Mother of the bride/groom photoshoot: this season’s outfit picks

Regal Glasgow venue Crossbasket Castle was the perfect backdrop to show off the fabulous florals and punchy colours of the new-season looks for mothers of the bride/groom

four mother of the bride outfits

The mother of the bride and the mother of the groom have a special place in a wedding, and their outfits should reflect that. Get inspired to start shopping and see which looks Scottish boutiques are loving for 2024 weddings.

Crossbasket Castle

We set up base in the dreamy Downie suite at Crossbasket Castle. After spending the day there, we think this luxurious castle, just a short drive from central Glasgow, is a magical big-day backdrop that would offer an unforgettable wedding experience for you and your guests.

Crossbasket Castle

The venue comprises a 16th century tower and 18th century castle that overlook stunning waterfalls on the River Calder. The tranquil setting makes you feel you’re on a vast country estate rather than in the outskirts of Scotland’s biggest city.

The castle has a four-storey private bridal tower and an array of opulent public rooms – including the spectacular Grand Roosevelt Ballroom with space enough to welcome up to 250 people.

Mother of the bride/mother of the groom outfits for 2024

Get inspired by these gorgeous mother of the bride and mother of the groom outfits which Scottish boutiques Bentleys of Banchory, Catwalk, Mia Bella, Frox of Falkirk, Isobel Florence Bridal, Bombshell and Bear Necessities chose to showcase in our recent photoshoot.

Plus, you can get ideas of how to style these gorgeous dresses with hats, fascinators and jewellery for the full glam mama effect.

two women wearing two different floral print dresses
Left: Heather (on left) wears: Dipped-hem bow-detail dress in pink and blue by Gabriela Sanchez, £699, and pink hatinator, £POA, both Bentleys. Honeycomb silver and citrine pendant with 9ct yellow-gold bee, £348, and Honeycomb silver and citrine ring, £204, both Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own.
Sharon (on right) wears: Crepe and organza fitted dress with 3D floral detail on shoulder and frill skirt in navy/green/ivory print by Veni Infantino, £659, and matching hatinator, £285, both Bentleys. Wild Grasses cubic zirconia bracelet in Meadow Enamel, £296, and Wild Grasses drop earrings in Meadow Enamel, £101, both Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own.
Right: Heather (on right) wears: Iris ruched summer floral dress by Irresistible by Veromia, £POA, ivory and navy hatinator, £POA, and pearl-detail navy bag, from a selection, all Isobel Florence Bridal. Gold-plated wrapped-coin pearl bracelet, £95, Lido Collection. Shoes, model’s own.
Sharon wears: Lime and navy floral dipped-hem dress by Veromia Occasions, £POA, navy hat, £POA, and navy clutch bag, all Isobel Florence Bridal. Wild Grasses moonstone and cubic zirconia ring in Meadow Enamel, £172, and Wild Grasses drop earrings in Meadow Enamel, £101, both Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own.
two women wear mint green knee length dresses
Left: Ruched and fluted printed floral chiffon dress with appliqué ¾-length sleeves and bodice (style 66504B) by John Charles, £679, Catwalk. Priscilla hat, £50 to hire, Stephanie Gallen Millinery. Drop earrings, £175, Lido Collection. Floral wrist corsage, made to order, Olive Flowers. Right: Heather (on right) wears: Mint-green wrap-over-style dress with floral waist embellishment by Labella by Gino Cerruti, £POA, and matching fascinator, £POA, both Mia Bella. Diamanté shoes, from a selection, Frox of Falkirk. Large oval pearl necklace, £125, Lido Collection.
Sharon (on left) wears: Mint-green jacquard dipped-hem dress with illusion sleeves and crystal-detail waistband (style VO0257) by Veromia Occasions, and matching large fascinator, both Mia Bella. Diamanté shoes, from a selection, Frox of Falkirk. Large oval pearl and cubic zirconia earrings, £120, Lido Collection.
two women wearing blue dresses and fascinators
Left: Iris ruched summer floral dress, £POA, Isobel Florence Bridal as before. Ophelia bright-pink hat, £50 to hire, Stephanie Gallen Millinery. Gold-plated wrapped-coin pearl bracelet, £95, Lido Collection.
Right: Heather (on left) wears: Gala embellished dress, £495, and large navy saucer hat, £189, both Bombshell. Diamanté clutch bag and shoes, from a selection, Frox of Falkirk. Sterling silver freshwater pearl and cubic zirconia leaf necklace, £225, Lido Collection.
Sharon (on right) wears: Grace silk-dupion dress in Pacific Blue, £559, and large saucer hat in Pacific Blue, £189, both Bombshell. Wild Grasses Moonstone and cubic zirconia necklace in Meadow Enamel, £276, and Seasons Gold Leaves four-leaf drop earrings in Spring Enamel, £216, both Sheila Fleet. Silver diamanté shoes, from a selection, Frox of Falkirk.
two women wear pink fascinators and dresses
Left: Crepe V-neck dress with 3D florals, ¾-length sleeves and organza hem on skirt (style 27034) by John Charles, £769, and medium organza-flower hatinator by Nigel Rayment, £POA, both Catwalk.
Right: Floral chiffon dress, £679, as before, and fuchsia organza fascinator, £POA, both Catwalk. Drop earrings, £175, Lido Collection.
two women wearing pink mother of the bride dresses and fascinators
Left: Heather wears: Blush beaded dress by Gill Harvey, £POA, and taupe diamanté clutch bag, from a selection, both Frox of Falkirk. Pearl pendant, £75, Lido Collection. Diana blush pink band with bow and netting, £105, Off With Her Head Millinery.
Right: Heather (on right) wears: Crepe V-neck dress with 3D florals, £769, and medium organza-flower hatinator, £POA, both Catwalk, both as before. Shoes, model’s own.
Sharon (on left) wears: Ruched and fluted printed floral chiffon dress, £679, and fuchsia organza fascinator, £POA, both Catwalk. Drop earrings, £175, Lido Collection, all as before. Floral wrist corsage, made to order, Olive Flowers. Shoes, model’s own.
two women wearing mother of the bride outfits, one nude and one royal blue
Left: Heather (on left) wears: Blush beaded dress by Gill Harvey, £POA, blush diamanté fascinator, £POA, as before. Taupe diamanté clutch bag and shoes, from a selection, all Frox of Falkirk. Pearl pendant, £75, Lido Collection.
Sharon (on right) wears: Midi cobalt-blue dress with beaded bow brooch detail at waist by Gabriela Sanchez, £POA, large cobalt-blue fascinator, £POA, and silver diamanté clutch bag and shoes, from a selection, all Frox of Falkirk. Floral earrings, £55, Lido Collection.
Right: Sharon wears: Midi cobalt-blue dress £POA, Frox of Falkirk. Floral earrings, £55, Lido Collection, both as before. Paulina ivory and pale-blue pom-pom percher hat, £215, Off With Her Head Millinery.
two women wearing blue dresses and fascinators
Left: Gala embellished dress, £495, and large navy saucer hat, £189, Bombshell. Sterling silver freshwater pearl and cubic zirconia leaf necklace, £225, Lido Collection, all as before. 
Right: Grace silk-dupion dress, £559, Bombshell, as before. Cymbeline ivory and blue butterfly saucer, £325, Off With Her Head Millinery. Wild Grasses Moonstone and cubic zirconia occasion necklace in Meadow Enamel, £276, and Seasons Gold Leaves four-leaf drop earrings in Spring Enamel, £216, both Sheila Fleet.
two women wearing two sets of mother of the bride outfits
Left: Heather (on right) wears: Green and blue floral dress by Carla Ruiz, £POA, purple hat, £285, Lotus silver clutch bag, £57, and Electra shoes, £89, all Bear Necessities. Pearl pendant with purple stone, £125, Lido Collection.
Sharon (on left) wears: Two-piece cobalt-blue trouser suit with wide-legged trousers, and long flowing tunic-style top with embroidered leaf motif by Gabriela Sanchez, £775, matching hatinator, £225, Perla gold shoes, £84, and Lotus gold clutch bag, £57, all Bear Necessities. Pearl earrings, £55, Lido Collection.
Right: Heather (on left) wears: Dipped-hem bow-detail dress, £699, and pink hatinator, £POA, both Bentleys, Honeycomb silver and citrine pendant, £348, and ring, £204, both Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own, all as before. 
Sharon (on right) wears: Crepe and organza fitted dress, £659, and matching hatinator, £285, both Bentleys. Wild Grasses cubic zirconia bracelet, £296, and Wild Grasses drop earrings, £101, both Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own, all as before.

Mother of the bride/mother of the groom hairstyles

Maureen Crolla from Glasgow wedding hair and makeup specialist The Bride to Be got to work with her trusty GHD curling iron and Color Wow Raise the Root Spray to prep both models’ hair for the many hats ahead. “On Heather, I created some soft finger waves, then tucked her hair up round the nape of her neck giving the look a slightly ’50s finish,” she says.

“Sharon’s hair was the most amazing silver colour and her locks were a delight to work with as I created styles that complemented the wonderful array of fascinators and headpieces.”

a hairdresser styling two women's hair
Maureen was on hand throughout the day to make sure the hats and fascinators sat perfectly

Mother of the bride/mother of the groom makeup

“To start, I used two of my favourite products to moisturise and prime each models’ skin: Weleda Skin Food Light and Vieve Skin Nova,” reveals Megan Doherty from MD Makeup Design. She then applied Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation, before getting to work on the eyes: “Both ladies had shades of pink from palettes by Urban Decay and Too Faced to suit their skin tones. I also used Vieve Eye Wands in skin-tone colours as a creamy base which added longevity to the makeup. With the lipstick, Heather initially sported a lighter pink/nude and Sharon darker pink/mauve shade.”

In the afternoon, the outfit colours got more vibrant, so Megan tweaked the makeup accordingly. “I switched to bronze and brown tones on the eyes, and changed the lipsticks to cooler nudes and browns. I also used Tatti Lashes’ individual Au Natural lashes and set the looks with Morphe Continuous Set and Prep Mist.

two women getting their makeup done
MD Makeup design got the models looking glam with a couple of different makeup looks

Behind the scenes

Photoshoot team 

Styling Nicola Cameron
Digital content Hazel Scott
Photography Kirsty Anderson
Hair Maureen Crolla, The Bride to Be
Makeup Megan Doherty, MD Makeup Design
Models Sharon Bolton and Heather Forbes, Model Team
Location Crossbasket Castle, near Glasgow

group of women gathered around for a selfie
A team selfie wrapped up an amazing shoot day

Come behind the scenes with us:

@tietheknotscotland

We got 2024 off to a colourful start with a gorgeous mother of the bride/mother of the groom photoshoot 📸👒 Photographer Kirsty Anderson Photography Venue Crossbasket Castle Hair The Bride To Be Makeup @Megan Doherty Stylist Nicola Cameron Models Sharon Botlon & Heather Forbes from @Model Team Outfits @Frox of Falkirk @Catwalk_Falkirk @MiaBellaMums @Bentleys Fashion @isobelflorencebridal @bombshellhq, Bear Necessities Fashion Other headwear Off With Her Head Millinery, Stephanie Gallen Millinery Jewellery @Sheila Fleet Jewellery @lidopearls We’re so excited to share the photos from the shoot in the upcoming issue of Tie the Knot Scotland – out on 2nd February ✨📖 #motherofthebride #motherofthegroom #weddingoutfit #2024wedding #weddingplanning

♬ Instrumental – Vibe – pedrin cria

Check out our guide for mother of the bride/groom outfits

Or get inspired by our mum’s outfit A-Z