Ridley London's beautiful Carla dress shown here in the blue Ohara tulip silk print is an incredibly easy and flattering style for mothers of the bride. Ridley's dresses can be customised to fit in any of their beautiful printed silks

Just Google it, and you will find a multitude of dresses, articles and blog posts all claiming to be, or know the best mother of the bride dresses for 2025. Click into a few of these links and you will quickly notice a very diverse spectrum of styles, colours and prints. Some of the shift and bohemian style maxi dresses on show are very similar in style to some of the latest catwalk trends. Other dresses seem much more classical and tailored, and wouldn't look out of place in the wardrobe department of last century's blockbuster Four Weddings and a Funeral. While some of the articles by the recognized fashion press are a little more informative and precise, the overall impression is one of endless choice and confusion. So if you're shopping for your mother of the bride outfit, whose opinion do you trust? How do you really know what the best mother of the bride dresses are for 2025? And most importantly, which ones are going to be best for you?

What are the key mother of the bride dress trends for spring-summer 2025?

The key to mother of the bride dressing is in stylishly combining the latest trends with a sense of timless grace and effortless elegance. For inspiration, we've taken a deep-dive into the UK fashion press and the latest catwalk trends, analysing up to the moment insights around style, and colour, as well as looking for longer-term views on factors including wearability and elegance. What you need to know is overall, there's a noticeable shift towards more relaxed styles and simple contemporary cuts, with clean lines and structured tailoring taking center stage. Subtle feminine details including pleating and ruffles are also proving popular. Likewise mother of the bride outfits are moving away from traditional dresses, with tailored jumpsuits, trouser suits and versatile coordinated two-piece sets increasingly visible. There's also an abundance of clever layering, with outfits featuring integrated capes, shawls, and boleros that introduce greater versatility and comfort emerging. For Spring/Summer 2025, the UK fashion scene is embracing a vibrant and diverse color palette, blending soft pastels with bold, saturated hues and art-inspired abstract prints sitting alongside more traditional florals. So with so many possibilities, how do I know which trends are right for me?

If you're considering a designer mother of the bride dress, discover how a handcrafted piece ensures better fit, comfort and timeless style

At Ridley, we believe the fundamentals of what makes a brilliant mother-of-the-bride dress come down to something a little more personal. While every mother of the bride of course, wants to look effortlessly elegant and chicly contemporary, a conventional approach to shopping really limits the likelihood of success. And that's because we're all unique, and the shapes, styles and colours that suit one person for a particular event are going to be very different to what works for someone else. In many ways, looking your best comes down as much to a brilliant fit, flattering colour choices and incredible quality materials as it does to a fashionable style. Add into the mix what appears to be one of the most pressing concerns of the mothers of the bride we meet: and that's not seeing anyone else in the same outfit as them, and you can immediately see what a lottery a conventional approach to mother-of-the-bride dress shopping becomes. And why choosing this season's must-have style is no guarantee of success.

What makes a designer mother of the bride dress a great investment?

At Ridley, we individually make all of our mother of the bride dresses to order, which means any of our styles can be made up in any of our luxurious silks in an incredible choice of colours and prints. And most importantly, our expert stylists can help you pinpoint the right ones, and we can then customise your mother of the bride dress for your perfect fit. This means you're getting something completely unique, guaranteed to flatter, and you are very unlikely to ever see anyone else wearing quite the same dress as you. And while all of the dresses within Ridley London's mother of the bride collection for 2025 are inspired by many of the latest catwalk trends, we believe that wearability, versatility, understated elegance, and comfort are just as important factors. This all makes Ridley mother of the bride dresses a more timeless investment piece that you'll want to wear to all sorts of events and occasions. Here's our Ridley edit of the five best mother-of-the-bride dresses for spring and summer 2025.

The Ella dress (top) shown here in dusky pink silk twill, and the elegant Lillian dress (bottom) shown here in the pink Arundel Liberty print silk are popular flattering styles for spring weddings. Every Ridley dress can be customised to fit in any of their beautiful printed silks. Likewise, complimentary tailored blazers and Chanel-style jackets are also available in a choice of colours and tweeds.

Ella Dress: the best mother of the bride dress for easy spring wedding style 

The Ella dress has quickly become one of our best-selling mother of the bride dresses and is particularly flattering for wearers with a fuller figure and larger bust. The classically feminine style features a tailored bodice with a V neckline and easy elbow-length sleeves. The pintucked fitted waist, and a full A-line skirt help to emphasize the wearer's waist, creating a flattering silhouette. While this dress is perfect for day-to-evening weddings, the easy style is also incredibly versatile and wouldn't look out of place at more relaxed occasions. The Ella dress is shown here in dusky pink silk twill, and can be customised for your perfect fit in any of our luxuriously soft printed and plain silks. Style this look with a contrasting tonal hat and heels, or this season's on-trend flats.

Lillian Dress: the best mother of the bride dress for traditionally elegant spring weddings

This is a popular choice for smart spring weddings and an incredibly flattering and easy dress to wear. The gently tailored bodice and full maxi length maxi skirt enhance the waistline, creating a flattering silhouette. This is further helped by full-length sleeves and delicate, feminine detailing. The Lillian dress is shown here in beautiful pink Arundel Liberty print silk, and can be individually cut and crafted for your perfect fit in any of our luxurious printed or plain silks.

The Oriana dress (above) shown here in blue Great Emporium silk satin Liberty print the is an incredibly easy and flattering mother of the bride style and a definite pick for best mother of the bride dress for 2025 

Oriana Dress: the best mother of the bride dress for a larger bust 

This sophisticated silk midi dress is perfect for day-to-evening weddings and is an incredibly comfortable and easy style for mothers of the bride. The Oriana dress has a number of uniquely flattering features, including an elegantly tailored cut and fitted waist, A-line skirt, and elbow-length sleeves, which together help to create a chicly slimming silhouette. The ruffled collar and neck opening work particularly well with fuller busts, and a self-tieing silk sash enables the dress to be further pulled in at the waist. The Oriana dress is shown here in the stunning blue Great Emporium printed silk satin from Liberty, but like all our mother of the bride dresses can be customised for your perfect fit in any of our luxurious plain or printed silks. Whatever silk you go for, the Oriana dress is a real investment piece that you'll wear for spring and summer seasons to come.

The elegantly feminine Carla dress (top) shown here in the stunning  deep coral Arundel liberty print silk satin and the statement Tam Maxi (bottom) shown here in lavender roses silk satin are both easy and flattering other of the bride dresses

Carla Dress: the best mother of the bride dress for timeless, feminine elegance 

This elegant silk midi dress is perfect for spring and summer occasions, and a popular choice for mothers of the bride with smarter weddings. The chic feminine style features a flattering fitted bodice and v-neck, with 3/4 length sleeves and feminine ruffled details. The skirt includes an elegant waterfall ruffle, ruffled hem, and a subtle slit from just above the knee. The Carla dress is shown here in our deep coral Arundal Liberty print silk, and can be customised for your most flattering fit in any of our luxurious plain or printed silks. in England from luxurious Liberty print silk, and is designed to elongate and deliver a flattering silhouette, including flattening the stomach line. The Carla style is also incredibly easy and comfortable, and has become a spring wardrobe hero for many Ridley customers.

Tam Maxi Dress: the best mother of the bride dress for hot destination weddings

If you're heading to a midsummer or glamorous hot destination wedding, then the Tam maxi could be the best mother of the bride dress for you. The statement halter neck style is designed to flatter, while a full tiered maxi length skirt with split further elongates and slims. For added comfort there are pockets, and an elasticated waist with a self tiring sash, that helps to further cinch the dress in creating an attractive and easy silhouette. The Tam maxi dress is shown here in the stylish My Grown Up Star silk satin print by Liberty of London, and can be customised for your perfect fit in a selection of beautiful summer prints and chic plain colours. Every Tam maxi dress is individually cut and crafted in England from luxurious printed and plain silk, a magical material that’s both cool in the heat and warmer when temperatures drop. The Tam maxi is brilliant for travelling, packs small and can be simply hung in a steamy bathroom to remove any creases. 

If you're considering a designer mother of the bride dress, Ridley London's complete collection of stylish mother of the bride dresses, and tailoring is available to purchase from our wedding edit. Celebrate your individuality with a unique piece that's customised to flatter in your choice of any of our stunning new printed florals or solid silks Call us to book a fitting at our exclusive atelier, or to arrange a virtual fitting: 

T: 020 3336 7900