Off the Shoulder Mother of the Bride Short Dresses

Pop the champagne, your daughter's getting married! It's a really exciting time, but it can also be pretty emotional and occasionally stressful - and that's just trying to find the outfit.

While it's definitely all about supporting and celebrating the bride (momagers stand down), as a principal member of the wedding party, you are a big part of the day. So follow these confidence-boosting steps to ensure you're looking and feeling your best. Just remember the waterproof mascara.

TWELVE WEEKS TO GO: THE FOUNDATIONS

1. Get toning. 'Three months is a nice time period in which to form healthy habits and routines,' says Harkirat Mahal, CEO of MotivatePT, a personal training company which offers packages for brides and mothers-of-the-bride (MOBs). 'We often help brides and their mums focus on a number of specific areas that will be on show on the big day,' she explains. 'This includes the arms, shoulders, and if your dresses are particularly fitted, the stomach areas. If these areas are feeling strong and toned, then it's likely you are going to be walking that little bit taller and prouder.'

For someone who's relatively fit and without existing injury, she suggests doing a series of ab crunches, push-ups and tricep dips (where you lower yourself from a bench, step or chair and back up, as seen above) three times a week, alongside 20 minutes of aerobic activity like jogging or cycling. 'I would start with 15 of each and repeat three times, with a 30-second break in between,' she recommends. If this starts to feel too easy, increase by increments of five repetitions at a time.

Alternatively, for MOBs who want a slightly more moderate exercise regime (let's face it, ab crunches aren't for all of us), but still want to strengthen their core, yoga is a great option. Combine it with swimming and regular brisk walks for maximum benefits. Always speak to your GP before starting a new exercise regime, particularly if you're not used to regular exercise.

2. Eat an energy-boosting diet . You don't want to be flagging by the big day, so Harkirat advises MOBs to avoid takeaways and snacking on the go in the three months beforehand. 'Making fresh wholesome meals at home will naturally mean you are more mindful of what you eat and more in control,' she explains. 'Focus on three balanced meals each day, with a good mix of vegetables, proteins (lean meats or fish) and a controlled portion of carbohydrates.'

If you do feel the need to have a mid-morning or afternoon snack, she suggests 'a piece of fruit, a handful of nuts, or sliced avocado on rye bread.' Nuts and avocados are high in essential fatty acids, which not only support cardiovascular and brain health, but are also great for healthy skin and hair.

She adds: 'If you are going to focus on cutting out anything, then make it sugar. Sugar is a leading contributor to weight gain, it gives you artificial highs and crashing lows and tends to wreak havoc on our sleeping patterns. Watch how much sugar you are adding to your tea and coffee, delve into the sugar contents of your cereals and fruit juices and try to make gradual changes each week, until you feel less reliant on it.'

3. Prep your skin. With three months to go, you've got plenty of time to improve your skin's appearance inside and out. Imedeen supplements work from within to enhance your regular skincare routine. You just need to choose the right product based on your age and requirements. The Time Perfection tablets are great for women in their 40s who want softer, younger-looking skin, while keeping those fine lines and wrinkles at bay. Prime Renewal skin tablets, meanwhile, help with the effects of ageing in your 50s, to maintain skin firmness and minimise fine lines and age spots.

If you take one of these supplements daily, you could see visible results in as little as 12 weeks, especially when combined with an everyday skincare routine, incorporating a gentle cleanser, a good moisturiser and serum, and a retinol night cream. This, plus the occasional facial (go on, treat yourself), will ensure you're looking your radiant best for the big day.

4. Find the outfit.

Searching for the perfect wedding outfit has been known to turn even the calmest MOB into a quivering wreck, but it should be fun, not stressful. Here are our tips:

• Stick to what you love and feel comfortable in - if your signature look is pared back and classic, now is not the time to start experimenting with pastel pink ruffles. You should aim to be the best version of yourself, not a bad copy of someone else.
• Get in touch with the mother of the groom to ensure your outfits compliment, rather than clash. Wedding planner Lindsey Hunter at Get Knotted also advises you 'keep in mind any colour palettes used in the wedding styling and flowers and don't choose an outfit that will clash with the bridesmaids' dresses.'
• If in doubt, keep it simple with modern silhouettes - a well-cut cocktail dress, a tailored trouser suit, or a full printed skirt with a simple top, will always look stylish. And if you're spending money, you want to be able to wear these pieces again and again. Shops like Hobbs, LK Bennett and Whistles are great for stylish, modern designs.
• The accessories are the chance to really dress up an outfit and add your personal stamp. If your outfit is a classic cut in one colour, you can go bold with your jewellery and shoes. If you are wearing print, elegant metallic or nude accessories are the perfect finishing touches. As for the hat, wear one if you feel comfortable; if you don't, just ensure your hair is looking at its glossy best.

Image: Magnolia print dress and Stefania dress, Hobbs

MORE: Best mother of the bride outfits

5. Plan your makeup and hair.

'Many mothers of the bride like to have a makeup trial with their makeup artist before the big day; I recommend seeing the artist at least three months before,' advises celebrity makeup artist Mariam Jensen. 'If you are doing your own makeup, I would invest in a makeup lesson with a pro to help you perfect your look and also ensure that you're utilising long lasting, tear-proof products that will photograph well.' If you're getting your hair styled on the day, it's also worth having a trial run at this stage. If you're planning to wear a hat, take it along to ensure it works with your hairstyle.

A MONTH TO GO: PAMPERING AND PREP

6. Break in those shoes. Wear them around the house with socks on if you must. No one wants blisters when they hit that dance floor to Moves Like Jagger.
7. Invest in good underwear. There's nothing worse than visible bra and pant lines under a tailored dress, so invest in some great nude seamless underwear that will support you in all the right places.
8. Get your cut and colour done. You should pay a trip to your regular hairdresser two to four weeks before the big day for a trim and to get any roots retouched. This gives the colour and cut a little time to settle in, so it can just be styled on the day, whether by you or your hair stylist. Just make sure they don't lop too much off if you're planning an up-do!
9. Go for a clean and polish. We're talking about your teeth here - a quick trip to the hygienist will ensure your pearly whites are looking their best for all those photos.
10. Give your skin some extra help. Imedeen's new Advanced Beauty Shot works in tandem with their skincare tablets by targeting the deep dermal layer* where the process of skin ageing begins and creams cannot reach. Each concentrated 15ml shot contains 2500mg of collagen and 40mg of vitamin C, which helps to maintain the skin. The daily beauty shot can be taken alongside your skincare tablets in the final four weeks before the wedding to really enhance your skincare routine.

*Contains vitamin C.

THE WEEK BEFORE: FINAL TOUCHES

11. Treat yourself to a gel mani/pedi. To avoid worrying about any last minute chips, treat yourself to a longer-lasting gel manicure and pedicure in a classic red, or a subtle nude or soft grey.
12. Tame those brows. 'Brows are also really important, make sure to have them threaded, waxed or tinted the week before the wedding,' recommends makeup artist Mariam Jensen.
13. Get plenty of beauty sleep. Well, they don't call it beauty sleep for nothing.

ON THE DAY: RELAX AND ENJOY!

14. Get involved in the pre-wedding prep. 'On the morning of the wedding, you will need lots of time to support your daughter as she gets ready, so being ready before she is is always a good idea,' says wedding planner Lindsey Hunter. So, get yourself ready early and then you can be there to soak up the atmosphere, as well as being on hand to zip the bride into her dream dress.
15. Keep your essentials in your clutch.'I would keep blot films to remove shine and blot oil before reapplying any powder on the skin, a powder for touch-ups, lip pencil and lip colour, gloss, tissues, and a few cotton buds in case anything smudges,' advises Mariam. 'For particularly tearful mums I would recommend keeping an under eye concealer for a touch-up if needed.' Oh, and don't forget the tissues.
16. Tell her how proud you are. Make sure you take a moment out of the day to tell your daughter how beautiful she is and how proud you are of her. These are the moments she'll treasure forever.
17. Above all, enjoy it! 'It's not your day, you're not competing with the bride, or the mother in law, so be generous, be supportive of your daughter, love being with family and friends and make the most of it,' says life coach Carole Ann Rice. 'It's about enjoying the moment'. And the dancing of course.

For more information on Imedeen's skincare products and how to build the foundation of great skin from the inside, visit Boots

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Off the Shoulder Mother of the Bride Short Dresses

Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion-beauty/style-advice/a567493/mother-of-the-bride-checklist/

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