Your wedding day may often be viewed as one seemingly
endless to-do list. What kind of flowers? Where is
everybody sitting? In what order should the wedding party
walk down the aisle? These are all very important
questions but, what about your littlest guests?
Having kids at your wedding and/or reception is something
you and your partner will want to discuss and decide on
early when planning your special day.
If you've decided to have kids join in the wedding
festivities (and I hope you do) there are some simple but
often unthought-of of considerations to be made on their
behalf. Everybody loves to feel special and having a
wedding favor especially for children will help them feel
included in what may otherwise seem like an adult only
event. Favors can range from goodie bags, bubbles, candy,
or even snacks. An every age appropriate favor might be a
coloring book customized for your event and handed out
with crayons before the ceremony or at the receptions.
Whatever you plan to pass out, make sure you get at least
a few extra, you'll be surprised how many kids at heart
are out there, especially at weddings.
Some wedding couples have chosen to have a kid's room at
the reception. This can have coloring books, stories,
snacks or even DVD players with age appropriate movies to
entertain the kids. Depending on the number of children
some couples have gone as far as hiring a babysitter so
the parents can enjoy themselves but still be on hand just
in case. But don't forget the DJ you've hired for your
event. Let him or her know when booking that you will be
having children and request kid-friendly props or songs in
their repartee.
Everybody knows a picky eater and those tend to be
children. Something to consider with the caterer is a
kid-friendly option. Duck a l'Orange and smoked salmon may
be the delicacy you want to share with your guests but it
may not exactly be a favorite of some kids. Having a few
treats for them, even a jar of peanut butter or a bag of
chips, can go a long way in keeping them happy.
Also remember don't hesitate to reach out to the parents
of those children. Many of them will take the
responsibility of making sure their child is entertained
and behaving during the festivities, but asking them if
there's anything that can be done will go a long way in
helping everybody enjoy your wedding. Kids at weddings
are a special challenge but they can also be very
rewarding. I'll never forget my father walking me down the
aisle, looking up the aisle at my soon to be husband and
hearing a 5 year old named Orla yell "Hi Laura!". Weddings
take an enormous amount of planning and helping the
children at your wedding enjoy themselves makes it a
special day for them, for their parents, and in the end
the most important people: you and your partner.
-Laura
http://www.simplysherlock.com