Congratulations! Sounds like a great idea to wear something you already have if you like it and it fits with the dress code the couple has set. I wish I had had something already that would have worked for son’s recent wedding, but didn’t. Very stressful to figure it out. At least their wedding was cocktail attire, and not super formal, ball gown type attire. That would have put me over the edge! 
People will still be looking at you that day (although luckily not at the same level as your son and especially the bride), so get ready and enjoy!
YES, you have a reason to buy something new! It’s your only son’s wedding! Enjoy every minute!
And yes! You’ll be in the all the pictures. People will be looking at you.
The gown you previously wore can be the “back up”. But right now go join the party and go looking!
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Actually, the stepmom of the bride (who was in the Mom role) at son’s wedding earlier this year , wore a cocktail dress she already had. She’s a surgeon, had plenty of cocktail and formal attire dresses on hand she had worn to events. She ran it by my daughter in law, who was fine she was interested in wearing something she already had. It was a nice cocktail dress, she felt comfortable in it and it worked for the setting and dress code for the wedding. No problem. I wish I had had something already I felt would work! It would have saved me hours of looking and lots of anxiety, as fashion is not my strong suit!
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I love shopping but lately shopping went downhill. After striking out big time, I almost gave up, but the right dress on sale just fell into my shopping cart. I would have gladly worn something out of my closet but nothing worked for the garden party themed wedding (and the dress I wore to the big kid’s wedding… the bride gave it to the groomswoman who rocked it 
).
Congrats @ChoatieMom!
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Nope. No need. It will be a military wedding (West Point Chapel), and the gown I bought for the military ball is perfect and looks fab on me. I’m all set.
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The only thing I could think of in getting in the way of your plan (which I think is wonderful) is potentially the thoughts of your future daughter in law (and your son ). Some brides are more particular that others about colors, for instance. Many times the bride’s mom picks a dress (and therefore color) first. So, maybe check a little with bride about these kinds of things? I was most interested in either pink or blue for a dress for myself but did back off from pink when I knew for sure the bride’s stepmom was going to be wearing pink. I was glad I did not also wear pink . It probably would have been okay but not ideal. Just speaking from my recent experience as a fellow mom of a son. Wonderful news and you have a great setting for a beautiful wedding!
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I stopped wearing make up years ago. I’ll occasionally put on mascara for a special event (both upper and lower lashes - gasp!) but that is rare. I wear scrubs during the week and leggings or jeans on the weekends.
Now that conferences are starting to be in person again, I need to spruce up my business casual wardrobe.
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Formal attire is the best in my opinion. Why? Because it means you can wear a long dress. And with a long dress you can wear any old shoe you want, including flats. Flats often look bad with a short dress. “Formal’ is your friend if shoes are an issue. It’s “cocktail” attire I dread.
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My future DIL fits in perfectly with us non-fashionistas on this thread. Her mom and dad aren’t in the picture. Her grandma and I are the “moms.” Our son is dictating the formality. Protocol for military weddings, including dress, is prescribed. The gown I have meets all regulations.
But back to the topic.
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Or good vinyl, like MB Tex? Unfortunately, MB Tex comes only on Mercedes-Benz cars, which are expensive in the US.
I absolutely don’t care. When my youngest got married DIL’s mom (the one who told her she’d never find a man if she didn’t start to care about her looks) told me what color dress to find. She kept asking if I’d gotten one as the date got closer. A couple weeks before the wedding I went to a “basic” clothing store and found something I thought might be “ok.” I texted a pic to DIL. She was fine with it - and flat shoes I often wear to school or church - so that’s what I wore. I had no desire at all to go to a second store, so assumed if the bride was ok, it was fine.
If people were complaining, they at least kept it to themselves. I don’t give a hoot.
DIL’s mom planned the whole wedding. We tossed in some cash (for the wedding, etc) and gave the wedding couple honeymoon money as a gift. To me, the honeymoon is far more important. To them it was too. They took a trip to Alaska - the only one of the 50 states S hadn’t been to yet. I’m guessing he made it a requirement for their wedding, but she certainly didn’t put up a fuss. They had a blast hiking (as per pics, etc).
I’d have been happy with the two of them eloping. They could have had more money for their honeymoon, but DIL didn’t want to do that to her mom.
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I hope your son didn’t make a honeymoon in Alaska a “requirement for their wedding”, but that’s just me.
I wore nice ballet flats with a cocktail dress for son’s wedding. No regrets.
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I wore ballet flats underneath my very long and heavily beaded ‘92 wedding dress.
I wanted comfort and no one was seeing them under all those crinolines anyhow. 
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I think the “requirement” was more in line with, “your mom can plan the wedding, but I want to choose Alaska for our honeymoon,” not, “I’ll only marry you if…”
Knowing my guy, if DIL hadn’t wanted to go as much as he did, he’d have switched. It’s a big planet and they have lots of places to see yet. They met on a Study Abroad in Jordan. Both love traveling.
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I have never wear makeup unless I’m in the wedding party or the bride. Oh, also wore it for a headshot.
Mostly I dress for comfort. I like washable Jersey knit dresses that are around knee length. I also like shorts, jeans, skirts, leggings, topped with tshirts or similar.
When I was going to the legislature or court, I’d wear nicer slacks, shirts or a dress and blazer. Only wear comfy footwear.
Many of my articles of clothing are from Costco or Ross. I wear them until they are stained or get holes in them as I have been the same size for decades.
Oh yeah, have never colored my hair or brows and don’t pluck my brows either.
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I agree long dresses are good for covering comfy footwear at a wedding. We will attend a wedding in Oct, “black tie optional”. I thought that would call for a long dress (ok by me), but I’m told the wedding party (and MOB/MOG) will be in long dresses but guests in short or tea length.
I love 'black tie" events. Long black dress and heels, very easy.
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Why in the world put “ black tie optional” on an invite if you don’t want guests showing up in long dresses? My friend’s daughter put “black tie optional” on her invites and then was less than happy that many guests showed up in long dresses. She too somehow thought it called for only short/tea length dresses on guests. Her sister who had rolled her eyes at the wording was only too happy to pull up info on her phone from dozens of websites that stated “It means that guests have the option of wearing their most formal attire (think: an evening gown or tuxedo) but may also choose to wear a formal suit or cocktail dress”.
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I love black tie events too. They used to be a more regular part of my life so I’m happy now any time I get to dust off my formal dresses/suits since my every day is best described as athleisure. Ha.
I’m attending a semi-formal outdoor wedding in NYC in October. Unless the weather surprises me, I’m wearing a favorite black jumpsuit I’ve not had occasion to wear for a couple years. Fall in Central Park should make for beautiful pictures for the wedding party 
.
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I went to a wedding last month. No dress code on the invite. It was a very young crowd (mostly friends of the couple in the late 20s). I was one of the few in a short dress, almost everybody (all ages) had on long. I see mostly cocktail attire on wedding dress codes lately.