Having kids at your wedding can add a little chaos to your day, but it’s doesn’t have to!
If you’re feeling a little stressed about having children at your wedding, don’t panic. Today we are sharing all the advice on how to manage the entire thing and whether inviting kids is the right thing to do. We’ve got lots to cover so get ready to jump in…
Image: McCormack Imaging Studio
Should I invite children to my wedding?
There is no simple yes or no answer to this question, it’s a lot more complex than that. Before you make any decisions you should consider these things;
1. Can you afford them – Some venues, but not all, will offer discounts on children’s meals but it will still be an added expense to your day. If you’re not in the position to spend more, this will make your answer fairly easy to decide.
2. Venue restrictions – Has your venue got the space to accommodate the extra numbers?
3. Consider the other guests – Everyone has their own personal feelings on what makes a wedding. For some that will include children, for others it won’t. You need to decide if your wedding guests will enjoy the day (parents of the kids included!) if they are there or safely at home being cared for.
4. The style of your day – If you’re having a very formal or luxury day, the hustle and bustle that will come with children in attendance, may not suit your day.
Whatever you decide, ensure your decision is a blanket decision for every guest invited, so that parents can make arrangements for their children. Of course you might find you have to make some exceptions, for nursing mothers etc, but try your best to make one decision for all.
How to include/not include children on wedding invitations…
First up, you should check out this post – Your Guide To Wedding Invitation Wording. As weddings are costed on a price per head, it’s important to make your wishes clear on your invites such as adding specific children’s names, not just ‘and family.’
Image: Elisa Wedding Childcare
Top tips for managing children at your wedding
1. Try seating families together, especially if they know each other. This could help them manage them during the speeches and meal. Many hands make light work as they say!
2. Implement a ‘bed time’ for any invited children. We’re not saying you should march them off the dance floor but having a prearranged time set with those families with kids is a great idea, so that both you and they know after that time is adult party time.
3. Expect crazy things to happen – never work with children or animals – this is a popular saying for a reason! Try not to stress about noise or antics of the children.
4. Include child friendly details such as entertainment at the table, things like colouring books and bubbles go down well. If you budget allows you could have a kid zone with teepees and toys.
5. Consider on the day childcare from our fabulous recommended childcare suppliers – discover them here.
Hopefully you are feeling a little more prepared on having children at your wedding, or not. As we said at the very beginning, every wedding is unique and the decision may not be clear immediately but hopefully we’ve helped you work through your decision.
