Written by Megin Potter  |  Photos by Kim Trang Photography

After having moms and bridesmaids constantly inquire about dresses, Laura opened Lily Saratoga’s sister store, Styled by Lily Saratoga, a bridal party boutique, two years ago. Like the city of Saratoga itself, elegance is still approachable in this new building, conveniently located downtown at 25 Lawrence Street. The mother’s fitting area is adorned with comfortable seating and bathed in beautiful natural light. 

On the other side of the space is another lovely area where bridesmaids try on their dresses, with four fitting rooms separated by a regal theater-style curtain that can be pulled aside to accommodate large parties. In the center of the store is the dazzling array of Styled by Lily’s 300+ dresses (50 in sizes 18-30), at least a hundred of which are designated mother-of-the-bride/groom styles. 

We asked Laura for a few pointers to finding the dress that makes you feel fantastic.

^#1 - Follow the bride’s lead: 

“Definitely wait until the bride picks her gown. The wedding gown sets the tone of the wedding – sometimes more than the venue itself.  If a bride chooses a more formal gown, she may ask the bridal party to dress more formally, as well,” said Laura. After the bride, traditionally the mother of the bride chooses her style and/or color, and then it’s the mother of the groom’s turn. And moms, don’t shop together, advises Laura, make separate appointments - you each deserve to have a special day focused just on you!

^#2 - Complement for Compliments:

Once formality of the wedding is determined, color is next.  “If the bridesmaids did not get their dresses from us, we often ask for a swatch or picture of the bridesmaid dresses so we can help the moms pick a color that will compliment and look cohesive in photos.  A color like “Dusty Rose” can be translated very differently by each designer, so it is helpful to know what we are working with,” said Laura. Some brides are very particular while others are more flexible.  “We have seen some brides want both mothers to wear the same colors, others are given a specific color to wear, and then others are given free reign!”  

^#3 - Prepare but keep an open mind: 

Each customer is asked to have an appointment and then sent a link to Styled by Lily Saratoga’s Pinterest page ahead of time, so previewing looks before an appointment can be done easily.  “That being said, we encourage all our moms to be open-minded. Things look very different on the body than they do on the hanger,” Laura reminds us. “It’s so much fun seeing a Mom try on a silhouette or style she didn’t think she would wear and absolutely fall in love with it!”

^#4 - Timeless Grace: 

Because the level of the wedding’s formality dictates dress length more than season, full-length gowns reign at Styled by Lily Saratoga. These structured styles encourage moms to feel confident in fitted silhouettes rather than gravitating toward the more forgiving A-line styles. Another surprise –women baring their upper arms. “I’ve been finding a lot of moms are more comfortable not having their arms covered,” said Laura. For those that aren’t quite ready for that kind of freedom (or who want the extra warmth of a top layer) designers will use extra fabric to create a shawl or cover-up, when requested. 

^#5 - The finishing touches: 

Want to get a better idea of how the total package will look? Styled by Lily Saratoga’s collection of accessories, jewelry, and shoes let you level-up any dress. Sashay into the celebration with silver or gold glimmering jewels – neutrals are more naturally versatile – for an unforgettable finishing touch. 

To enjoy Styled by Lily Saratoga’s complete collection, make your appointment at least six months before the wedding day (although they can often accommodate you even if you only have a month!).

For more information, go to
www.styledbylilysaratoga.com