Kids table at wedding?

paigecham23 · February 2015

Hey everyone! I'm getting married in about 2 years, and I've recently seen ideas about having a kids table at the wedding. It's where kids can go and do (washable) painting, coloring, and other crafts, and the adults can socialize and not have to worry about entertaining the kids for a little while. I plan to have one of these at my wedding, definitely, but I also had other ideas about it. I thought it would be a genius small business idea, and wanted to run it by some other people to get opinions! Would hiring someone to bring crafts and cute activities to do for a kids table be something anybody who is planning a wedding would even be interested in? I'm not looking for a job from anyone, just trying to get some opinions about this idea. I appreciate any suggestions or helpful opinions. Thank you so much everybody!

PrettyGirlLost · February 2015

I don't think it's a bad idea, but I know at my wedding the kids that were there really had no interest in doing anything but dancing. They opened the dance floor and they literally closed it at 11pm. . . and then cried when the DJ started packing up, lol!

And we even made them little gift bags that had coloring books, small toys, etc. for them to play with at the reception.

lovegood90 · February 2015

I don't think it's a bad idea and I'm sure there's a market for it.

However for me personally, if I were to have a wedding where kids were present it would not be a consideration for my budget to entertain them. Heck, I'm already providing entertainment/food/refreshments for everyone, so I think after planning all that I'd sort of feel like it's not my job to have to budget for further "kid" entertainment. I'd just trust the parents at that point to decide if their kids would be entertained enough/well behaved enough to have fun at the wedding with the entertainment that's already there; and if they're not, that they'd hopefully have the sense to either find a way for them to be entertained or to not bring them at all.

Maggie0829 · February 2015

We had about 4-5 younger kids present at our wedding. They were completely content dancing the night away. I mean having an activities table is a nice gesture but at all the weddings I have been to that had kids the kids were out on the dance floor more then the adults.

Also, I tend to assume parents have the entertainment portion (toys, ipad, etc) covered when it comes to their kids and attending events.

levioosa · February 2015

Whew! I thought this was going to be a post about separating the kids from everyone else. Glad to see that isn't the case.

I second that the kids will probably be dancing away instead of sticking to a crafts table, but if you can make it work on a budget, go for it. I would definitely stay away from paint though. Nothing would be worse than for your idea to backfire when a toddler gets paint on their hands and then runs up to someone and grabs their dress for attention.

As far as a business plan? Eh, I don't know that I'd hire someone to man the crafts table. Just putting it together and letting it be an option would be enough for me.

MyNameIsNot · February 2015

I would have considered doing something like this, but I probably wouldn't have been willing to spend more than $50 on it. Special entertainment for kids just wasn't very high on my budget priorities.

tammym1001 · February 2015

We put together bags for the kids at our wedding with coloring books and stickers and stuff in them. They colored during dinner and then after that they were on the dance floor. I don't know many kids that would sit at a table doing crafts when everyone else in the room is dancing and talking. Kids usually want to be in the action. I definitely wouldn't pay someone to specifically man a children's craft table for me. That's something that my DOC would have been able to set up with everything else and the kids could figure out what they wanted to do on their own.

climbingsingle · February 2015

My cousin did this at her wedding and it was really great. The kids had a blast.

I don't know that I'd hire someone to do this though. If I were going to set something like this up, I'd purchase the items myself, set them up and let the kids go to town.

[Deleted User] · February 2015

I think it's a cute idea, but I know for most of my friends, it wouldn't have been a budget to have someone there to provide the crafts & watch the kids. Now there may be a bigger market for kits though. Ones were people could buy a box with all the supplies for them to set up a kids area or indvidual good bags to keep the kids happy.

One suggestion, skip the paint and/or markers even if washable. I'm just picturing a little kid getting paint all over the hands and running up to you and hugging you & getting paint all over your dress. Or kids who are unsupervised for a few moments painting & drawing on each other. Even if it's washable, no one wants to deal with that at a wedding reception. Keep it to colored pencils and crayons. And no glue either.

MandyMost · February 2015

I think it depends on how many kid, how close in age, if they all know each other, etc., as to how much use an activity table would get. However, I think little goody bags with some crayons or whatever for each kid at their place setting (or with their escort cards, or just on the tables with the kids names where they'll be sat, etc.) would be great. Just like they way they give activity placemats and crayons at family-oriented restaurants.

I can't imagine hiring anyone for something like an activity table, though. Even a bride with a huge budget and no time can likely buy some activities at a store and put them in a box for the Day of Coordinator to put on a table with a sign of some sort.

augsum15 · February 2015

Yeah I agree with just setting something up and letting it be, a few dollar store coloring books and crayons would most likely suffice. Have them all there for the kids at their dinner tables. If they do get bored they can just go back to it later, and it's theirs to keep. I think we all know how much kids like to share!

theartistformerlyknownas · February 2015

My SS had a coloring table for the kids, but she also didn't have any dancing (or enough tables for anyone else, but that's a different story). I made little snack/activity packs for the kids at my wedding, but once dinner ended they were all out on the dance floor. I wouldn't have paid for something like you're proposing. I don't think it's a bad idea, just question the money that's to be made from it.

kellyem2 · February 2015

I think there are two ways you could go about setting up a business like this:

1. Sell kits for kids tables that include activities, toys, crafts, etc. that the couple can set up somewhere in their reception. You could also offer little gifts for ring bearers/flower girls or other kids at the reception (I didn't have a designated kids table, but I made wedding themed activity books that the kids got instead of a place card, for example).

2. Offer to attend the wedding and run a kids table or designated kids area with crafts and organized activities. Some parents don't want to leave their kids at the kids table because they feel like they need to run back and forth keeping an eye on things. If an adult was there to supervise, they could go party guilt-free.

As a side-note, if you are offering to supervise the kids during a wedding you might need to get CPR training or take some lessons in child care. Long-term you might also need to get some insurance in case a kid gets hurt on your watch. You'll have to check the laws in your state to see what kind of things are required. These would probably be more long-term steps as your business grows, though.

mrscomposer · February 2015

We had another room set up with couches, a DVD player & projector with kids movies, and a long table with colouring books and crayons. The nursing mothers used the couch, and every once in a while one of the kids would go in to take a break from the noise and watch the movie. There was always someone in there, but often only one or two people. The colouring books weren't touched.

So - good idea? Yes, absolutely. It was a nice option, and everyone who used it made a point of telling me they did. Would I pay someone to come in and do that? Nope. The kids were on the dance floor the vast majority of the night.

Kids table at wedding?

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