Did She Upstage the Bride? Mother-of-the-Bride’s Dress Sparks a Viral Debate About Wedding Attire

A mother-of-the-bride's choice of attire has ignited a heated debate online, not because she wore white, but because of  her bold fashion statement. Keep scrolling for everything to know about the booming conversation about her choice of clothing for her daughter’s big day.

The mother-of-the-bride viral video at the center of online debate

Wedding content creator Chloe LeBlanc shared a recent TikTok featuring 53-year-old Louisiana mom Lori DeWitt, who walked down the aisle in a custom dress by Audrey + Brooks. The dress boasted a vibrant floral design, plunging neckline, detachable bow and train. LeBlanc captioned the video, “the most stunning MOB dress we’ve ever seen!!!!” The video has since garnered 1.6 million views. Watch it below:

The internet’s reactions to DeWitt’s outfit ranged widely. Some were outwardly critical, including, “She’s trying to upstage her daughter,” “It’s not the mother’s day!” and, “Ridiculously low cut. Beautiful fabric, trashy cut for a wedding. Period.”

But supporters were quick to celebrate it, saying, “If my mom doesn’t do this she has to go home. I would be pissed if she did anything less!!!” and, “You go Mom!! You look fabulous!! I can’t wait until my daughter gets married! I wanna look just like you!!”

Supporters' comments on mother-of-the-bride viral video

Others were eager to point out that the mother of the bride often goes overlooked in formal wedding processes, with the attention often falling fully on the father. It made DeWitt’s dress choice, for some, even more significant as she got to shine a little on her own.

“My mom looked fabulous 20 years ago at our wedding, she wore a phenomenal long black gown (looked like a gown but was actually flowing sassy pants) with floral print top and plunging neckline,” one user wrote in the comments, before adding, “Best she ever looked and I wish she’d dress up more often!”

Another pointed out, “They both look amazing and so happy and that is all that counts on such an important day. Mothers are mostly left out of the traditional wedding setting so (we love) her daughter making her mother feel so special.”

A bride-to-be in the comments summed up her position blunty: “If my mother ISN'T dressed like this we’ll have a problem. My mom and MIL both will look beautiful on my wedding day.”

DeWitt's thoughts on the dress debate

As for DeWitt, she was stunned that her dress became such a hot topic. “We didn't realize my dress would spark a debate, but we're laughing about it," DeWitt, an interior designer, told TODAY.com as the online debate ramped up. “I’m the last person you’d expect to go viral. I don't even post photos!"

DeWitt and her daughter Amanda DeWitt Leblanc, 26, had bought their dresses during a shopping trip in New York City. Leblanc , a Florida-based podiatrist, approved of her mother’s choice, calling the floral gown “perfect.” The bride herself wore a Romona Keveza trumpet gown, one of three dresses she donned that evening.

“I love what she wore,” Leblanc  said to TODAY.com. “My mom looked absolutely stunning. It was just as much her day as it was mine.” In fact, the bride  noted that she wanted “[all] our family members to shine,” noting that her mother-in-law also wore a pink statement gown adorned with flowers. The wedding, held at Hotel Peter and Paul in New Orleans on June 1, was black-tie optional.

With the dress gaining widespread attention, DeWitt added that a waitlist has formed at Flora on Madison in New York City. “It was originally strapless, but I didn’t think that was appropriate for a Catholic Church, so they changed the neckline,” she explained. With a sense of humor, she joked, “For my next daughter’s wedding, I think I’m going to show up in a burlap sack that says MOB.”

Despite her lighthearted approach, DeWitt admits that some of the comments were “a little heartbreaking.” She emphasized, “I would never do anything to hurt my daughter. Everybody just wanted to look their best.”

So, what do you think? Did DeWitt’s dress cross the line, or was it a fabulous choice for a proud MOB? Share your thoughts on the mother-of-the-bride viral video in the comments below!

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