Cute kids' looks for every type of wedding

Stylish and comfy formalwear finds for your littles.

Stylish and comfy formalwear finds for your littles

Truc Nguyen · CBC Life · Posted: Jun 07, 2019 3:36 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 7, 2019

Recently, my preschoolers attended a lovely destination wedding wearing Adidas Superstar sneakers and bright yellow Salt Water Sandals with their formalwear... because I hadn't purchased any dressy shoes for them this year, and didn't realize the glaring omission until I was already midway through packing the night before our international flight!

To avoid such sartorial blunders, you'll want to plot out your kids' outfits in advance for all of this summer's weddings and fancy-dress parties.

When it comes to kids' formalwear, there's generally a larger selection online and a broader range of price points, although with children there's a benefit to trying things on in person at a department or specialty store. Order early enough ahead, and you might even be able to score some fashion bargains — which would be ideal since they may outgrow the pieces quickly, perhaps even before the next wedding you'll attend.

Formal weddings

Children aren't going to be held to the same dress codes as adults for black tie or formal weddings, but it would be nice for them to wear their dressy best. Just keep the weather and location in mind, because a 3-piece suit or full-skirted dress might not work for a hot day or muggy evening. And be sure to bring wipes and a Tide To Go pen to head off any potential messes or stains.

Basic Navy Suit Jacket, $65.90, and Textured Weave Suit Pants, $45.90, Zara

Boys' Ludlow Tuxedo Shirt, $74, J. Crew

Dress With Large Bow, $49.99, H&M

Casual nuptials

Depending on your child's stylsh leanings, they may already have a cute shirt-and-pant combo or tulle skirt in their wardrobe that could work for a more casual, outdoors celebration. In which case you may just want to add adorable accessories such as a hair clip or fancy dress shoes to make it a look.

But, if your preschooler mostly wears Paw Patrol-inflected sweats, a wedding is a great a excuse to dress them up for cute photos, and you may be able to reuse garments like button up shirts and dress pants for school photos and more come September.

Shirt With Bow Tie And Shorts, $34.99, H&M

Built-In Flex Dress Shirt & Tie Set For Boys, $27.99 (on sale for $20 or less), Old Navy

Cat & Jack Girls' Stripe Dressy Dress, $35.14, Target

Banquet weddings

Banquet or evening weddings can sometimes be more like a festive dinner party. They're a great time for your kids to wear the flashy, sequin-embellished pieces of their dreams, although adding an adorable blazer or poufy skirt to an everyday look works, too.

Sequin Dress, $39.90, Zara

Glitter Tulle Skirt, $59.99, Mango

Destination weddings

The key with destination wedding looks is balancing comfort and style; think breathable, natural fabrics such as cotton and linen. But even though the ceremony may be at a resort or on a beach, depending on the dress code indicated on the invite, your kids might stick out at the wedding in summertime faves like waterproof shoes and denim shorts. It's always better to err on the side of dressy.

Kids IDLF Chambray Cotton Blazer, $29.90, Uniqlo

Kids Tie-Belt Drop-Waist Dress, $54.95 (on sale for $39.99), Gap

Petit Bateau Baby Short Sleeved Dress, $55 (on sale for $38.50), Advice From A Caterpillar

The accessories

No matter how fancy or embellished they are, the best kids' accessories can be worn for everyday occasions, too. Where possible, look for versatile pieces that can also be styled with jeans and t-shirts instead of dresses and bow ties without losing any of their glam factor.