Including children in your wedding day can be wonderful, but challenging. While they radiate sweetness and excitement, young kids can be unpredictable and easily bored. If you’d like to involve them in your ceremony and/or reception, think abut your options, discuss the details with your wedding coordinator, and have fun with your youngest guests.
Ceremony, Reception, or Both?
Including kids in a formal ceremony can be tricky. If you want them to be a part of your bridal party:
- Consider the number of kids in your family and their ages. A few little ones walking down the aisle tossing flower petals or carrying a sign might be cute, but trying to manage too many children at once can get overwhelming.
- Consider the time of day. If your wedding is later than their bedtimes, you may want to talk to their parents to determine if they’d be better off staying at home with a sitter.
- Keep outfits and shoes for little kids as comfortable as possible. You may want them to match the bridal party, but fussy dresses or stiff suits might make little ones cranky.
- Try pairing older children with younger ones, carrying a banner or basket together. This will make the walk down a long aisle a little less daunting.
If young children are expected to sit quietly through a lengthy ceremony, have a basket of crayons, coloring books, and snacks for them. If you want them to have some fun during an outdoor ceremony, let them blow bubbles.
Setting up a table just for the kids? If you are hosting a reception with children in attendance, make sure you create a special place just for the kids, and let their parents know in advance that the kids will be sitting separately.
Make it fun! The kids table at your wedding can complement the rest of your décor, but make sure it’s fun and has lots of things to keep the kids busy, like:
- Crayons, washable markers, or chalk with a paper tablecloth or coloring books
- Candy (used as a centerpiece or individual goodies, like candy bracelets)
- Little games (tic-tac-toe, Legos, or Jenga)
If the reception is outdoors or your venue has space that will allow it, set up a “kids’ only space” where moving around and getting comfortable is encouraged. Try a cute tent or teepee in coordinating colors, and include bigger items to keep them busy, like hula hoops or hopscotch.
The most important thing to remember when including kids on your big day is to relax, keep a sense of humor, and expect a few unplanned moments. Some of your favorite memories may end up including the giggle of your flower girls as they hold hands down the aisle, or your ring bearer trying out some moves on the dance floor!
