Wedding guest outfit for 7 year old boy

[Anonymous]

This will be the first event my kid has attended that he will need to wear somewhat dressy clothes for, and I realized I have no idea what’s typical for elementary aged boys to wear to weddings. The dress code is cocktail attire, the wedding is in the fall, everything will be inside. Are dress pants with a matching vest and a dress shirt enough?

[Anonymous]

A babysitter.

[Anonymous]

elementary boys can get away with a collared shirt and khakis.

[Anonymous]

Khakis, button down white or blue shirt, tie, navy sports coat, loafers with socks. Take off the coat and tie after the ceremony.

[Anonymous]

My extended family includes all related children in the weddings, even the upscale weddings, so mine attened a lot of weddings from babies through young teens.

Depending on how fancy or casual the weddings were, the wore anything from khakis/button-down shirt/tie to dress pants/vests/bow tie to a dark suit with tie (jacket off for the reception.) For babies, we would bring a really cute sleeper to change into for the reception, but toddlers and up stayed in the dress clothing all day.

Is your kid related to the bride or groom? Will there be cousins in attendance?

If so, you might want to coordinate colors or styles with the cousins so you can get some great pictures. There aren't many opportunities to get dressy photos with the cousins when they are young. Grandparents love those photos.

[Anonymous]

Yes, a vest and matching dress pants and a nice shirt would be fine. I’d add a tie. No jacket needed for a 7 year old.

[Anonymous]

I would get him a suit. I don't believe in letting little kids "get away with" dressing down. He can take off the jacket after the ceremony, for the reception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, a vest and matching dress pants and a nice shirt would be fine. I’d add a tie. No jacket needed for a 7 year old.

I like this look, or a suit. I bet you could borrow from neighbors or other parents. So many people have this stuff and have only worn it once it a few times ever.

I'm like a PP whose family always includes kids and they are so cute in the wedding pix.

[Anonymous]

That sounds like a great plan. I wouldn’t do a suit/coat unless specifically requested. They end up looking so stiff and awkward on a kid anyway.

Our family has had a few kid friendly weddings. Dress pants and button down is common. I have also seen casual pants in black. Depending on the venue, nice sneakers with dress up clothes is ok. Use your judgment.

[Anonymous]

PJs, so he can stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would get him a suit. I don't believe in letting little kids "get away with" dressing down. He can take off the jacket after the ceremony, for the reception.

Yeah, it looks louche.
And it looks like the parents couldn't be bothered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That sounds like a great plan. I wouldn’t do a suit/coat unless specifically requested. They end up looking so stiff and awkward on a kid anyway.

Our family has had a few kid friendly weddings. Dress pants and button down is common. I have also seen casual pants in black. Depending on the venue, nice sneakers with dress up clothes is ok. Use your judgment.

Maybe if the wedding was in a barnyard.

[Anonymous]

A suit.
This will also get him use to dressing up for special events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PJs, so he can stay home.

Why so rude? There are people who want the kids of close relatives or friends at their weddings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, a vest and matching dress pants and a nice shirt would be fine. I’d add a tie. No jacket needed for a 7 year old.

I like this look, or a suit. I bet you could borrow from neighbors or other parents. So many people have this stuff and have only worn it once it a few times ever.

I'm like a PP whose family always includes kids and they are so cute in the wedding pix.

Those candid wedding photos are some of the best pictures of the kids.

There is one adorable photo of all 11 of the first set of grandkids from infancy through the 7 year old all together in their dress clothes at one wedding and another of the 2 to 5 year olds sitting around the table at the reception looking like mini grown ups. That wedding was for the lone adult cousin, who wanted all her little cousins at her wedding so she had a corner of the recrption set up with coloring sheets, legos, candy and kid food.

We have another picture from one of the very fanciest, expensive black tie weddings, where one of the preschool boys just leaned over and fell asleep on top of the table in his dress clothes, surrounded by empty champagne glasses. That picture showed up when tge bride and groom developed the disposable camera film. It gave the bride and groom a great chuckle and fond memories afterwards, because the kid had been dancing the night away before the photo was taken and the photo of him surrounded by glassware looked like he was the hardest partier at the reception.

That group of "little" cousins are now all older teens, college students and adults. All of them look at those photos and say how they have such good memories of the weddings, and that they want to include their own younger family members at their weddings because they have such fond memories about attending. One of the boys even says that he wants to marry a girl who wants to include the little family members as wedding guests.