Babysitting services?

mohutch37

Hi, Knotties!

I am planning an afternoon wedding reception at the Caswell House and since it isn't very kid-friendly environment (historical mansion), I was curious to know if someone was willing to help me out or at least give me adive. First, I need to figure out where to put the kids and secondly who will watch them? Below I have included some of my crazy ideas for your amusement.

A) Babystitting at reception site- Is it a bad idea to have a babysitter for about 8 kids stuck in one bedroom with a bathroom attached, for the length of the reception and possibly the ceremony (the reception will probably last for 4 hrs)? The kids range from 10 months to 5 yrs old (at the time of our October date) and most of them wouldn't know each other.
 
 Another thought was looking into hotels- I was trying to find a hotel for the kids to be taken to but it doesn't seem like an extra room would be provided free of charge. Should I get an extra room added on to my reservations and divide the cost between the parents of the kids? (Also, we are on a tight budget so I would ask that the guests pay for the babysitter too. This cost could potentially add up if there aren't enough kids.) Then I still have to search for someone I don't really know to watch the kids, and I have no idea how to find a kindergarden teacher (suggestion by theknot) who is looking for extra income. Any takers or is this just a bad idea?

Just a little background info- FI's family is adamant that kids be invited to the wedding and my mother thinks it would be nice to invite them. Since we have family and friends coming from out of town, potentially all but one kid is not from the Austin area and so my guest list could be jeopardized by not including kids on the invite. My FI and I are helping pay for the wedding, so we hope that we can either only invite family or make the parents pay for provided babysitters.

Please tell me everything! Thanks in advance.

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kelseymw

I voted for the reception site because it would be most convenient for your guests. They wouldn't have to make multiple stops to drop their kids off somewhere and wouldn't have to go out of their way to pick them up afterwards. Also, with children that low in age, if something happened it's good that their parent would be close by. 

I also don't like the hotel idea (aside from the inconvenience) because it puts the financial burden on your guests if you split the cost between them. Granted it wouldn't cost that much divided amongst a few families, but it's still an extra cost. Plus I'd feel kind of weird about living my child at a hotel with a stranger... 

As for where to find a babysitter, are any of your parent guests from Austin? Perhaps they know a babysitter that they or friends use for you to hire for the evening. You will have to pay them pretty well to watch a large number of children, though. Especially because it will be a pretty "high maintenance" job with children of so many different ages. 

How many kids are you talking though? It might be kind of crowded and a bit impossible to keep a large number of kids with that large of an age gap in one bedroom for that long.  Personally, I'd let kids be part of the reception because they are there anyway. Kids are such a big part of my family I'd feel weird about having them at my wedding but "held up" in a bedroom.  (I think I'd feel different if it was at a church hall or something with a kid's room. I don't know... I'm not sure.) 

Another option, if you don't want kids at the reception, let parents know in advance that it is "adults only". Some people do this (and some people hate it). But ultimately, it's what you want.  This would allow them to find a sitter in advance and you wouldn't have to deal with any of it.

kelseymw

By the way, sorry if my answer conflicts things you said in your post. The formatting is showing up weird on my computer and the last word of all your sentences are all cut off so I just guessed what you were saying in some spots, haha 

kellster22

I don't want children at my wedding. I know it will cut down on my guest list - but I don't care. I have simply been to too many weddings where the kids are running around like crazy or crying and it is just too distracting. I know that sounds mean, and I want my own some day - but my save the date cards say "adult only" event. I am hoping if I give them plenty of notice they can work out their own baby sitting.

pacificgalx

I am having this same issue too with what to do with kids for my guests so I decided that I am having a limited number of kids at my wedding. The ones that I do invite will be included on the invite. I also have been at too many weddings where the kids are just running around like crazy. Plus if I included all children, then this really increases the guest list and costs. Even if my parents offered to pay for all children, I don't want a bunch of kids at my wedding.

I don't think it's right to hole the kids up in a room especially if it's at the same venue. If it's at the same venue, they might as well be included in the reception.

I think that if your guests want to bring their own children, then it would be their call but those that don't will probably handle their own babysitting. I personally would not want a stranger watching my kids (esp at a young age)  and would prefer to go to a wedding without my children in tow.

Good luck!

erollis

They should be included at the reception is my opionion (my family is also over run with kids). If you think they disrupt the ceremony then you could have them in a room with a babysitter watching a dvd and coloring with the Crayola markers that don't mark on anything but the paper. Plus during the reception you could provide activities for the kids (coloring books, puzzles, etc.). Also whoever is catering the reception may have kid friendly food or even discount those plates since children eat smaller portions. To force people( who are already spending to travel to the wedding and giving you gifts) to pay for a babysitter and/ or hotel room at the venue or off is bad taste. IF you really don't want to have any kids then let everyone know that no kids are allowed and do not make ANY exceptions. This way they can find there own babysitter or not come if they cannot part with there child.

amandabartlett

Just an idea....

Probably 60% of our guests have at least one child. There is actually a seperate room at our venue that we are using as a make-shift daycare. My sister has 3 children and we have hired her babysitter +4 others to watch all of the kids. We are putting a TV and activities in the room to keep the kids entertained. Parents are welcome (it's suggested lol) to drop their kids off with the babysitters before the ceremony and check on them throughout the reception. I also didnt want crazy kids running around annoying everyone and breaking things (there's always that ONE kid that has to ruin it for all of them) so instead of stressing about it, I'm footing the bill to pay for a bunch of sitters. I think it's a great idea!