Having children at your wedding may be something of a challenge and it’s normal for brides to stress out a bit at the thought of their favorite nephew throwing a temper tantrum during the best man’s speech. Although weddings are fun and exciting for adults, they can be long and boring for younger audiences, who may be uncomfortable in their formal wear and might not be used to at having to sit quietly for long periods of time.
If you’ll be having younger guests at your wedding, there are some things you can do to keep them occupied and hopefully steer them away from tantrums or trouble of any kinds. Here are some ideas for making the kids at your wedding feel welcome:
1. If your ceremony will be more than ten minutes (as most ceremonies are), consider providing kid fun packs for your younger guests. Fill small bags with drawing pads, crayons, word puzzles, mazes, or other quiet activities that kids can enjoy in their seats. You could also include chewing gum, although you run the risk of bubbles popping or wads of gum left behind at the ceremony site.
2. Bags of favors for the kids are a must at your reception, since their parents will want to keep them occupied. Since your reception will likely be a bit noisier than your ceremony, you can include more things in these bags, like toys, favors, candy, bracelets, stickers, or art supplies. You might also want to throw in a one-time-use camera, since kids are sure to get shots that nobody else will have!
3. If a lot of kids will be at your reception, see if there’s a separate room you could designate as “kids only”. Hire a couple of babysitters and give the kids lots to do. Bring coloring books, games, and a movie so every age has something to occupy them. You could even ask your florist to create a piñata filled with inexpensive toys to keep the kids excited and entertained.
4. Be sure to offer kid-friendly foods at your reception. Not all children might enjoy the five-star cuisine you’ve selected for the majority of your guests, so the sudden appearance of chicken nuggets, pizza, and macaroni-and-cheese will be a thoughtful and welcome gesture on your part. If your caterer can’t provide you with these foods, pack some sack lunches with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, a fruit cup, and a cookie and have them available for parents.
5. If you have someone coming to your wedding who may be breastfeeding, find out ahead of time where a private area they can use is and then have a family member or bridesmaid pass that information along to the guest. It will save them from wandering out to find a place or choosing to breastfeed at the table (which may bother some of your other wedding guests).
