I can see the garden party/preppy thing going on in the other dresses too, and you're right, that is not really a direction that resonates with me and my style at all. I know that the mother of the groom won't be in that groove either. The bride is really pretty easygoing about this, but i'm going to show her pictures before committing to anything.

Try the LK Bennet dresses, Janet. You can have the sleeves shortened - so easy.

You really think they suit my style, Angie? I do trust you, but I'm a little worried the very classic style of them might look a little bit matronly once you put them on my body. I love the colors though. Maybe the sleeves are throwing me off because that length is *almost* a poison eye to me (that is, for my body, even though I think it looks lovely on others). I do really want to get something that I will love so I choose to wear it again, and that means I want something with *some* little bit of "edge" or uniqueness, something very "Janet." IIYKWIM. I'm open to trying things, but this is going to get expensive shipping and returning all these dresses!

Keep the LK Bennet frocks on the back burner, Janet. It's always good to keep an open mind. Go with the dresses you like best first and take it from there.

Good advice, Angie! And thank you everyone for all the good ideas and feedback. You're all helping me focus.

I know I probably sound a little more frantic about this than the summer timeframe would warrant, but I wanted to get a bit of a jump start on this since I'll be out of commission for good shopping for most of March. And then once we're into later spring, I'm worried stock will be running low on summer styles. And I have very little confidence in finding something in June or July, especially since I'm going away for part of July too!

Great dresses. I like the 2 that you have ordered. I also like the Tadashi one from Nordstrom that Angie picked. It is Teal with a V neck and cap sleeves. I am always thinking about high necks and my bust with dresses (and everything else I wear).

I love the Kut dress, Janet. It seems to be a balance of what you might choose on your own, and what suits the style of the wedding. Keep us posted!

You have some wonderful choices here, Janet....I just wanted to chime in to say I went through this mother of the groom process a few years back and had such difficulty finding a dress but when I tried on the Tadashi dress Angie linked to (the teal) in the watermelon color, I knew instantly it was the "one",... literally started to cry from joy and relief in the dressing room. I think it's a magical dress...everything else was either too short, too matronly, too something or not enough something...good luck!

Janet, I really like both the cornflower and teal dresses. They both work with what the others have chosen. Maybe you could make sure that the dress works with some of your jewelry so that the outfit is 'you'.
I think it's great that you're taking care of this now. I think of it were me, I'd also start planning now, and I'm not a planner.

Some eBay options:

Beautiful choices! Hope the teal sheath works.
Thd MOB dress is a lovely print but skews a bit girlish to me.
I could see some of your dresses looking more sophisticated than the wedding party. But would first see which dresses look great ON YOU and then see if you need it be tweaked into more relaxed mode by way of
accessories