The team at Irish Country Living was touched when we received a lovely email from staff at Roscommon County Council, in response to our call-out for special occasion makeover candidates. The email explained that their colleague, Bernie Rushe, was set to be mother of the bride this September. Not only was Bernie described as hardworking and dedicated to her family, but the group said: “You will not meet a nicer, more genuine person who is always full of life and good cheer.”

Like for many mothers of the bride out there, the prospect of getting kitted out for the wedding was quite overwhelming for Bernie, and that is why Irish Country Living was keen to help.

Bernie and her daughter Jane, from Ballinagare, Co Roscommon, were relieved when they got the call to say Bernie would be getting a special mother of the bride makeover.

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“We were actually planning on starting shopping for her outfit next week when the call came,” Jane laughs. “It was really daunting, the thought of trekking around all these shops when all I want is for her to find something she is comfortable and happy in,” she adds.

Bernie, ever the proud mother, wanted to ensure the wedding day was all about her daughter, but also that her own outfit would have her fashionable daughter’s seal of approval.

“Jane has a great eye for style and I don’t even own a hairdryer. I don’t usually dress up, but I just want to ensure I look alright for Jane on the day and that she is happy,” Bernie explains.

With help from Josephine and her fabulous team at Satara Boutique, we narrowed down outfits that would suit Bernie’s tall frame, without being too flamboyant. When Bernie tried on her second outfit, a sleek navy dress with an angular neckline, with a cropped navy and white cardi, she and Jane looked ecstatic as they both realised it was the one.

The colours and simple silhouette are flattering and classic, so will be timeless in the wedding photos. Bernie doesn’t like to wear sleeveless dresses, so the cropped cardi was the perfect light option for her to stay covered up without wearing anything too bulky all day.

After that we had some fun picking out two other options to inspire other wedding guests on the hunt for an outfit. A red dress with a feminine lace cardigan packs a punch, while a lavender fitted dress with a coordinated jacket is an elegant option for a summer wedding.

Then we headed to Donnellan’s shoes, where Bernie found a pair of silver sandals that would go with any outfit, but were still comfortable enough for her to stay on the dancefloor all night. The team at Galaxy Hair and Beauty then worked their magic, with natural make-up and a sleek blow-dry.

Bernie and Jane were delighted with the results and couldn’t get over the fact that they managed to get an outfit in one day, after going to just one shop. The lessons learned on the day for mothers of the bride? Take your time, stick to your own style and make sure it is an outfit you can comfortably dance in.