Children's Outfits for Weddings: A Colour and Cut Guide

The Question of White, and Choosing a Colour

It is widely accepted that white belongs to the bride at a wedding. For younger children, white or ecru is usually not an issue, and at some weddings it is even chosen at the bride's request. Still, if the child will stand beside the bride and be photographed with her, a tone that is not too close to the wedding dress is generally the more comfortable choice.

Off-white, ecru, powder, nude and champagne give the feeling of white without competing with the wedding dress. If bridesmaid colours have already been set, choosing the child's dress from that palette keeps the photos coherent. When you are not sure, asking the bride herself is the shortest way to avoid discussion afterwards.

• Avoid exactly the same shade of white as the wedding dress
• Off-white, ecru, powder, champagne and nude are safe tones
• If there is a bridesmaid palette, pick a tone from the same family
• Ask the bride a one-sentence question before deciding

Cut and Skirt Length

What decides the cut is the child's age and how much she will move about at the wedding. For younger children, below-the-knee or ankle-length skirts are far more practical than designs with a long train; the risk of catching on stairs or in a crowd drops. If a full-length dress is preferred for older children, the hem needs to be adjusted with the shoes on.

A-line and lightly full skirts suit most builds and do not make it hard for a child to sit down and get up. Marking the waist with a soft sash or a seam rather than a stiff corset makes for a more comfortable evening. When the dress is sewn to measure, the skirt length, armhole and waist height can all be set to the child, so most of these problems are solved from the start.

If you want fullness, creating it with an underlayer rather than stiff tulle keeps the surface touching the skin soft. A proper lining inside a tulle skirt is one of those details that makes a difference over a long evening.

• For younger children, below-the-knee or ankle length is more practical
• A-line and lightly full skirts do not make sitting and standing difficult
• Marking the waist with a soft sash rather than a stiff corset is more comfortable
• Measure the skirt length with the shoes on

Day or Evening, Indoors or Outdoors

At daytime weddings held outdoors, light tones and lighter fabrics come into their own. In the sun, dark and heavy fabrics leave a child sweating before long. At outdoor weddings the ground is grass or soil, so the hems of long skirts get dirty; keeping the skirt a little shorter is a practical solution.

At evening weddings held indoors the light is lower, so textured fabrics and options with some weight to them, such as satin and velvet, look better. Bear in mind, though, that indoor halls get warmer than expected; a many-layered design can become a problem halfway through the evening. In air-conditioned halls, a bolero or shawl alongside a thin-sleeved design is useful.

• Daytime and outdoors: light tones, light fabric, a shorter hem
• Evening and indoors: textured fabric but few layers
• At an outdoor wedding thin heels sink into the ground, so choose flat soles
• Keep a bolero or shawl with you for an air-conditioned hall

Designs for a wedding

Rose Gold Sequin Long Party Dress₺3,500 · VAT includedSalmon Tulle Party Dress with Pearl Collar & Bow₺3,500 · VAT includedLilac & Peach Layered Tulle Princess Dress₺3,500 · VAT includedPeach 3D Flower Bodice Tulle Fairy Dress₺3,500 · VAT included

Dancing, Playing and Freedom of Movement

At a wedding a child will most likely run, dance and sit on the floor. So the outfit needs to be judged not only while she is standing still but also while she is moving. In a dress with a tight armhole she cannot raise her arms, and that is the first thing she will complain about during play.

At the fitting, having the child sit down, raise her arms and walk a few steps reveals most problems in advance. Measuring the skirt length with the shoes on prevents catching on stairs and on the dance floor. Separating the stiff tulle from the backs of the legs with a lining gives a comfort that becomes noticeable as the evening goes on.

• The armhole and shoulder width should not restrict movement
• At the fitting, have the child sit down and walk
• With the shoes on, the hem should stay clear of the floor
• Ask for a soft lining inside the tulle skirt

Shoes and Accessories

Shoes are one of the biggest sources of trouble on a wedding night. Low heels or flats with non-slip soles are a better choice than high heels. New shoes worn for the first time on the morning of the wedding are very likely to rub; having the child wear them at home for a few days beforehand reduces that. Keeping a spare pair of flats in your bag also makes the rest of the evening easier.

With accessories, fewer and lighter pieces work better. A heavy tiara and tightly pinned hair can turn into a headache after a few hours; a light clip or headband can be worn for much longer. As an outer layer, a bolero or shawl that matches the dress is useful both in an air-conditioned hall and on the way out.

• Low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles
• Have her wear the shoes at home a few days before the wedding
• Keep spare flats and a spare pair of thin socks with you
• A light clip or headband instead of a heavy tiara