9

Dec

2015

Ask The Experts: Children at Weddings – What to do With Them to Stop the Meltdowns

It’s a double dose of wedding planning advice this week. On Monday we brought you advice on planning your wedding at home and today it is all about Children at weddings.

For some reason the topic of children at weddings has alway been a contentious one. When the subject is raised it always divides people and opinions are split. To be totally honest even my own opinion has changed since I have had my own child.
Today we aren’t here to debate whether children should attend weddings, instated we are here to offer some advice on what to do with them if you do decide to invite them to your big day.

Today I have enlisted the help of the good people at MummyPages to help with some hints and tips.

1 Children at Weddings - What to do With Them to Stop the Meltdowns

(photo by John Anderson Photography)

2 Children at Weddings - What to do With Them to Stop the Meltdowns

(photo by James and Lianne)

3 Children at Weddings - What to do With Them to Stop the Meltdowns

(photo by Babb Photo)

1) In the church or venue where the service takes place. Try and get the ushers to sit parents with young children at the end of the rows, so that is they can exit quickly and quietly if needs be. Have a child friendly program with a picture of the bride and groom for them to colour in.

 
2) Have a children’s table at the wedding which is covered with a paper table cloth. Have crayons and stickers for them to decorate it with. If not for the meal time have a long tressle table set up for them after the meal. Have kid friendly themed placemats to keep them entertained during the speeches. Serve them milk and a cookie for the toasting or pink lemonade.

4 Children at Weddings - What to do With Them to Stop the Meltdowns

(photo by Sam and Louise)

3) Have kid friendly food for the children. If they eat then they are less likely to have a meltdown. Check with parents that children do not have any allergies.

 
4) When you are choosing your venue, see if there is a room you could use for somewhere parents can take their children for some down time. Earlier in the day it can be a place to run around but later on in the evening play some relaxing music in the room- keep it a calm place. Set up crafts in the room (maybe cards they can make the bride and groom), have a lego box, have some board games and books. For the slightly older children perhaps a TV and Wii console.

6 Children at Weddings - What to do With Them to Stop the Meltdowns

(photo by Neil Jackson Photographic)

5) Set up a pack’n play or two in the room for the little ones to have some down time if needed.
 
6) Have favours for the kids that are age appropriate. Perhaps a favour bag filled with small toys, a colouring book, crayons, glow sticks, travel games and some sweeties.
 
7) Have a children’s dance competition for 1 song and ask the DJ to play ‘Let it go’- obviously!

7 Children at Weddings - What to do With Them to Stop the Meltdowns

(photo by Sam and Louise)

8) If you can hire a baby sitter/s to keep them entertained, happy and safe. (Alternatively rope in your 14+ year old nieces and nephews/cousins as entertainment!)

8 Children at Weddings - What to do With Them to Stop the Meltdowns

(photo by This and That Photography)

MummyPages’ Wedding survey 2015 surveyed over 1,200 mums across the UK.

In general, most MummyPages mums believe children should not automatically be invited to attend a wedding celebration

o   72% think it’s entirely up to the discretion of the bride and groom as it’s their day.

o   25% said that only children directly related to the bride or groom should be automatically invited to a wedding celebration

o   However 86% believe that young babies under six months should always be invited to attend a wedding

5 Children at Weddings - What to do With Them to Stop the Meltdowns

 

If you have any other idea on how children can be kept entertained at weddings then do feel free to comment below.

Thanks to www.mummypages.co.uk for todays advice.

 

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Comments

    Flick @theycalleditthediamondblog

    Great collection of tips for weddings with children invited. I’ve been to weddings where the kids are invited to the ceremony but not the wedding breakfast/evening and I think that works well. The problem with inviting some children is then you had to add all (in my experience) and that can make it very expensive (especially if you have a large family!). It’s easy to say it’s your choice but sometimes I think it’s simpler just to say no kids, having witnessed a couple of family arguments when some children have been invited and some haven’t!

    Reply

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