Red Mother of the Bride Dresses

While red can sometimes be an attention-getting shade, it can be a great choice for the mother of the bride or mother of the groom if the right red hue and style of dress is found. There are many different styles and shades of red that are appropriate to choose from for mother of the bride dresses. To help you find the perfect burgundy or red mother-of-the-bride style for an upcoming wedding, we've scoured top retailers to find the best examples of red special occasion styles.

The sources in this shopping guide to red dresses and gowns for the Mother-of-the-Bride use affiliate links, which means this site may earn a commission if you make a purchase from our links.

Image credits and shopping sources: 1. Off-the-Shoulder Burgundy Metallic Jacquard Dress by Teri Jon 2. Floral Peony Sleeveless Gown by Sachin + Babi 3. Off-the-Shoulder Long Sleeve Glitter Burgundy Dress from David's Bridal

These red-toned colors are a lovely choice for a fall or winter wedding or any wedding where a touch of wine, berry, red, or plum will complement the color scheme.

Beautiful Burgundy and Red Dresses for the Mothers of the Wedding

Here is our latest shopping guide with over 75 ideas for red dresses for mothers of the occasion. Just remember, red can be an eye-catching color, so be sure the couple has given this color the thumbs-up!

Special occasion dresses from ruby red to burgundy, garnet to cranberry, and a bit of mauve and rusty rose are really lovely for fall and winter weddings.

Trending Red and Burgundy Dresses

We've found the most elegant mother of the bride gowns from the best sources for red and burgundy special occasion dresses and curated them just for the Mother-of-the-Bride and Mother-of-the-Groom.

We've taken a look at the latest dresses this season and selected the best red-hued and ruby jewel-toned Red Mother-of-the-Bride dresses.

Modern Satin Off-the-Shoulder Dress

This modern off-the-shoulder style is a sleek and timeless look that has a bit of a modern look thanks to the asymmetrical neckline and figure-hugging thick satin.

Strapless Floral Gown

We've seen some controversy sometimes on social media when a mother of the bride wears a strapless dress, but we can't imagine why it creates such a stir. We think it's one of the most elegant styles for mothers, especially those wanting a classic look. It can be particularly nice if the strapless neckline echoes that of the bridesmaid dresses or the wedding dress itself.

Red Evening Gown

Bright red is also a controversial color when it comes to weddings. Red is reserved for the bride in some cultures, but if it's approved by the couple, it can also be a great color for the mother of the bride to wear. We love the bright red style for a holiday wedding or a winter wedding to add to a festive look. Keeping the silhouette structured and elegant like this gown does makes the look elevated.

Scoopneck Jacquard Dress

We love a printed style for mothers because it gives a palette of colors that can pull together some of the other colors used in the wedding party attire and decor. This chic and elegant sheath style gown with a scoop neckline is modern mother of the bride dress.

Burgundy Jacquard Gown

Burgundy is always a safe color for weddings, and ideal for fall weddings. We love the wine color of this off-the-shoulder gown by Teri Jon.

Which Fabrics are Best for Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses?

The choice of fabric can make all the difference when it comes to the overall look and feel of the dress. Silk, for example, adds a touch of elegance; it drapes beautifully and has a structure that skims over the body.

Satin is less structured but adds a rich look to any color it is paired with.

Chiffon, on the other hand, offers a light and airy feel, perfect for daytime or outdoor summer weddings. Stretch crepe allows for give and a great fit, and allows you to move on the dance floor.

Which Styles Are Best for Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses?

Mother-of-the-bride dresses come in a variety of styles to suit every preference. Whether you prefer a classic A-line silhouette, a sheath dress that hugs your curves, or a flowing empire waist gown, there is a perfect dress for you.

Let the time of day and wedding dress code be your guide. Generally, we see mothers opt for long dresses and formal gowns for evening weddings, while short dresses or tea-length styles work perfectly for daytime or casual weddings.

We hope that giving you a variety of options will help you choose a dress that reflects your unique style and personality. Picking your favorite color, along with fabric and silhouette, will ensure that you not only look your best but also feel like yourself on this special day.

What Bridesmaid Dress Colors Pair with a Red Mother-of-the-Bride Dress?

Usually, it's nice to have the bridesmaid dresses echo the main theme and color scheme that the couple has selected for the wedding decor. Ideally, the mothers of the wedding will choose dresses that not only work harmoniously with the colors the bridesmaids and groomsmen are wearing, but will also tie in other color scheme elements in the wedding.

Here are some color options that can go nicely with a red mother-of-the-bride dress.

Blush, Mauve, or Pink Dresses

If the bridesmaids are wearing a pink-hued color like blush, rose, or pale pink, especially in the late summer or early fall, a mother-of-the-bride gown in a dark pink or rich burgundy can add a bit of harmonious but distinct hue. The combination of light pink paired with deep red can be echoed in the flowers to give some wonderful depth to wedding decor with a pink color scheme. See our picks for Pink Bridesmaid Dresses.

Other Shades of Red

We love a monochromatic look, with a bit of variation so they aren't a perfect match. So, for instance, the bridesmaids are wearing a shade of red like rust or even garnet, and you like the idea of staying within the red color family, the mothers can choose a mother of the bride dress style in a color that is either lighter, or darker, or perhaps a shade warmer or cooler than the bridesmaids' dresses.

Another way to do this is to select something else that has a print, pattern, or texture, like beading or lace, that allows the mother's dress to stand apart. Having this style can create a color-coordinated look for photos while allowing the mother of the bride to have a distinct look from that of the bridesmaid dresses.

Dusty Blue or Navy Blue

Navy blue is a classic and timeless color that pairs beautifully with red. While blue and red can sound like an overly patriotic theme, but when done correctly, a deep burgundy gown paired with rich, deep tones of navy or dusty blue in the bridesmaid dresses can create a sophisticated and elegant contrast for a fall or winter wedding.

Emerald and Olive Green

Green and red are contrasting colors, but the contrast can be pleasing when it's a pairing of jeweled-tone colors. We like the idea of deep emerald contrasted with a wine-colored red mother-of-the-bride dress for a holiday or winter wedding. The pairing of a dusty olive green and a rusted red tone for the mother of the bride makes a nice color combination for fall.

Golden Colors

Warm gold neutral shades like beige, champagne, and bronze are so popular for bridesmaid dresses. Gold and shades like deep rich red, wine, or rich plum can be an excellent pairing.

Silver or Gray

Adding red into the mix if the bridesmaids are wearing cool-toned dress colors like silver or gray can again add some warmth and depth to a wedding party color range.

Black

If the bridesmaids are wearing black, it can be important to balance the black with other wedding colors to avoid an overly dark or somber atmosphere. Having a rich red shade in the mix again through the florals and perhaps in the mothers' gowns can be a nice way to add a festive shade.

Plum

If the bridesmaids are wearing a deep shade of purple, then a wine-colored mother-of-the-bride in a similar but different hue can provide some subtle contrast to that shade, while still creating a warm autumnal color scheme and pairing of two rich warm tones.

Didn't find quite the right dress yet? Here are some links to help! We love these stores and designers for finding mother-of-the-bride or groom dresses from affiliates who are trusted online retailers. And here's a tip: Your dress doesn't have to be labeled "mother of the bride" to be appropriate. A pretty cocktail dress, evening gown, and sometimes a formal dress for a bridesmaid will be the perfect choice for elegant mother of the bride outfits.

Dillards | Nordstrom | Saks Fifth Avenue | Neiman Marcus

Featured Dresses from Past Seasons

Image credits and shopping sources 1. Scoopback Sequin Gown in Cabernet by Adrianna Papell 2. Brooke Gown in Raspberry by Sachin + Babi 3. Off the Shoulder Stretch Velvet Gown by Teri Jon

This article was originally published October 4, 2013, updated on September 17, 2023 and again on November 2025. We keep some of the older images and pins on this page for continuity. These gowns are now most likely out of stock, but we keep links to the original sources here.

Short Sleeve Sequin Satin Gown with Tulle Overlay by Teri Jon

Long Cap Sleeve Party Dress With Beaded Neckline from David's Bridal

Tadashi Shoji Embroidered Lace Gown from Dillard's