The latest looks for mums shot at elegant Glasgow venue Boclair House

Know a mother of the bride or groom who’s still to find her outfit? Take the sting out of shopping with our head start on 2023’s colourful line-up of statement occasionwear dresses

two woman pose, one wearing a navy and white dress and jacket outfit and the other wearing a pink hat and dress; one woman wearing an eggshell blue full length dress and another woman wearing a pearlescent dress and jacket combination
Left image: Julie (on left) wears: Floral lace dress and coat in navy and blush by Invitations by Veni, £659, and navy hatinator, £189, both Catwalk. Silver earrings with crystal enamel and CZ, £113, Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own; Ann (on right) wears: Pleated chiffon dress in blush by Invitations by Veni, £575, and vintage rose hatinator, £319, both Catwalk. Champagne enamel and silver drop earrings, £107, champagne enamel and silver necklet, £214, and champagne enamel and silver bracelet, £303, all Sheila Fleet. Silver vegan leather clutch, £895, Sambar. Shoes, model’s own.
Right image: Ann (on left) wears: Long bias-cut hand-beaded silk georgette dress and top, £POA, and matching feather fascinator £POA, Joyce Young Design Studios. Silver, winter enamel and 9ct gold leaves earrings, £159, Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own; Julie (on right) wears: Silk organza coat over sheath dress with subtle sparkle, £POA, and matching feather hat, £POA, all Joyce Young Design Studios. Silver, winter enamel and 9ct gold leaves bracelet, £478, Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own.
A woman poses in a multi-coloured dress with a v-neck and long sleeves, and an apricot hat; a woman poses in a navy dress and jacket outfit with a silver hat
Left image: Full-length chiffon dress with sleeves by Invitations by Veni, £539, and Starla champagne bag, £189, both Catherines of Partick. Coral swirl fascinator, £45 to rent, £195 made to order, Stephanie Gallen Millinery. 9ct white and yellow gold earrings, £766, Sheila Fleet.
Right image: Floral lace dress and coat in navy and blush by Invitations by Veni, £659, Catwalk. Silver earrings with crystal enamel and CZ, £113, Sheila Fleet. Pearl hat, £45 to hire, £185 made to order, Stephanie Gallen Millinery.
A woman wears a white and blue floral full length dress and another woman wears a white and pink floral midi dress; a woman wears a mint and cream shift dress and another woman wears a blush pink dipped-hem dress
Left image: Ann (on left) wears: Floral-print dress by Couture-Club, £453, and blue hatinator, £149, both Bentleys. Snowdrop sterling silver drop earrings in leaf enamel, £131, Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own; Julie (on right) wears: Floral-print off-the-shoulder dress by Invitations by Veni, £569, and matching hat, £189, both Bentleys. Pearl and CZ drop earrings, £70, Lido Collection. Shoes and clutch, model’s own.
Right image: Ann (on right) wears: Blush pink dipped-hem dress with pearl neck and cuff detail by Couture-Club, £POA, with matching Snoxells hatinator, £POA, both Mia Bella. Pearl drop earrings, £67.50, Lido Collection. Shoes and bag, model’s own. Julie (on left) wears: Mint and cream shift dress with matching coat featuring oversized bow by Couture-Club, £POA, with cream hatinator, £POA, both Mia Bella. Shoes, model’s own.
Woman in floral print dress with a silver hat; woman wears a floral print off-the-shoulder dress and nude toned hat
Left image: Floral-print dress by Couture-Club, £453, Bentleys. Snowdrop sterling silver drop earrings in leaf enamel, £131, Sheila Fleet. Lunar hat, £50 to rent, £235 made to order, Stephanie Gallen Millinery.
Right image: Floral-print off-the-shoulder dress by Invitations by Veni, £569, Bentleys. Ivoire hat, £45 to rent, £195 made to order, Stephanie Gallen Millinery. Pearl and CZ drop earrings, £70, Lido Collection.
two woman pose, one wearing a turquoise dress and the other wearing a pink and blue dress; two women pose, one wearing a raspberry dress and hat and one wearing a gold sequin dress
Left image: Ann (on right) wears: Navy and fuchsia dipped-hem dress by Marfil Barcelona, £475, and navy hatinator, £60 to hire, £175 to buy, both Serendipity. Snowdrop sterling silver drop earrings in leaf enamel, £131, Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own; Julie (on left) wears: Cyan off-the-shoulder dress by Marfil Barcelona, £350, and matching tilted fascinator, £115, both Serendipity. Snowdrop four-flower sterling silver necklace in leaf enamel, £232, and matching Snowdrop bangle, £246, Sheila Fleet. Shoes, model’s own.
Right image: Ann (on right) wears: Silver swing lined stretch-sequin gown, £389, Bombshell London. Pearl drop earrings, £165, Lido Collection. Headband and shoes, model’s own; Julie (on left) wears: Raspberry Spritz dress with ruched bodice by Condici, £POA, and matching hatinator, £POA, both Sheila Conn Ladies Fashions. Large sterling silver petal floral earrings, £175, Lido Collection. Shoes, model’s own.
A woman poses in a long sleeved mulsti-coloured dress and another woman poses in a short sleeved red dress with matching hat; a woman poses in a blue dress and blue hat and another woman wears an off the shoulder coral dress and fascinator
Left image: Ann (on left) wears: Full-length chiffon dress with sleeves by Invitations by Veni, £539, Snoxells hat, £249, Karmina champagne shoes, £249, and Starla champagne bag, £189, all Catherines of Partick. 9ct white and yellow gold earrings, £766, Sheila Fleet; Julie (on right) wears: Coral dress with large bow by Teresa Ripoll, £895, Evelyn Anne coral hat, £399, champagne shoes, £199, and clutch bag, £185, all Catherines of Partick. 9ct white and yellow gold bracelet £1,242, Sheila Fleet.
Right image: Ann (on left) wears: A-line crepe dress with illusion V-neckline and lace detailed back in royal sapphire by Invitations by Veni, £615, matching Snoxells hat, £259, and Peter Kaiser silver shoes, £169, all Patricia Forbes; Julie (on right) wears: Coral off-the-shoulder chiffon print dress with long bishop sleeves and cross-bodice detail by Invitations by Veni, £569, Snoxells crystal-detail fascinator, £139, Capollini soft-pink shoes, £139, and pearl necklace, from a selection, all Patricia Forbes.
A woman in an ivory and black dress and another woman in hand-beaded peacock dress; a woman in a navy and gold dress and a woman in hot-pink jacquard mi-length dress
Left image:Ann (on left) wears: Ivory and black fit-and-flare dress with dipped hem by Fely Campo, £POA, matching Snoxell headpiece, £POA, and black shoes and clutch bag, from a selection, all Frox of Falkirk. 9ct gold diamond earrings, £651, and 9ct gold and diamond bracelet, £1,482, both Sheila Fleet; Julie (on right) wears: Hand-beaded peacock dress from the Fitzrovia Collection by Gill Harvey, £POA, navy headpiece, £POA, and navy shoes and clutch bag, from a selection, all Frox of Falkirk. Elegant pearl drop earrings, £135, Lido Collection.
Right image: Ann (on right) wears: Navy and gold dress by Veni Infantino, £POA, Snoxells hatinator, £POA, gold Lotus shoes, from a selection, and diamanté and gold double-row necklace, £POA, all Bear Necessities. Silver vegan leather clutch, £895, Sambar; Julie (on left) wears: Hot-pink jacquard mid-length dress with wide Bardot collar and dipped hem by Giorgia Jo by Gabriela Sanchez, £POA, matching Snoxells hatinator, £POA, shoes, from a selection, and double-disc silver necklaces, from a selection, all Bear Necessities.

Meet the team

a stylist looks at a rack of clothes; a photographer looks at his monitor during a photoshoot
Left: Stylist Nicola Cameron hard at work putting together the looks; Right: Hamish Campbell checking his photographic handiwork

Styling Nicola Cameron
Photography Hamish Campbell
Hair Kiera McKay at Alter Ego Hair Art
Makeup Susie Campbell Makeup Artist
Models Ann Tocoda at Model Team; Julie Gemmell (freelance)
Location Boclair House, Bearsden, Glasgow

Hair and makeup

a hairstylist at work; a makeup artist checking a model's look
Left: Kiera McKay of Alter Ego Hair Art working her magic; Right: Susie Campbell Makeup Artist kept things classy

Kiera McKay of Alter Ego Hair Art tells us how she worked her magic on our models: “On Ann’s incredible white hair, I used Colour Wow Styling Cream and blow-dried it to tame frizz, followed by the same brand’s Raise The Root spray to create volume. My trusty GHD soft curl tong smoothed and put a bend through the ends, before I twisted her locks into a side bun.

“For Julie, first up was Colour Wow Volumising Mousse to add long-lasting texture, then I went in with Cloud Nine wide irons to put a wave through her hair. Next, I created a symmetrical, low bun with some twisted detail and face-framing strands, finished with a skoosh of Osis Hairspray for hold.”

“My aim for both of our gorgeous models was to create a natural, but classic look to fit with the season’s beautiful occasionwear,” says Susie Campbell Makeup Artist. “With Ann, I wanted to create a neutral tone on the eyes, with a darker tone in the outer corner to give a little dimension. Armani Luminous Foundation made her skin look natural and dewy, and is great for mature skin, as is the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter illuminator that I also used.

“Alongside the same foundation and illuminator on Julie, I was able to feature slightly more bronze tones by way of Hourglass Ambient Bronzing Powder to complement her skintone. I went smokier on the eyes, opening them and adding more dimension.”

exterior of boclair house

The venue

Situated in immaculate gardens in Bearsden, Boclair House is a Tudor Gothic mansion known for its beautiful red sandstone exterior. The venue boasts a luxury interior, including a grand ballroom and opulent suites. Even better, as it is exclusive use, with the entire venue to yourself, you can relax in the knowledge that you have complete privacy for your special day. The Grand Ballroom is flooded with natural light during the day and has huge sparkling chandeliers, mirrored pillars and glints of gold, making it an appealing option for both ceremony and reception.

After the party’s over, guests can retire to one of the 12 uniquely designed, stunning suites – including the spectacular Arran honeymoon suite for the happy couple. All-inclusive wedding packages are available with prices starting from £4,700 for 50 guests.