look of a formal mother-of-the-bride style with some elements of a coastal color palette. 

Cocktail Dresses in Seaside Colors

This pretty combination of blue and green print combined in an elegant short cocktail dress style is a wonderful short dress style to consider for a wedding near the shore.

Long Floral Maxi Dresses

A floral print maxi dress can be the right balance of formal style and beachy, breezy look. Here are a few favorites.

Short Cocktail Dresses

A short and chic cocktail dress is a great length and style for a beach wedding. The short length won't drag on the sand and is a beach-climate-friendly sleeveless style.

Bright Floral  Dresses

This pretty style packs a punch with bold tropical-patterned and brightly colored florals, that is perfect for an island or beach wedding style.

Coral Gowns

We love this color and print for beach weddings. The soft coral pink hue is a perfect choice to look elegantly festive in just the right way at a coastal resort for a beach wedding celebration.

Lilly Pulitzer Prints

Lilly Pulitzer's brightly printed special occasion dresses were just made for mothers of the bride seeking a preppy beachside style. See more of the Lilly Pulitzer Dresses we love for weddings.

Watercolor Prints

The blended abstract look of a watercolor print just fits for a beach resort venue!

Midi Length Dresses

A midi length is the perfect mix of a beach-friendly hemline  that won't trail in the sand, and a semi-formal length. 

Dresses in Bold Prints

A bold dress can look just right at a coastal venue. We love this one that brings in all the colors of the sunset. 

More Beach Wedding Style Ideas

Image and shopping sources: 1. Floral Flyaway Dress from Adrianna Papell 2. Floral One Shoulder Dress Niki Maxi Dress by Lilly Pulitzer 3. Saylor Everleigh Dress from Rent the Runway

 

If you want to look more for a certain color dress, check out these dresses in popular coastal colors and styles that will work for beach weddings. 

Light Blue Mother of the Bride Dresses

Coral Mother of the Bride Dresses

Green Mother of the Bride Dresses

Summer Mother of the Bride Dresses

Spring Mother of the Bride Dresses 

For more beach wedding ideas, check out our picks for beach wedding dresses for the bride, as well as our ideas for beach wedding guest dresses, which might have some styles that you'd want to wear as well!

The links below are to Mother-of-the-Bride dresses for a beach wedding featured in this post from past seasons. We've removed the images in some cases because they are no longer in stock, but we've kept the description in case you are still looking for more ideas.

Product and image sources for this collage

1. Patra Embellished Silk Kimono Dress in Blush from Nordstrom (Now sold out, try this style instead!)2. Vivienne Westwood gown from Rent the Runway 3.  Textured Satin Dress and Jacket by Komarov at Nordstrom 4.Gown by Carmen Marc Valvo at Rent the Runway 5. London Times Faux Wrap Shutter Pleat Dress from Dillard's  6.Mixed Media Sheath Dress by Tadashi Shoji at Nordstrom 7. Seaside Embroidery Shift from Talbots. 8. Embellished Tiered Halter Gown by Eliza J from Nordstrom.

 

 

Originally published July 1, 2015 and last updated on June, 11 2022, and again on July 4, 2026