Inviting, Feeding, and Entertaining Children at Your Wedding
Photo courtesy of Joy Neville Photography
There are many elements to consider when adding kids to your wedding guest list. A few key areas will shape your decision-making: inviting children, how you decide to feed your young guests, and any sort of entertainment or child care that might be included in your reception plans. If you are able to consider all the angles at the beginning of your wedding planning and budgeting process, it will be easier to create an event that is fun for all of your guests, no matter what age they are!
Photo courtesy of David Cheney Photography
Inviting Children
First things first – will you include children on your guest list? This is one of the cuts that can be made early on in the process to accommodate a guest list count, venue decision, or budgeting parameter. If you are inviting kids, we suggest being super clear on your invitations by enumerating the people invited on your envelope and possibly including a count on your RSVP card for the number of seats reserved for each party. Be fair – if you invite some children, you should invite all children. This will minimize any complaints that might make their way to you from unhappy parents!
Photo courtesy of Kylie Crump Photography
Feeding Your Young Guests
Every parent will tell you that their kid’s mood is directly related to how often they eat. Children burn through calories like nobody’s business! A big part of keeping the young people happy is ensuring that food at all stages of the evening is appropriate for their palates. For example, if you’re offering passed hors d’oeuvres, try and make at least one kid-friendly. Fried mac and cheese, fruit skewers, or plain sliders are all great options.
Photo courtesy of Joshua Aull Photography
When it comes to dinner time, you have a few options depending on your style of service and your caterer. Regardless of style, your caterer may be able to provide a special children’s meal, usually something like chicken strips, fruit, and fries. Each caterer will have a different age threshold on what it means to be a child, so check into that early on in your planning process. If you’re doing a buffet or stations, consider doing at least one kid-friendly entrée. This might be easiest to achieve by removing the sauces or marinades from the meat and offering it on the side for folks to add their own. Mac and cheese or mashed potato bars are also great options for most kids.
Photo courtesy of Christina Truelove Photography
Entertaining Kids
Throughout the ceremony and reception, there may be ways to channel your young guests’ energies so that they contribute to the flow of the evening, rather than disrupting it. During the ceremony or once all guests are seated for dinner, activity or coloring books are a great option! We’ve also seen couples provide quiet games or building toys so that kids can stay engaged and seated.
Photo courtesy of Katie Cassidy Photography
Cocktail hour tends to be a good time for children to burn off steam. If your venue and your vibe allow for lawn games, kids can definitely get involved in a little open play. These can also come into play after dinner. Another option is to set up an activity room or area, where you provide coloring, stickers, toys, or other distracting items. A movie/nap room can be great for later in the evening, if your venue can accommodate that.
Photo courtesy of Joshua Aull Photography
The best of all possible options is to hire a babysitting service! Parents can check their kids in with the service after the ceremony, and qualified, licensed, certified adults will watch and entertain your young guests for the whole evening. Easy, safe, and controlled.
Photo courtesy of Apryl Ann Photography
In short, having children at you wedding can add a lot of sparkle and authenticity to your community. Being prepared for them will lead to the best possible experience for all guests! Need some more specific ideas? Check out these articles on Buzzfeed,The Knot, and Martha Stewart Weddings!
