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Original poster

Matching dresses for a wedding, tacky or not?

37 replies

GoAwayNaughtyPigeon · 12/02/2026 09:02

Looking for opinions as I haven't yet decided what to dress my 2 DDs in! Have a wedding to attend this year, everyone invited etc. 2 DDs, will be 3 and 1 at time of wedding. Is it cute or tacky to wear matching dresses?! I don't normally like matchy matchy clothes and think it looks quite tacky but for a wedding in feel its a bit different. (They aren't flower girls, just regular guests)

Either way I will not be spending £100s on dresses for them and will probably get something on Vinted or from Next or M&S or similar price range, certainly not shelling out for something very expensive for a one day event that they'll inevitably get covered in food anyway 😂

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Superscientist · 12/02/2026 12:39

I'd do semi matching so same/similar colours or style.

Sidebeforeself · 12/02/2026 12:33

snowibunni · 12/02/2026 12:27

It's a wedding though. I'm not an advocate of wearing for example matching fleeces with pictures of wolves on...

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I still think it would look cringey

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 12/02/2026 12:30

Mumsnet is really weird about this. Yes forcing your older children to wear matching outfits against their will frequently is not OK and would look odd.

Getting very small children to wear matching outfits for one event when they're too small to pick their own clothes anyway (or at least one of them is) is absolutely fine, and in real life I don't know anyone who would make a judgement about this for small kids.

snowibunni · 12/02/2026 12:27

Sidebeforeself · 12/02/2026 11:15

Oh God I think that would look awful!

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It's a wedding though. I'm not an advocate of wearing for example matching fleeces with pictures of wolves on...

BoredZelda · 12/02/2026 12:16

My sister and I wore matching clothes all the time at that age, even to weddings. Nobody mistook us for part of the wedding party.

It bugged me when we were older but was fine at that age.

Pinkponyclub26 · 12/02/2026 12:14

I’ve done this and got the same print, different styles from H&M
they were adorable and same age 1&3

MuddyPawsIndoors · 12/02/2026 11:20

Is it cute or tacky to wear matching dresses?! I don't normally like matchy matchy clothes and think it looks quite tacky but for a wedding in feel its a bit different.

Why different because it's a wedding?

SleepingStandingUp · 12/02/2026 11:18

It's fine op. Avoid the poofy style dresses that are typical of flower girls. Avoid wedding colours. If anyone deducts from matching dresses on a baby and toddler that in no way fit the wedding theme that they must be part of the wedding party, that's on them

Sidebeforeself · 12/02/2026 11:15

snowibunni · 12/02/2026 10:36

As per pp's. I think the three of you in matching outfits would look cute!. Alternatively (as per pp) go for the same colour palette or style. Is there a male partner/husband going who could wear a tie/waistcoat In same colour/shadow?

I think being coordinated in what ever way you decide will look great.

Oh God I think that would look awful!

namechangetheworld · 12/02/2026 10:45

Isadora2007 · 12/02/2026 09:10

Tacky, sorry. Maybe same dresses in different colours? Though personally unless a wee one is a confident Walker I hate seeing them in dresses as it seems so uncomfortable to be carried in a dress and try to stand up or crawl etc. Always makes me feel that females are at a disadvantage right from the word go in terms of our looks being prioritised over our comfort. So a cute play suit type outfit for the baby and a dress for the older one might be a refreshing option!

How is a dress any more uncomfortable, or difficult to walk in, than a playsuit?

namechangetheworld · 12/02/2026 10:41

I usually dress mine in matching dresses on special occasions. It's cute, and they enjoy matching. If they didn't, I wouldn't do it.

I imagine as my eldest enters the tween stage she will refuse to match her sister, so I'm making the most of it whilst I can.

EmpressaurusKitty · 12/02/2026 10:37

Is there that much difference between cute & tacky? And aren’t they both the same as twee?

snowibunni · 12/02/2026 10:36

As per pp's. I think the three of you in matching outfits would look cute!. Alternatively (as per pp) go for the same colour palette or style. Is there a male partner/husband going who could wear a tie/waistcoat In same colour/shadow?

I think being coordinated in what ever way you decide will look great.

Sidebeforeself · 12/02/2026 10:22

Maybe in the same/similar colours but not exact same dresses. But also..nobody is going to be paying any attention to what they wear.

FlowerFairyDaisy · 12/02/2026 10:18

Dislike matching; I would go for similar but different dresses.

SemmaLina · 12/02/2026 10:14

My 2 nephews wore matching shorts and tops to our wedding , they looked super cute ( and no one thought they were page boys )
Just find out the colour the bridesmaids are wearing , and choose something different !

TakeTheCuntingQuichePatricia · 12/02/2026 10:07

I have boys, but never dressed them the same except when they were page boys. They did have "coordinating" outfits though. So the same colour scheme.

QuickPeachPoet · 12/02/2026 10:04

Massively tacky.
Get them different outfits, preferably in different colours. They're two individuals, not a pair of book ends.

sixsept · 12/02/2026 10:00

I think matching would be cute! And I bet your 3-year-old would love it.

Debonnaire · 12/02/2026 09:57

I had 3 girls, and found same/similar dress in different colours a nicer look, and you could pass them down to the younger ones without it being the same dress for years. I only once dressed them alike (leggings and tunic) and honestly think it looks weird in the photos!

CaterpillarColin · 12/02/2026 09:56

I got matching dresses for my daughters (ages 9 months and 3) for my sister’s wedding. I checked with her before buying the dresses and she wasn’t bothered in the slightest. Nobody thought they were bridesmaids, but as I’m writing that now I can’t even see it would be a problem if someone did think that.

TorroFerney · 12/02/2026 09:52

I thought op meant her and the children matching! I’ve a photo of me as a small child wearing a dress from the same material as my mums . Also round the pool in Florida a couple of years ago where mum dad grandma and grandad and the five children all had the same patterned swimwear on. They looked completely insufferable, there was an aura of look how fertile we are!

ExtraOnions · 12/02/2026 09:47

I think it looks cute .. just avoid the colours in the bridal party. We have loads of family photos of weddings in the 70s & 80s where Children are matching

Though this was pre Insta-Crap, Bridezilla, Wedding Planner, Demanding, Boundary setting nonesense we seem to have now.

Rewis · 12/02/2026 09:46

When I see kids in matching clothing I don't really think it is cute or tacky. It is just small kifs wearing matching outfits, no further thoughts.

Morecoffeethanks · 12/02/2026 09:41

I tend to do on a theme, you get some lovely ted baker dresses from the same collection on Vinted, so similar but not matching.