Kids have a unique way of bringing laughter and spontaneity to any occasion – and weddings are no exception! From their infectious giggles to their enthusiastic moves on the dance floor, having children present at your wedding can add an extra layer of joy to your special day.
With this being said, how exactly do you accommodate the younger ones at your wedding while ensuring the parents can have a good time, too? From planning their meals to keeping them entertained, read on for our guide on how to manage having children at your wedding below.
Communicate With The Parents
First and foremost, it’s essential to communicate your decision regarding children at your wedding clearly on your invitations. If kids are invited, you’ll want to include their names on the invitation or specify “and family” on the envelope. Alternatively, if you would prefer an adults-only event, we recommend tactfully indicating this on your wedding website. Clear communication upfront will help you avoid any awkward moments or misunderstandings later on!
Consider Their Ages
When deciding how to plan for children at your wedding, you’ll need to consider the ages of the kids in question. While babies and young toddlers will stay close to their parents, the bigger kids will require more attention and entertainment. Keep in mind that younger children typically have shorter attention spans, and may need breaks or quiet spaces to rest during the festivities.
Organize Entertainment and Activities
To keep children entertained and engaged throughout your wedding day, it’s a good idea to provide some age-appropriate and kid-friendly activities! An easy way to do this is by setting up a designated “kids area” with coloring books, games, puzzles, board games and toys to keep them occupied.
Some other activities you can consider would be:
- Scavenger hunt: Create a list of items or landmarks around the venue for kids to find, and provide small prizes for those who complete the hunt.
- Disposable cameras: Provide the kids with disposable cameras and a list of fun photo challenges, such as taking a picture of the bride and groom, capturing someone dancing, or snapping a photo of the wedding cake.
- Craft station: Set up a table with a wedding-themed craft station, such as decorating paper crowns or picture frames.
- Outdoor games: If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, organize some lawn games like giant Jenga, sack races, bean bag toss or ring toss.
- Bubbles: Provide bubble wands and bubble machines for kids to play with outside (you’d be surprised how long this keeps them busy!)
- Photo booth: Create a kid-friendly photo booth with funny props like hats, glasses, and costumes.
- Dance floor games: Organize dance floor games like “Freeze Dance” or a “Limbo Contest” to encourage kids to participate and have fun.
- Professional entertainment: Hire a professional entertainer (such as a magician, face painter or balloon artist) to delight and entertain the little ones!
Explore Childcare Options
If you want extra brownie points from the parents on your guest list, consider providing childcare options at your wedding. You could hire professional babysitters, or set up a dedicated kids room where parents can drop off their children to play and relax under the supervision of trained staff.
Not only will this give you peace of mind that the kids are safe, it also allows parents to be fully present and enjoy your wedding without worrying about their little ones! This is also incredibly helpful if you’re planning a destination wedding, as parents may struggle to find alternative childcare arrangements.
Consider Your Seating Arrangements
As you plan your wedding reception seating chart, we recommend seating families with children together or near each other. This allows parents to keep an eye on their children while still being able to socialize with other guests. Don’t forget to check with parents about whether high chairs are required for their little ones!
If the kids on your guest list are old enough, you can also choose to seat them together at a seperate kids table.
Plan a Kid-Friendly Menu
Finally, be mindful of the dietary preferences of the children attending your wedding when creating your menu. It’s a good idea to offer some kid-friendly meal options alongside the adult menu such as chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, or mini pizzas.
Here at WedSites, we’ve made it easy to plan ahead for any little ones joining you on your special day! You can answer any kid-related FAQs on your wedding website, and use our online RSVP form to confirm dietary details or whether high chairs are required.
Explore our wedding website builder here, or sign up for your free account to get started!