Whether you are planning a wedding or you are attending a wedding with children then you need to think about making some plans to make sure that the children are both comfortable at the wedding and they don’t take the attention away on the big day.
Photo by Ben Waardenburg on Unsplash
Some people choose to not invite children to their weddings however it could be a wonderful and exciting experience to include them in your special day. If you’re a parent and you’re getting married then that means that your children are going to be an integral part of your wedding and will probably be involved. You just need to make sure that you are prepared and you think about it rather than just expecting them to know what to do.
So how can you make it less stressful and less worry to include children at your wedding? Let’s look below:
Stick To A Routine
Okay, not all children work to a routine however if you do work to a routine at home then a routine is going to work very well when it comes to the wedding day. You need to try and incorporate their usual routine with the wedding routine. You should think about things like timings for lunch and dinner and if they need any naps during the day. For example, if you’re transitioning to one nap time rather than there being too many nap times you need to think about this when it comes to the big day. Can you plan for their nap time to be in between the ceremony and the evening? You also need to think about bedtime, if it’s your wedding day then it’s likely that you will have other people put your children to bed in the evening. You may also tuck them in yourself and then head up on your honeymoon in the morning. Think about any parents that may be attending your wedding as their children may have other needs. Speak to them about any ideal routine changes especially if you want them to be included in important parts of your wedding.
Think About The Food
Wedding food can sometimes be extremely fancy which means that it might not be suitable for children. If your wedding meal is something that isn’t going to be a favorite for kids attending your wedding think about asking for children’s options. You should also think about the timing of your wedding food and any evening snacks as if they are different from the times your children usually eat it could make them cranky and agitated. One of the best things you could do is to ask for a table that has healthy snacks such as breadsticks or cheese and crackers. This way you’ll have happy children if you have full tummies.
If you have babies attending you need to think about or at least ask the question of how they are going to prepare milk on the day. Are there going to be facilities such as a sterilizer available and are there going to be spaces for pushchairs in the ceremony venue? It’s a good idea to ask if high chairs are going to be supplied. Talk to any parents who are attending your wedding and see if they need to have a high chair. It might be that the Venue doesn’t have enough for the children who are coming and you may need to put a plan into action.
Assign Babysitters
If this is your wedding then you’re probably going to be a little bit busy and distracted from taking care of your kids. Yes, they are going to be a big part of your wedding however it is probably a good idea to assign a babysitter or someone that your children are comfortable with so you are free for the big important times of your wedding. For instance, you want to make sure that your children are being watched during your vows and the wedding speeches.
Fun And Games
And interesting for adults when it comes to children should they get a little bit touchy. Especially during times like the wedding ceremony and the wedding speeches. There is only so much you can expect your children to do so it’s your job to make sure that you bring some entertainment with you. You could even put together wedding fun packs for any of the children who are attending your wedding to make sure it gives them something to do but also takes the stress off any parents who are attending. You could bring tablets however it’s best to keep the tablets for the evening rather than allow them to have them during the ceremony or the meal as they can be loud. You can do coloring books and reading books and you could even give them some disposable cameras so they can take their pictures.
Give Them Roles
Most children do very well when they are being included. Rather than trying to keep them away from all the important parts of the wedding, think about including them and making them feel important. You could ask them to hand you the rings in the ceremony or to hold the bride’s dress as she walks down the aisle. You could have something like a wedding post box where the children take postcards off of the guests and they post it for them. Asking children to walk down the aisle or do another job on a special day make sure you practice before the wedding. For young children, you may need to practice for months before the actual day and it could get to the day and they still don’t want to walk down the aisle because they feel a little bit nervous. If you know that they get a little bit nervous you may want to think about asking somebody to walk down the aisle with them so they can still be involved.
These five tips should help you to include your children at your wedding. They will hopefully make it less stressful and make it so that your children feel involved and enjoy your day with you.
