Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tea Collection is my go-to for family photos.

I think the idea of gift cards is nice, but picking one place would be hard.

Tea seems tough for a large group. So many patterns that could end up clashing.

I would still specify color scheme and think that the group would coordinate as they picked outfits.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for the pointers. Let me re-ask the question: what STORE should I buy gift cards to to help the parents buy the right clothing ? We will agree upon a color scheme based off of Grandma and Grandpa’s outfits, and they are paying for the grandchildren’s outfits. I was going to purchase them to get one more task off the (let’s be real about it) moms’ task lists. But your points about trying the clothes on are well taken. Maybe a gift card to the right store is the solution.

Janie and Jack. Best place to get special occasion clothes for baby through elementary age. They come out with multiple collections each season where lots of items coordinate.

That's sweet that the grandparents want to purchase the outfits, but I don't think they've thought this through. The hassle and possible snafus are way too much.

Either have them send each family a Visa gift card that can be used anywhere, or choose another Very Special Commemorative Payment to take over. Maybe purchase a print of the final picture for each family? And/or one of just their nuclear family group?

Anonymous wrote:Tea Collection is my go-to for family photos.

I think the idea of gift cards is nice, but picking one place would be hard.

Tea seems tough for a large group. So many patterns that could end up clashing.

Pick some colors and a store that is reasonably priced and let the parents pick. Dress the boys in nice pants and polo's. No need for a blazer. Pick pretty dresses or tops for the girls and give them a few options.

OP, I get that you want to dictate color scheme for this and I think that is absolutely appropriate. However, I think you’re crossing a line dictating the type of clothes or the store they have to be bought at. Others have said this to you up Fred already in a much nicer way I know. But then you asked what store you should buy gift cards at so I’m not really sure that you got their message. Just tell your family the color scheme and have them buy what they need to buy for their own children. If they’re going to be reimbursed just tell them to give you the receipt.

Anonymous wrote:Even asking for one store is not practical. Clothes fit kids differently. There are some stores I cannot shop at for my kids because of their body types, but my friend's kids are fine.

You're overthinking this. Kid's clothes don't tend to be expensive. If you insist on paying for the outfits, venmo them each $40.

Agree. or just ask them to tell you after they buy stuff what it cost and send them that. It really seems like OP wants control over this in a way that is likely to ruffle feathers and cause hurt feelings with this many families and young kids who will have different things they can do (because of either fit or needing the clothing to be soft and not scratchy or not wanting to wear a dress, or needing to wear a dress and on and on).

Even asking for one store is not practical. Clothes fit kids differently. There are some stores I cannot shop at for my kids because of their body types, but my friend's kids are fine.

You're overthinking this. Kid's clothes don't tend to be expensive. If you insist on paying for the outfits, venmo them each $40.

Tea Collection is my go-to for family photos.

I think the idea of gift cards is nice, but picking one place would be hard.

OP here - they are all over the country, I’m more than happy to buy online and have it shipped to their homes. We want high quality stuff that looks classic.

Where do these people live? I guess Carter's/Oshkosh can be used online easily and they have a good online selection.

There are no easy answers, unfortunately. Depends so much on the child. For the littles, Carters is probably a safe bet. For the older kids, it gets tricky.

Chasing Fireflies is my personal favorite for stuff like this.

That, and Nordstrom Rack.

This is OP. Thanks for the pointers. Let me re-ask the question: what STORE should I buy gift cards to to help the parents buy the right clothing ? We will agree upon a color scheme based off of Grandma and Grandpa’s outfits, and they are paying for the grandchildren’s outfits. I was going to purchase them to get one more task off the (let’s be real about it) moms’ task lists. But your points about trying the clothes on are well taken. Maybe a gift card to the right store is the solution.

When my extended family did this, we asked my mother what color dress she was wearing and coordinated around her. She decided she was wearing a wine dress, so I told the family to wear any combination of wine, dark blue, gray and cream. We had seven adults and six children from teens to a toddler. The pictures came out well.