Can you have kids in a wedding without a disaster? Getting married when you already have kids can be a bit of a juggling act. You want your special day to be perfect of course, with no plan ignored, but you also need to make sure your little ones feel included and comfortable. It’s not always easy to balance the fancy and regal elements adults enjoy with keeping the kids happy and entertained, and of course, they’ll let you know about it if you get it wrong.
But despite that sounding like a warning, having your children at your wedding can actually make it even more special. They’re a big part of your life, arguably the biggest part after all, and including them in the celebration can create some really beautiful memories. This whole event is joyous, and a great way to show them how important family is and how love can grow and change over time.
So how do you make it work? Well, not every wedding is the same. But you might find some luck with the following advice:
Involve Them In The Planning
It can’t hurt to involve them and ask for their ideas, or let them help with some decisions, and make them feel like they’re part of the team. Even if you of course don’t integrate everything they suggest.
For example, maybe they can help choose the colors for the decorations, or pick out the flowers. Older kids might enjoy helping to plan the music playlist or even designing the invitations too. You don’t have to go with all their ideas, of course, but just asking shows them that their input matters.
This approach does two things – it makes the kids feel important and valued, and it helps them get excited about the wedding. When they feel like they’ve contributed, they’re more likely to be engaged and well-behaved on the day itself, especially if you remind them how much they themselves have worked for it. Sure there’s a touch of reverse psychology there, but we won’t tell if you don’t!
Keep The Little Ones Engaged
Weddings can be a little long-winded for a child’s mind, so it can’t hurt to plan a few activities for them. To start with, you could set up a special kids’ area at the reception with games, coloring books, and maybe even a craft station filled with various items depending on ages. If your budget allows, consider hiring a face painter or a magician to keep them entertained, especially after everything is said and done and the adults are socializing, though make sure there’s one person looking out for them of course.
Change The Timings If Needed
Think about the timing of events to keep them less cranky. Kids tend to get uncomfortable when they’re hungry or tired, so try to avoid long gaps between the ceremony and reception. If that’s unavoidable though, make sure you’ve got some snacks on hand to help out – of course, a friend might have to help with this as you have a wedding to experience.
It’s okay if you want to shift a couple of the elements of the day around to fit with your child’s needs. Finding the best wedding venues that understand and can accommodate you is a great idea.
With this advice, you’ll be sure to plan your wedding around your children for the better.
