Having little guests at your Big Day isn’t for everyone, but if you have your own children, you might be wanting to include them in the festivities. There are plenty of meaningful ways to have your children in your wedding, and lots of ways you can look after the little guests coming along with their parents. Take a peek at some very special things you can do so that the children in your wedding have the best time!
Featured image credit: Paul O’Connor
How much should you organise and how much should be left up to the guests? And how many babysitters do you need?
Aisling Ross from The Wedding Nanny says to first focus on your own children! You’ll be busy yourself so make sure your own children are looked after, ensuring they’re having fun, they’re fed and clean.
Nannies will typically look after three children at a time, depending on the age of the children.
You could leave childcare open to the parents by saying “Your children are more than welcome to join the party, but we will have a nanny on site and if you’d like the details we can send those on to you”.
Susan Jefferies Photography
Should you have a kids table or should the kids sit with their parents?
We suggest having younger children sit with their parents. This would be any children that are more dependant on their parents. Older children could sit at their own table, but we recommend having this table be close enough so the parents can still keep an eye on them. A great suggestion is to provide some entertainment for the kids (stickers, colouring books or bubbles).
DKPHOTO
How can you entertain the kids so they have the best time?
Aisling listed some fabulous ideas that they use at The Wedding Nanny:
Toys, games and activities that are age-appropriate.
A gift for the kids (like bubbles and stickers).
A scavenger hunt, depending on the weather and venue.
White Amber Photography
How can you involve your kids in the ceremony?
Invite them to be a page boy or flower girl. They can walk down the aisle (either alone, with each other, or with an adult). And why not ask them to walk you down the aisle?
Older children might feel awkward being a bridesmaid, so take into account their comfort levels. Other tasks older children can do: hand out confetti, welcome guests as they arrive, or be in charge of taking photos with a disposable camera.
For younger children, get them to hold the bouquet or rings. This will help them feel included!
Mention the kids in the ceremony, in the vows or prayers.
During the ring exchange, present each child with a gift (their own rings, or a token or medallion) and consider sharing special promises to them.
Include the kids in your unity ceremony!
Peter Bell Wedding Photography
How do you make sure the kids pose nicely for photos?
We asked Timmy Keane of Timtim Media for expert advice on this:
Getting kids to pose for photos can be unpredictable and often depends on how tired the kids are, so give them time to run around a bit and get rid of pent up energy.
Don’t force the kids to smile. Timmy will often get down to their level and make them feel comfortable with good eye contact. He’ll have someone over his shoulder making them happy with silly words like ‘sausages’ or ‘baby shark’. He loves getting the group to interact together so he captures a fun, natural moment, instead of an overly posed photo.
David McNeill Photography
