Appropriate Children’s Clothing for the Smallest Members of the Wedding Party
I receive many frantic calls from brides-to-be who have not yet picked out a flower girl dress, despite a calendar rapidly approaching their special occasion. Sometimes the call is from a frantic
mother who was bestowed the “honor” of picking out the flower girl dress, having just learned that her daughter was a late addition to the wedding party. I have even received an email from a concerned grandmother trying
to outfit her grandsons for a family wedding party held on a beach. As finding the right clothes for the youngest members of the wedding party is often a complicated assignment, I have tried to simplify this task by preparing
this guide.
The bride-to-be wants to complement the overall tone and mood of the wedding party, whether formal or informal, while still having the children stand out from the older members of the wedding party.
To accomplish this, however, there are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration before selecting the right apparel. Children like to play and run around, no matter the occasion, and generally do not like
fussy clothing. Also, since the expense of the children’s clothing is usually borne by the child’s parents, mom and dad would prefer to find appropriate children’s clothing that could be worn again at another occasion.
The general requirements are that the children’s clothing must be beautiful, in keeping with the rest of the wedding party, practical for future wear, and kid proof. All in all, a tall order to fill.
Clothing that complements the wedding party. The children's clothing, like the bridesmaid's dresses, should be a reflection of the bride and the style and mood that she wants to
convey on her special day. Remember, the first ones down the aisle are the flower girl and ring bearer!
In order for the clothing of the junior members of the wedding party to be consistent with that of the bride, groom, bridesmaids, and ushers, it should be similar in style, color, and possibly fabric, but may be a bit more unconventional. A bride can have more flexibility and fun with the children’s apparel. Their clothes can make a special comment about the bride’s unique style that may not be completely conveyed through the elegant bridal clothing, flowers and setting. For this reason, I like to think that children's clothing can serve as an exclamation point to the entire wedding scene!
Because children's clothing can play such an important role, regardless of the setting, the clothing should be:
- Elegant, yet suitable to the setting of the occasion. The flower girl’s dress may be different in color than the bridesmaid’s dresses, picking up a
coordinating color from the flowers in the bridal bouquets. This flower girl would stand out without drawing away attention from the rest of the party.
- Unique. The clothing should have special touches such as beautiful detailing at the neckline, trim and waist.
- High Quality. The fabric should have body and a nice lining. The clothing needs to hold up, especially if the wedding is outdoors in the warm weather.
- Age Appropriate.
For example, a 4-year-old girl in a strapless gown would not be appropriate.. If there are a number of flower girls of different ages, consider each wearing different cuts of the same fabric, in a slightly altered style that reflects their age.
Practicality. The children’s clothing should be comfortable, especially considering the children are on display in what is normally an uncomfortable situation for them.
During pictures, you would not want the ring bearer pulling at his collar. Overly fussy clothing can be a hindrance. Kids are active and are going to run around at an outdoor wedding, so avoid selecting clothing that will be untied or coming loose prior to the ceremony or during the reception when photos are still being taken
Since the children’s parents are typically paying for the outfits, they would like to buy quality items that could accommodate additional wearing.
I've been told that some bridal shop clothes are designed for a single wearing and are intentionally poorly constructed in order to keep the cost down. However, such bridal shop clothing is still not inexpensive, making it worth paying a bit more for quality and the ability for future wearing.
Regarding future wear, although some children’s clothing appropriate for weddings is formally tailored, many styles are less formal as you can see on the links below. Often formal styles can be made
appropriate for less formal wear with only minor alterations, such as hem shortening.
Regardless of who is picking out the children’s clothing, the parents should get the bride’s approval and vice versa. Good communication will ensure that everyone is happy on that special day.
I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Sharon Naylor, for her newest wedding book, “ The Complete Outdoor Wedding Planner”.
Sharon, a recognized expert on wedding planning, has made appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show and others, and has helped countless brides with her 8 books covering the many aspects of wedding planning. Please visit Sharon’s website, http://www.sharonnaylor.net, to learn more about her work.
On the following pages, I have provided some specific suggestions for children’s clothing and girls dresses that are appropriate for flower girls, junior groomsmen and ring bearers.
Suggestions are presented based on the setting of the wedding. I hope you will find this helpful, and, as always, don’t hesitate to call me to discuss your specific situation.
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