Basically, I have planned to do a personal shopper with my mum to help her find the best clothes that suit her and hopefully inspire her when it comes to choosing an outfit to wear to my wedding but she is acting as if it is going to be the most painful experience of her life. I even sweetened the deal by saying that I'm taking her to a spa for some pampering and mummy/daughter time.

I can't help wondering if I'm ever going to succeed or if I'm just wasting my time and I should let her get on with it alone.

Mum's are strange creatures, aren't they?! The first thing my mum started to worry about with regards to the wedding, was that she can't do her make up and has no idea, really, how to apply it. So I asked her if she would like a make up lesson as a Christmas present. She reluctantly agreed and was a nervous wreck before the lesson. However, after she had the lesson, she was so much happier and more confident, and did her make up wonderfully for both the wedding and the blessing/reception back here!
Getting them out of their comfort zones is a really good idea, especially if you know that the result will be invaluable and helpful to them :)

I'm sure it'll be fine. Just stay calem, and let the personal shopper do all the work. That way your mum can get annoyed at them if she's going to get annoyed with any one! x

I think once she gets there she really will love it, good luck getting her to go :)

Ok i am going to play devils advocate here and say actually she might actually hate it!I am a Mum of a grown up daughter and if she was to suggest this to me i would be horribly offended, I know that i would and i am certain that my Mum would too.I know that you are only trying to help and it is a lovely gesture but listen to what she is saying.She is a grown woman and knows her own mind.Ask her to decide if she wants to do this or not and if she doesn't then accept her descision.If you coerce her and she is not comfortable she will end up choosing something that she is not really happy with and i am sure you don't want that.
Just because 'us' Mums are the wrong side of 40 doesn't mean we are unable to pick stylish clothes on our own.We have been dressing ourselves for a long time and it could be construed as a little insulting to suggest that we need someone to help us...like we have been walking around looking a mess all these years.Maybe suggest you go shopping together if she doesn't want the personal shopper,i am sure that she will appreciate your input but don't railroad her xxx

My mum wears the same kind of clothes and colours all the time and yes she looks lovely but she wanted a really glam look for my brothers wedding (April just gone) as it is a special occasion and yes she could have found an outfit but would have been her normal style. We went to big high street shop for their personal shoppers and they were fab..... initially mum told them the right and wrong colours and styles she normally goes for however the shoppers asked her to be open minded and try everything and see what works..... in the end mum came out with a beige and gold, prom style dress which is soooo different to her normal style but looked amazing. She would never have picked the dress up as didn't think it suited her style but theses shoppers are trained and know better so definitly worth doing even if you dont buy anything it will hopefully show you how other colours and styles can work as we all get stuck in our ways xxx

Ravenwithbite i think if you explain it like you have above to her then i am sure she will view it differently....especially the bit about her looking as good as if not better than the half straved models bit....it would work on me xxx

Personal shoppers aren't there to tell people where their going wrong, they are there to take your ideas and preferences and find things that you would have never thought of. they take the effort out of shopping. Maybe if you explain it to her that way?