Taking your children to a wedding
Attending a wedding is of course a wonderful occasion, filled with love, laughter and hopefully delicious food! However, when it comes to bringing your cherubs along, it can sometimes be a daunting task. But with preparation taking children to a wedding can make for a lovely experience for everyone involved.
I could write a whole book about children at weddings! Actually probably a series!
But you’ll be glad to hear I won’t witter on for that long here!
For those of you who don’t know, for the past ten years I have run an event childcare business - I have been to way more than my fair share of weddings. So you could say I know a thing or two about weddings and children!
In this blog post, I’ll provide you with some practical tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable time for all.
Are your children on the wedding guest list?
Don’t assume because you’ve been invited, your children have too. If their names aren’t written on the invitation it’s probably best to reach out to the couple to check. Not all couples will make it clear that their wedding is an adult only affair.
The wedding couple’s expectations
Check with the couple to find out how much or little they would like children to be part of their day. Some couples may have a designated kids' area or provide entertainment, while others are happy for the children to mill about with the adults.
Prepare your children for the wedding day
If your children are old enough, talk to them about the upcoming wedding. Explain to them what to expect during the wedding ceremony, especially if they haven't attended one before. Talk about the significance of the event and encourage them to ask questions. Consider bringing a quiet activity or a small toy to keep them occupied during the ceremony. Warn them about the bits of the wedding day that they may find boring but equally tell them all about the bits you’ll know they’ll enjoy! Involving them in the preparation process, like choosing their outfits, can make them feel excited and engaged.
Food, glorious food!
A very important part of the day! Generally speaking the majority of caterers are excellent at guiding couples on selecting a child friendly menu but do check in advance. If you’re bringing food for your baby or toddler, just bear in mind that quite often venues won’t be able to warm up food so bring provisions your child will eat without that requirement., just in case.
Timing is key
Check the timing of the wedding breakfast. Don’t assume the speeches will follow the meal, sometimes they come before, which makes for a hungry wait! Waiting is bad enough for children but waiting whilst hungry is not good news! Most wedding breakfasts are at a time which don’t correlate with children’s normal lunch or tea times so bring plenty of snacks to keep them going! This is not the day to worry about the quality of their diet - just be prepared to feed on demand!
Quiet space at the wedding venue
Aim to arrive at the wedding venue in plenty of time. This allows time for any unplanned stops enroute (someone will need a pee!) and will also give you a chance to suss out an area where you could slip off to, if it all gets too much for your little one, or where you can feed a baby in peace.
Wedding breakfast
This can last for two hours or more, with long gaps between courses, so we’re asking a lot of children to sit still for that long. If you think about it, at home we’d never expect them to be at the dinner table for a similar period of time. So if your children are very young do take them out for a run around between courses and for older children activity packs and/or games will help you, and the other guests, enjoy the meal!
Wedding survival kit
Pack a bag of essentials to keep your children comfortable and occupied throughout the day. Include items like snacks, drinks, formula, baby food, extra clothing, nappies, toys, books, and any necessary medications. It's also helpful to have wet wipes and tissues on hand for unexpected spills or messes.
Sleep time at the wedding
If your little one still naps during the day, come up with a game plan for the day. It’s helpful to know the running order of the day in advance so you can see where a good time might be to shoehorn a nap in. Or maybe get a nap in before the wedding ceremony or better still, during the ceremony! Don’t forget the pushchair as it can be difficult to find a suitable place to lay a child down for a nap, unless of course you’re staying on site.
Bedtime
Of course a wedding is a perfect opportunity to let routine go by the by, but one word of caution. If you push bedtime too far back you run the risk of paying for it later that night, or the next day, when they’re cranky! So your options are ; cut and run early on, book evening childcare, find a quiet spot at the venue where your child can snooze (with an adult’s watchful eye over them) or just go with the flow - ‘whatever will be, will be’ attitude!
Attending a wedding with children can be challenging, and sometimes things don't go as smoothly as planned. Wedding schedules shift and children are unpredictable so expect the unexpected!
The takeaway message is do your homework, prepare the best you can and then have a bloody good time - you’ll be out out!
