What do you think of a teenager at a wedding in jeans?

[mintchocchick]

We have a family wedding coming up.

DS1 who is nearly 13 lives in jeans or scout trousers and t-shirts, hoodies, really casual stuff and is not interested in clothes at all. I asked him to choose chinos and smart shirt for the wedding, took him into Gap as he shunned other places, and he picked:

red, skinny jeans
checked smart shirt in several blues

They look great on him, but for a wedding??

My Mum thinks they're fine - she asked the bride to be who said 'as long as he's happy, he can wear what he likes' but I'm worried it will look wrong on the day and be too late!

[MultumInParvo]

Sounds fine to me!

[chickensaladagain]

Weddings are much more casual affairs than they used to be

Your mum and the bride thinks he will be fine, so he will be fine

[Thesebootsweremadeforwalking]

Sounds ok to me TBH. Could he be persuaded into a jacket of some kind to smarten it up, perhaps?

[mintchocchick]

Oh thanks that sounds great. I can switch off!!

[Doodledumdums]

Well I had a couple of adults turn up to my wedding in jeans, which I thought was very inappropriate. Especially as one of them was female...which I know is massively sexist, but for some reason it annoyed me even more! However, I wouldn't have a problem with a teenager turning up in jeans, not in the slightest.

[Pagwatch]

Tbh unless the wedding is informal i would think it was too caual. I woud never let my teenage boys wear jeans to a formal do.
But if the bride thinks its fine then that's probably fine.

[BOF]

I wouldn't worry at all, I'd just be pleased to see them.

[alto1]

He took an interest
He chose clothes that he likes and will wear again
Granny happy, bride happy
Lucky you. What are you wearing?
Have a great time

[mintchocchick]

The bride is informal and lovely with DS so I know she means what she says about it being fine by her. But as she is Scottish lots of men will be in kilts including the groom- so that makes it formal.

She's my cousin but we're English so I didn't want to go down kilt route. I thought maybe because the jeans were bright red they'd be not seen as jeans?!

[MarthasHarbour]

That sounds like a really cool/smart/casual outfit.

If the bride isnt bothered, and she just sounds happy to have you all there, then don't worry. Just go and enjoy yourselves.

[AuntieStella]

Well, I think it's a bit too casual. But as bride and yr mother are OK with it, I wouldn't fret

[mintchocchick]

Thanks for replies!

I'm in a gorgeous green Kaliko dress - lacy, shift type style which I love. And DS2 who is 8 is the smartest of them all in lovely shirt and tie and smart chinos!

[BackforGood]

I would think it too casual, but probably think that his parents had bigger things to worry about, and the fact he was there at all was probably an achievement

[mintchocchick]

The alternative is to hire a kilt for him - which would mean both boys, as DS2 would love to wear one. The last time we did that for a family party it was £60 for DS1! He did love it though and joined in with the ceilidh - though he was 10yrs - he might well be too cool for that now!

[usualsuspect]

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

Surely the days of stuffy formal weddings are long gone.

[elastamum]

My brother is getting married in Dec and both my two teenage DS will be in suits. even if I have to bribe them

It is DSIL's big day and her DC will dress up too. I would be mortified if they wore jeans but maybe I am just old fashioned

[mintchocchick]

I feel that as children of a cousin to the bride, they're not that closely related so can be more casual, but maybe I'm trying to justify something that I'm really unsure about!

If it were my brothers wedding, they would dress up more because they'd be more involved and central. My DH really thinks DS1 should be in a suit, and he thinks we should insist. I would love to let him be himself and he does look cool and lovely in his red skinnies. And way smarter than the usual scout trousers!

[Cravingdairy]

Much better for him to be happy and comfortable than self conscious and cross in an outfit he doesn't like. The bride has expressly said she doesn't mind so you have nothing to worry about.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Hi-jack ........................

I used to argue with my mum about jeans at church.

I was a teenager
My mother used to make me 'dress up' for church
Our minister used to say he didn't care what the teens wore as long as they turned up.

So I guess jeans (smart jeans) at a wedding are OK

[ICantRememberWhatSheSaid]

Sounds really nice. Much better than him wearing something he won't wear again.

Just make sure his jeans are hoiked up (not in a matronly MN fashion but just so you can't see his undies/boxers)

[usualsuspect]

My DS would have refused point blank to wear a suit as a teenager.I wouldn't have made him wear one either.

[AnyFucker]

would not bother me at all

[ChippingInWiredOnCoffee]

I think regular jeans are far too casual for weddings - but brand new red jeans and check shirt sounds fine :)

Bride is happy
Grandmother is happy
Mother is happy

... job done :) Tell DH - MN said so

It is a total waste of money buying a suit for a lad that age and he will feel like a prat in it - so not worth it. Kilts would be cool though if he'd wear one now?!

[TidyDancer]

It wouldn't bother me at all. The outfit sounds nice. :)

I would probably give him the option of the kilt if you can afford the hire price, but I wouldn't worry otherwise.

You did the right thing checking with the bride.