Mother of the Bride colour rules

1) It's an obvious one, but don't go for white! It's amazing how many mothers of the bride can get carried away when choosing their outfit, so don't risk stealing the limelight!

2) Check what the bridesmaids are wearing, and choose a completely different colour! You don't want to end up in the same shade spectrum, especially if your dress is of a broadly similar style.

3) Think about the colour scheme. If your daughter's planned a hot pink theme, a lime green suit is going to stick out like a sore thumb! You don't want to be wearing the same colour as the theme either – you might look like part of the scenery.

4) Find out what the groom's mother is wearing, and make sure you don't choose the same colour, or something that really clashes with her outfit. Aim for a colour that complements her outfit, without being too similar.

5) Avoid bold brights. Softer sorbet shades won't stand out as much in the wedding photographs, and will look effortlessly sophisticated. Think Carole Middleton and her duck egg blue suit – mother of the bride elegance personified!