Wedding clothes for small kids

[Breezed]

We don’t live in the UK but we’ve been invited to a wedding in England next month. I have no idea what sort of thing small children should wear as I haven’t been to a UK wedding in years. Could anyone give me an idea of how formal 5 and 2 year olds would be expected to dress? We will be over there for a week before the wedding so ideally I’d buy something there. Which shops are best for this?

They don't have to be formal.

Ideally clean, and I'd avoid clothes with cartoon characters and naff slogans.

I'd aim to put girls in a traditional(ish) dress or boys and girls in trousers/shorts (not denim and usually not joggers, but that would be Ok for a two year old) with a shirt plus jersey (or good quality sweatshirt). You can get more partyish suits sold for boys, and if you want to dress them up than would be fine too, but it's not needed.

Try shopping in a department store such as John Lewis, or Monsoon (if you want dressier)

Not at all formal. The children being comfortable is way more important (because no one wants unhappy children!!)
At that age, my daughter would have worn a simple dress (she loves a frock) and my son shorts and a casual shirt…. A smart T-shirt not a button down shirt.
Depending on budget, you’ll be able to find something in H&M.

I think Boden is your best bet. Good fabrics and clothes that look really well.There are some really pretty cotton dresses in H&M also.

People do generally dress them a bit smarter than usual. Boy- trousers or tailored shorts if hit and a shirt. Girl- pretty dress or outfit or party dress.

If either of your children enjoy wearing a pretty dress then this is a great opportunity. If either or both are boys, then trousers and a shirt would be really cute. I doubt that anyone would mind in the slightest what very young children wear. I remember just feeling really glad that anyone turned up at all. I loved having children at my wedding.

Unless your kids are part of the wedding party then my aim is always clothes that they will get more than one wear out of

Boy - chino or cord type trousers (or shorts) and a shirt in a plain colour. I wouldn’t get new shoes specifically for a wedding personally, but I’d probably make sure they were in reasonably decent condition. Nice plain jumper if it’s cold weather.

Girl - either a summer or a winter dress with sparkly shoes. If you have a party dress then even better! My DD would wear this outfit daily if she could so no problem getting her into it

As others have said just avoid slogan or character t shirts, then beyond that go with whatever your DC will enjoy. If they like dressing up then dress them up in something smart but longevity and practicality is the key. Just don’t do what we did and rush off forgetting their shoes 🤦‍♀️

I'm not a big fan of small children in suits and I don't like buying things that won't get worn again, so I've always dressed DS in stretchy chino type trousers (he had some cute ones with little embroidered whales on them last year from M&S) or short twill material dungarees or shorts (not denim) and a soft, loose shirt or polo shirt. Smart, but he is comfy and can bumble about happily in them and still looks like a child, plus will wear them again. He's never looked out of place and I've taken him to some pretty formal weddings dressed like that.

Thank you for all the replies. I had been thinking a pair of navy chinos and a light colored short sleeve shirt and jumper for if it turns cold so I’m glad I’m not on the wrong lines. It was another friend who asked me if they would be wearing suits and it got me worried that they’d look horribly underdressed.

Small children in suits look a bit naff, to me at any rate. Navy chinos and a smart-ish shirt sounds really sweet and age appropriate.

I really rate Next for childrens wedding outfits. We wear and then will sell on. I don’t think a suit is quite right, but I like the boys in chinos with a shirt and waistcoat. Girls will look lovely in a party style dress that they can wear again. www.next.co.uk/shop/gender-olderboys-gender-youngerboys-productaffiliation-boyssuits-0