Help! Fashion Dilemma

[mom2boys]

Our family is going to a wedding next weekend. I am not sure what my teenaged boys should be wearing.
It's an afternoon church wedding with reception at a neighborhood golf/pool club. It's not a "big city" type place/town - just regular folks.

I hesitate to purchase suits because they won't have another opportunity to wear them before they out grow them. They do each own a nice pair of dress pants so I was hoping to build on that. My boys' uniform of the day is typically t-shirt & levi's, so I am CLUELESS.

 

[luvmy3]

Dress pants, shirt and tie.

 

[powellrj]

I would think that dress pants and a nice polo would be fine.

 

[Rora]

Dress pants, shirt and tie.

I agree. This is perfect. Have a good time at the wedding!

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

because its a daytime/casual wedding... nice khaki pants, button down shirt and a sportcoat... no tie

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I think khakis, a polo and sportcoat would be fine as well...

 

[LuvOrlando]

I would check with the reception hall to see what the standard dress code is there and ask the bride about how people would probably dress as well. Maybe this group is low key and suits won't be likely on the other guests. On the other hand, if everyone is wearing suits and your kids are not how would that make you feel, or your kids feel? If you and your kids wouldn't be embarrassed then skip the suits, but if it would be a problem I'd reconsider. We are going to a wedding in August and my DS12 does also need a new suit and dress shoes. Like your boys, mine won't need it again, so I will probably go with something on the inexpensive side maybe from Burlington Coat Factory. To make his suit and my DD11's new dress more useful I have already decided that I will have them sit for a family photo in those new outfits, probably a Christmas themed one when the props come out in early November to add to the others on my wall

 

[luvmy3]

OP, how old are your boys because that makes a difference. If they are little a polo would be fine, but if they are older then a polo may be to casual for a wedding, even with a sports coat. The last wedding we went to my boys wore khakis, dress shirt and a sport coat, no tie and there were other young boys there in polos, and some in cute dress shirts and vests, all of the older (I'd say 10+) were wearing shirts and ties, no jackets.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I would check with the reception hall to see what the standard dress code is there and ask the bride about how people would probably dress as well. Maybe this group is low key and suits won't be likely on the other guests. On the other hand, if everyone is wearing suits and your kids are not how would that make you feel, or your kids feel? If you and your kids wouldn't be embarrassed then skip the suits, but if it would be a problem I'd reconsider. We are going to a wedding in August and my DS12 does also need a new suit and dress shoes. Like your boys, mine won't need it again, so I will probably go with something on the inexpensive side maybe from Burlington Coat Factory. To make his suit and my DD11's new dress more useful I have already decided that I will have them sit for a family photo in those new outfits, probably a Christmas themed one when the props come out in early November to add to the others on my wall

I like the idea of calling the reception hall... but DON'T call the bride over something like this...

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

OP, how old are your boys because that makes a difference. If they are little a polo would be fine, but if they are older then a polo may be to casual for a wedding, even with a sports coat. The last wedding we went to my boys wore khakis, dress shirt and a sport coat, no tie and there were other young boys there in polos, and some in cute dress shirts and vests, all of the older (I'd say 10+) were wearing shirts and ties, no jackets.

good point--- my son had just turned 1 at my sister in law's wedding...he wasn't walking yet... We had him dress in khaki's, a button-down shirt and sweater vest...

 

[golfgal]

Around here most boys wear dress pants and a button down shirt (short or long sleeved) for weddings. Usually you see ties on little boys (3-5 year olds because at that age they like ties). RARELY do you see a boy in a suit or sport coat.

Unless it is an exclusive golf club, dress pants and a nice shirt (polo or button down) will be perfectly acceptable.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I like the idea of calling the reception hall... but DON'T call the bride over something like this...

Why not call the bride? What if the Op and bride are close? I wouldn't call if I didn't know them well but if it was my niece or BFF or BFF's kid I would call and ask without hesitation. The fact the OP's 3 kids were invited at all leads me to think they must be close

 

[Christine]

We've been faced with this a few times.

My son is tall and skinny with long arms. We have no hope in the world of getting a sport coat to fit him without some serious alterations ($$$$). I refuse to do it as he is 15 and will probably get one wearing out of it a year. Our family weddings are few and far between and we don't do anything else that requires him to dress up.

So, for the last wedding, which was winter, I got him a very dressy sweater, a dress shirt and tie, and dress pants. Still kind of expensive but the sweater fit him at least.

During warmer months, I used the same pants and got him a long sleeved dress shirt and a tie. He wasn't as "together" looking as I would have liked but I think he fit in well with the dress code and looked fine.

 

[crz4mm2]

I would think that dress pants and a nice polo would be fine.

I totally agree with this.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

For teenage boys dress pants, dress shoes, a button down long sleeve shirt and tie will be fine. Finding inexpensive dress shoes is a challenge. Start as soon as possible.

About the suits though you would be surprised at how long they fit IF your boys do not have large growth spurts. And IF they continue to have the same build (remain skinny, remain a bit broad....)

My boys are slow and steady, no major growth spurts. We bought them one suit for 8th grade, just a tad big, with deep hems in the pants, and they wore those through high school.

They then got new suits for high school graduation, again a bit big and wore those through college. My boys are over 6 feet tall, just slow steady growers.

We just bought our son, a music major graduating from college, a new interview suit and a tuxedo (for conducting) and I'm sure he'll wear those for years too.

Also wanted to add that if you have a Salvation Army resale shop you will be shocked at what you can find. People donate brand new clothing still with tags. If your boys wear men's sizes I am positive you could pick up some things.

 

[Liberty Belle]

because its a daytime/casual wedding... nice khaki pants, button down shirt and a sportcoat... no tie

, but I think they'd be just fine without the sportcoats, too.

 

[SaraJayne]

Khaki's and a polo shirt would be just fine.

If you wore a jacket/sportcoat to a wedding around here, people would think you were snobby.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

Khaki's and a polo shirt would be just fine.

If you wore a jacket/sportcoat to a wedding around here, people would think you were snobby.

this. but not about the sport coat. There are many trendy "sport" coats out there these days that many guys just wear around...My DH has 2 trendy style ones he wears out with t shirts.

But for OP's occasion, I would say khakis and a nice polo would be more than ok. (at least that would be the norm for that kind of venue here)

 

[java]

Around here it would be Dress pants shirt and tie for teens.
Little boys- khaki pants and polo works.

 

[mom2boys]

Thanks to all who posted. I got them each a dress shirt & tie. I did go for the Jerry Garcia ties - they are very colorful. We'll see what they say when they return from camping.