Children at a wedding - what to consider and what to prepare for

All the pros and cons about invited children

A wedding is a solemn event that will be remembered for a lifetime not only by the bride and groom, but also by their guests. Sometimes parents come to the holiday with their children. What to do in this case?

First of all, you need to compare all the pros and cons of having young guests at the celebration.

Advantages

A wedding is considered a family holiday. Therefore, all relatives and friends should be present. If they have children, then they should not refuse the invitation. With proper organization of the holiday, you will be able to entertain all the guests.
Children can be involved in the event. The child can shower the newlyweds with confetti and rose petals. Children can also come up with a number in the form of a poem or dance that will delight the young couple.
If children are not capricious, then they will enliven the holiday and leave more memories about it. The event will be filled with laughter, fun and joy. In addition, grandparents are present at the celebration, and this is another reason to babysit the grandchildren.

Some disadvantages

A small child can cry at any time. Therefore, it is better not to take infants and preschool children for registration. Crying can also interfere with the celebration in a restaurant. But when there are a lot of them, this will not be a problem, since the children entertain each other perfectly.
The child gets tired quickly and always requires the attention of his parents. This will distract from the celebration. The solution to the problem will be a game room.
Children need to prepare a special menu. Dishes for adults are not suitable for them, as they are heavy for a child’s body. But you can’t leave them hungry either.

What to do with the kids while the adults celebrate?

If you know that there will be a lot of kids (that is, if you invite guests with their children), then it would be wise to think about how to keep the children’s company occupied while the adults are sitting at the tables, dancing, etc.

Of course, you don’t have to think of any special entertainment or pastime options for the kids, counting on the fact that the parents will monitor the behavior of each child, but in practice it may turn out that children’s guests will have to constantly pay attention to their children, and they won’t be able to have fun properly…

What to do?

You can also show films or cartoons there (if you have the appropriate equipment) - this can occupy the entire children's group for an hour or two, or even longer, and in the main hall there will be a wedding without children.

If the wedding is celebrated in a spacious private house, you can also invite animators to take care of the children.

Of course, in the home version of the celebration, there is a temptation to “push” the entire horde of kids onto one of the relatives, for example, onto grandmothers. But, firstly, relatives are not always able to entertain a large group of children well and for a long time, keep an eye on every fidget, etc., and secondly, grandmothers also have the right to sit with everyone at the table and celebrate, and not work for free animator and nanny.

Rules for children at a wedding

To prevent children at a wedding from ruining anyone’s mood, you need to learn a few rules.

Newlyweds should invite children of approximately the same age. Then they will be interested in each other.
It is not recommended to take infants to the event, as they may burst into tears at any moment. The parents of the kids will quickly get tired and leave the newlyweds.
A special program needs to be prepared for children. That is, competitions should be not only for adults, but also for children. It is allowed to invite artists, for example, a magician or illusionist.
Parents and children are seated closer to the exit so that they can leave at any time without disturbing anyone.
A children's corner is created for little guests where they can draw or play.
The menu should be discussed with parents in advance. It should consist of those dishes that the guys prefer.
It is not recommended to seat parents and children near musical equipment. From loud music, the child quickly gets tired and begins to be capricious.
Children cannot be invited to an official ceremony. This process requires seriousness, and a crying child can ruin everything.
The issue of who will pick up the child after 9 pm is discussed with parents.
For the kids, the bride is associated with a princess from a fairy tale. Therefore, they need to be introduced to the bride in advance. Following this recommendation will help you avoid crying and screaming.

Adults should think in advance about wedding congratulations from children. This will help defuse the situation and leave a positive impression of the celebration.

Child at a wedding or off-site registration

Children can become as full participants in the wedding ceremony as adults.
Let them help you create a bridal tale. For little guests there will be difficult, but very important tasks. Of course, it will not be possible to attract an infant, but children from three years old are quite possible. Important! The readiness of children to directly participate in the holiday is determined not so much by age as by the character and skills of a particular child.

What can girls do?

Young ladies can be entrusted with romantic and fun tasks.

Carry baskets of petals;
Sprinkle the path with petals in front of the young ones;
Take part in the procession of the bride and groom, carrying miniature bouquets in your hands;
Blowing soap bubbles, for example, before the newlyweds go out, or as part of a photo shoot;
Waving ribbons or flags in wedding colors to greet the bride and groom;
Ring the bell to warn of the bride's arrival, or as a sign of congratulations to the newlyweds;
Carry a decorative lit lantern, illuminating the way for the young. This idea is suitable for an evening outdoor ceremony.

What can boys do?

They can be entrusted with something responsible to provide an opportunity to show themselves as true gentlemen.

Accompany the bride at the outdoor ceremony and hand her over to the groom;
Carry the bride's train;
Offer rings to the young;
The boys can organize an obstacle on the way of the bride and groom from the registry office. Block the road and let you through for a nominal fee or treat;
Joyfully greet the young, blowing out the “mother-in-law’s tongues”;
Help distribute cakes and sweets during the buffet at the outdoor ceremony;
Create a real drum roll in intriguing competitions;
Distribute prizes for participation in competitions.

Joy and excellent mood will be ensured only with careful organization. It is necessary to discuss in advance all aspects related to children’s participation in the program with their parents and the hosts of the holiday. This will help to understand the interests of children, identify tasks that they can actually cope with, and most importantly, which they will enjoy doing.

Important! Attracting young guests should be organically integrated into the scenario of the entire event.

Parents should also be warned to ensure that all children at the wedding wear similar or identical outfits. This way a group of children will look very harmonious at the celebration. For more information on how to dress up your kids for a wedding, read the article at the link .

Correctly filling out wedding invitations

If the newlyweds want their children to be present at their wedding, their names must be included in the invitations. And it is recommended to do this regardless of the child’s age. But whether to take the baby with them or not is up to the parents to decide. In any case, you should count on the presence of children.

If the location of the party is not suitable for children, then age restrictions should be set in advance. It is also necessary to clarify in advance with each invitee whether there will be a child with him and what age.

A wedding through the eyes of a child: how to take into account all the nuances

An older child understands that a wedding is a responsible event. You need to behave accordingly and endure some inconveniences, such as going through the ceremony. But preschool children are less receptive to requests and explanations. If the baby is bored, he will tug at his mother, whine or run where he should not. To avoid unforeseen incidents, you need to take into account some points and carefully consider how to keep your child occupied.

There is no need to demand the impossible from a child. An infant under 2 years old will not sit quietly at the ceremony, no matter how much he is persuaded. Newlyweds have the right to ask guests not to take children to the ceremony itself, but only to the celebration. Children are unlikely to mind; for them the ceremony itself is not of particular interest.
If there are a lot of children, you should take into account their age and divide them into groups. Teenagers can safely do and eat all the same things as adults. Preschool children will enjoy the children's corner with coloring books, toys, and balls. Many cafes provide such things. School-aged children can also play in the children's corner or just get to know each other and chat.
For children, you can invite an animator or a clown. You can also ask the toastmaster to organize a couple of children's competitions. While the children are having fun, the parents will eat quietly and make a couple of toasts.

The children's corner should be positioned so that it is in the line of sight of parents, but not next to the tables. Children love to climb under tables, imagining that they are tents or houses. It’s better to organize all this separately for them – both houses and other entertainment.
If you decide that you want to hear toasts at the wedding from children, warn your parents and toastmaster in advance. The child must want this himself, otherwise he will be shy and feel very awkward. It will still be caught on camera. Ask the children themselves in advance who wants to speak at the wedding and say beautiful words to the newlyweds.
It is best to organize a separate children's table for children. The kids will be happy to chat, and the parents will eat and drink in peace.

There is no need to completely isolate adults and children. During the celebration there should be joint activities, dances or competitions. Children should feel part of the holiday.
For children, you can come up with your own prizes and memorable gifts, bouquets, balloons or bright cards with the initials of the newlyweds.

Clothing for little guests

If parents decide that their child will be present at the wedding celebration, then they should take care of his appearance in advance. Any guest should look formal and fit perfectly with the attire of the bride and groom. In this case, clothing made from synthetic and stretchy materials and denim will not be suitable. It is not recommended to wear old sandals or sneakers. A child should look no worse than an adult.

If a girl is invited to the wedding, then you should prepare a fluffy dress made of chintz. Then she will resemble a little princess. Shoes are matched to the dress. A tiara and wings will help complete the look. At the same time, the outfit should be light and comfortable. You can order a suit from professionals or sew it yourself.

If a boy is invited to the celebration, then a real gentleman's suit is selected for him. You can use the classic version - a jacket and trousers with suspenders. The image is diluted with a bow tie or tie. From the color range you can choose blue, blue, black, coral, green, sand and red.

Invitation

Once the list of invited people is compiled, it is important to note on this sheet the people who are most likely to come with children. This is necessary in order to note the number of children present.

The best option would be, of course, to call the guests and find out exactly whether they will be with or without children. In some cases, you can give each child a separate invitation to make him feel like a significant person and show a little responsibility. It is also best to talk to parents about the child's behavior. It is necessary that parents try to talk with their children about behavior in advance, explain to them that this is an important and solemn event. Every child should clearly know and understand that the bride and groom are the main people at this holiday. It is necessary to find out not only the number of people, but their age. This will help roughly divide the children into groups and come up with activities for them according to age.

Children's hairstyle

Hairstyle is considered a separate topic of conversation. Often on girls’ heads you can see voluminous hairstyles, which are secured with hairpins and filled with hairspray. They may also contain various interlaces of flowers and beads. But this style is not recommended for a wedding.

The best option would be naturalness and authenticity. Well-groomed and vibrant hair looks beautiful with any look. The only thing parents can do is light styling with the addition of a few hairpins.

Fresh flowers, tiaras, and headbands with beads and rhinestones are added to the girl’s hair. You can make a beautiful wreath. For boys, it is better to comb their hair neatly back or to the side. You can fix everything with varnish, but in moderation so that the whole image looks natural. Boys often wear hats on their heads, which adds elegance and efficiency to the outfit.

MARRIAGE REGISTRY

This is where things get more complicated. The registry office is very boring for children, because they need to be quiet and stand in one place. You can hold a baby in your arms, but if the child is 2-4, it will be difficult for him to withstand the boring registration. If possible, leave the children with someone outside the hall. You can take a walk outside at this time.

If the child does attend the wedding ceremony, you can give him a phone so that he can act as a photographer. Believe me, he will be interested in it :)

Congratulations from children on the wedding

Children make the holiday more fun and joyful. For everything to go well, parents need to conduct a rehearsal in advance. You can prepare a toast, a poem, a dance or a song.

Poems

Girls and boys recite poems in a cute and funny way. If children are not afraid to speak in front of a large audience, then you can give them the opportunity to read a short poem. It should reflect the theme of the wedding. You can find it on the Internet. The text is kept small and easy to read.

Toast

If the poem is difficult to learn, then a toast would be a good alternative. The child can come up with it himself or prepare it in advance with adults. A short text with words understandable to the child is selected. Even children should understand what the congratulations mean.

Song

Another great idea for congratulations is a wedding song from children. In this case, it is better to gather all the guys who will be present at the holiday. Professional singers, presenters and dancers will help you perform the song.

What do parents need to know?

Parents need to carefully prepare themselves, take the necessary things and prepare their children for what will happen at the holiday;
Pay attention to the baby's well-being on the wedding day . If your child is sick, you should not expose him to additional stress in a new place and unusual environment. It is better to leave the baby at home with someone you trust, or refuse to go to the wedding altogether;
in advance with your child where you are going and how to behave at the holiday. Tell us what a wedding is, how it happens in stages, so that the child has a clear idea of what awaits him;
Insure yourself in case your child gets tired during a walk or celebration and asks to go home. Arrange with someone close to you so that they can pick up the baby in such a situation.

What to take with you?

Snack in the form of cookies or fruit;
Water or juice;
Several small toys, books;
Handkerchiefs and wet wipes;
A warm blouse in case the weather changes;
Replacement shoes;
Spare clothes.

Category 14+

Guests 13-14 years old and older will also require attention . Yes, in fact, these are already adults, but they are still minors, so they need to be carefully looked after.

Many teenagers look older than their years. There is a danger of other guests being involved in drinking alcohol and smoking;
Warn the presenter about the age of such children so that they do not participate in “adult” competitions ;
Don't forget about the curfew: after 10 p.m., children should not be outside unaccompanied by an adult .

Activities for children at the holiday

Many newlyweds do not know what to do with their children at the event. A young couple should take care in advance to create a wedding scenario that will be interesting for both adults and children. A separate table is set up for the children, where there will be dishes suitable for their age.

An excellent option for holding a wedding is a restaurant that has a separate children's room. Children can take part in competitions together with their parents. Some establishments are already equipped with trampolines, climbing slides, and tunnels. The staff is looking after the guys. Many organizers equip the premises with laptops and projectors on which cartoons are broadcast.

If the restaurant does not provide a children's room, then the newlyweds must take care of preparing the area for children themselves. There is a separate table with your favorite dishes and treats in the form of pizza, cakes, pastries, French fries, natural juices and plain water. Children are entertained by a guest animator in the form of a popular fairy-tale character. The artist plays skits with the children, holds competitions with gifts and treats, tells interesting stories and performs magic tricks.

Children often take part in the bride price. A child, under the guidance of an adult, holds some kind of competition. This will delight all those invited.

Children's participation will be needed in the following situations.

At the official exit ceremony. Then the name is the boy and the girl. The first child carries a pillow with rings, and the second of them scatters rose petals at the feet of the newlyweds. So that the guys do not get confused, it is necessary to conduct a rehearsal.
On photoshoot. Any child will look good in wedding photographs with the newlyweds. The photo session is held at various sites: near the registry office, fountains and other attractions.

Don't forget about competitions and games. A guest presenter provides entertainment for the children. The event is accompanied by gifts and treats.

The following competitions are held for adults and children.

First born. Only children and newlyweds take part in this game. The main goal of the competition: the bride and groom must catch the child. Whoever they come across first - a girl or a boy - will be born first. Children will appreciate this game, only after that they need to be calmed down.
Fairytale item. If the guys already understand everything and love fairy tales, then the toastmaster can hold such a competition. The presenter asks the children to pull out the first item they come across from the bag. Each of them symbolizes a fairy tale story. Based on the object that comes across, the child indicates the name of the fairy tale.
Portrait of the bride and groom. To leave pleasant memories of the celebration, the toastmaster holds a competition. Children should draw a portrait of a young couple, taking turns replacing each other. For example, the first child draws the head of the bride and groom, the second - facial features, the third - hair and clothes, the fourth - hands, etc.

Then the final result is assessed, which will amuse both the newlyweds and the invitees.

To take or not to take?

A question that is difficult to give a definite answer. Situations are different. Sometimes there is simply no one to leave the children with, but it is also impossible to refuse an invitation to a celebration, for example, if it is the wedding of a close relative (brother, sister).

In this case, the presence of the baby at the family holiday will not only be appropriate, but also desirable. If you are invited to a friends’ wedding and are considering whether to go alone or take the child with you, then you should take into account the smallest details and objectively consider all the pros and cons. So what do you really need to think about?

Age . Agree, there is a difference between a one-year-old baby and a teenager. Teenagers are already independent, practically adults, therefore, when talking about children at a wedding, we will have in mind primarily the age up to 13-14 years old ;
At what age will a child be interested and comfortable at such a noisy festival? Children will be able to more or less consciously perceive what is happening from the age of 4-5 , provided that the parents first explain the essence of the wedding and the events associated with it. Otherwise, misunderstanding may give rise to fear and reluctance in the child to go to the celebration. For older children, it is easier to adjust their daily routine: they usually no longer sleep during the day, and it is not scary to replace a full lunch or dinner with a light snack. If your child is already 7-10 years old , then you can safely take him with you. He will not cause any special trouble at the wedding and will enjoy communicating with the real bride and groom;
Character and behavioral characteristics . Even if your child really wants to go with you, really evaluate his possible behavior at the wedding. Active, restless children can easily create chaos and become a nuisance to all guests. Modest children will be shy and ask to go home from the first minutes of the holiday;
Children at the official ceremony . The wedding day is very long, it can tire even adults, so it is better to immediately decide whether children will be present at the wedding, registration at the registry office or outdoor ceremony. Redemption is an entertaining event for adults; many competitions will be incomprehensible and boring for a child. In addition, the ransom often occurs in the bustle of a fairly large crowd of people. It won't be very interesting to get in the way of adults. The registration ceremony is usually solemn and beautiful. Older children like it. They will not make noise and will be able to handle the official part calmly. With small children it is easier at a destination wedding , especially if it takes place somewhere outdoors. The atmosphere and procedure for the ceremony are not as strict compared to government institutions. You can stand somewhere to the side and, in case of whims, distract the baby with a twig, blade of grass or flower.

Important! If the child is still small and you are not sure that he will behave quietly at the ceremony, then it is better to abandon the idea and take him to the registry office.

Children at a wedding: how is it? Charming kids in elegant costumes always look very touching. It's nice to see how they try to help the newlyweds on such a serious holiday. Their efforts touch and delight. Photographs with children are more intense and emotional. But we should not forget about the so-called “unforeseen” circumstances: children may get tired, suddenly want to drink, eat, ask to go to the toilet, make noise at the most crucial moment, get dirty or drop something, etc. You need to be prepared for all this!
How to invite children to a wedding? The names of little guests can simply be added to their parents' invitations or a personalized children's invitation can be made with a beautiful design.

How to prepare children for a wedding

Here everything largely depends on the age of the child. It will be most difficult with children from two to five years old. It seems that the child is already old enough to go out on such big holidays, but still does not quite understand how to behave correctly at such celebrations. He can promise that he will behave, as they say, more quietly than water. But as soon as the baby finds himself at a noisy holiday, which encourages fun, he will instantly and completely forget about his promise. And that’s why you shouldn’t waste time on somehow mentally preparing him, because he’s still too small.

But with older children, having a conversation on the topic of behavior at a wedding will be very useful. Tell us how long the wedding will last, what numbers and competitions they plan to hold.

If your child is assigned a special role, such as carrying the bride’s train or participating in a photo shoot, reading congratulations for the newlyweds or throwing flower petals, then you definitely need to rehearse everything in advance so that he feels confident and is not afraid.

Banquet

We have come to the most important and difficult part, because children will spend 5-6 hours at the banquet. Therefore, if children will be present at the banquet, you need to think about the following:

Seating of children. Children must sit next to their parents. If there is a group of children aged 6-7 years at the celebration, you can allocate a separate children's table for them. Children love to imitate adults, and they will welcome a separate table with great interest

If children are sitting with their parents, provide them with seats at the edge of the table and closer to the aisle so that it is convenient for parents to get up (and they will get up very often :)

It is advisable to seat parents and children away from music speakers or a musical group. If possible, ask the DJ to play the music at a low volume

Ask your parents if their children have food allergies.

Discuss with the host the presence of children at the wedding. He must take into account their presence and think about their interests

Check if the restaurant has a separate room where parents can have privacy with their child. Of course, this is not a prerequisite when choosing a restaurant)

If children participate in competitions, do not forget to prepare children's gifts for them

Children's menu:

I believe that children's holiday meals should be tailored to their personal preferences. Children love delicious food, so don't deprive them of the opportunity to enjoy it. Place French fries, pizza, sweets, fruits, juices and lemonades on the table. Then they will definitely not refuse food and will not remain hungry. And a well-fed child is a satisfied child, which is what we want to achieve at the wedding :)

The food should also be presented attractively to attract children's interest. If you want to serve meat, it is better in the form of small meatballs or “hedgehogs”. Children also love canapés and small sandwiches.

Entertainment during the banquet.

And now the most interesting part. Banquet! The child will not behave calmly and sit at the table because music is playing and everyone is having fun. Therefore, it is in your power to channel the child’s energy into a peaceful channel. How to entertain children during a banquet?

Hire an animator or clown. Believe me, this is the best option. It is not necessary to hire him for the entire duration of the banquet, 1-2 hours is enough. The plus is that all the children of the holiday are enthusiastic and do not disturb anyone. The animator can organize outdoor games, competitions, quizzes and magic tricks. It would be great if the animator could hold a Soap Bubble Show!

Game Zone. It is important to provide children with their own space where they can play in their own circle. The main thing is colorful design and bright table setting. It could be:

Carpet with toys. Pick a few toys for different ages and then let the kids take them home. An excellent option would be a Lego constructor that will captivate children for a long time.

A small table with pencils and coloring books. Buy a coloring book for each child, and make sure there are enough pencils for everyone. You can organize a competition for the best drawing!

Table with juices, water and sweets

A place with a TV (cartoons are the best invention for parents :)

Board games

Competitions for children. If there are several children at the wedding, ask the host to hold 1-2 competitions for them. Children will really like this, and especially to receive prizes! This could be riddles, participation in a “boy and girl” competition (where a boy and a girl will collect money in bags), or a competition with chairs.

Children's photo shoot . Ask the photographer to conduct a small children's photo session in which all the children will be involved. It can be held both indoors and on the territory of the restaurant. You can even come up with a children's photo zone!

Master class for children. You can invite a person to your wedding who will organize a lesson for children. For example: modeling from clay or plasticine, paper crafts, dancing, drawing, appliqué.

A minute of creativity. If the child has any talent, let him show himself during the celebration. Let the child sing a song, draw a picture and dance an interesting dance. Children can even act out a small scene. It looks very cute and all guests will love it.

Dancing for children. Ask the DJ to play a couple of tracks for the kids to get their kids' group dancing. And adults can join too).

Presentation of prizes. Children can take turns presenting prizes to the winners of competitions (under the guidance of the presenter). What could be better than feeling important!

Well, it seems to me that I have covered the topic of entertaining children during a wedding quite well. It is not at all necessary to choose all leisure options for yourself: it is enough to choose 2-3 so that both children and adults feel comfortable, and the holiday does not turn into a “children's party”.

I hope you will competently create a children's program and your holiday will not be overshadowed by children's whims and fatigue. And don’t be afraid to invite children, because a wedding is a family holiday, and children are the most beloved members of the family!

Good luck with your wedding preparations! Don't forget to check out my Portfolio !

You may find the following articles useful:

60 gift ideas for wedding guests

How to choose a wedding makeup artist

Places for a wedding photo shoot in Tver

25 questions for the wedding officiant

Involving children in the wedding ceremony

It would be wrong to say that children will be able to remain without their relatives for a long time. Conscious and loving parents will also want to take care of their children. Therefore, it would be logical to periodically involve children in wedding events.

The ideal proposal is to include children in the wedding ceremony. Roles should be distributed between them and each should be given an important, feasible task. This solution has two huge advantages.

Firstly, a ceremony in which children participate will be very touching. There are few people who will not shed tears of tenderness when looking at such a picture.

Secondly, if you give children a responsible role at the wedding, this will be a good deterrent for them, so as not to indulge and disrupt the holiday with whims and disobedience.

From a psychological point of view, it is very important for children to take part in something important, then they will take it seriously.

Children's zone

At a large wedding, you can organize a separate room for children, where small tables will be set with their own menu: pancakes, fruit salad, French fries, sausages (children simply love this kind of food).

If space allows, you can organize a play area with board games, puzzles and construction sets, books and coloring books. If the celebration is held outdoors, then it is better to give preference to active games. To do this, prepare jump ropes, balls and other sports equipment for the kids.

If the banquet hall has a separate room, then at the end of the evening you can organize watching cartoons there. Or you can even offer the kids tablets on which to download their favorite computer toys, including wedding games, which most little girls like.

If you approach the issue of entertaining children at a wedding with intelligence and imagination, they will become not a burden, but a decoration of your holiday.