Ensure Children Have Fun at Your Wedding Too!

Before I get into all the fun activities you can set up for children I want to briefly discuss the etiquette for inviting children to your wedding. If you are having children in the wedding ceremony (flower girl and ring bearer) it is only polite to invite all guests’ children. Also, if guests are coming from out of town to attend your wedding it is polite to allow them to bring their children. They are already paying for their hotel room and travel expenses; they will not want to pay for a babysitter and probably will not know one in town. Although it is your day it is important to consider your guests and their families experience too! Ok now on to the fun part!...

If you are inviting children to your wedding you need to have some activities planned to keep them busy while the adults are having fun! There are many different things you can do. The option best for you depends on the location and time of your ceremony and reception.

Activities to keep the little prince and princesses happy:

1.       Hire a story teller/impersonator- this is someone who dresses up as a character and vibrantly reads stories and does other activities while in character.

An example: http://www.winnipegprincesspartiesandmore.com/

2.       Scavenger Hunt List with Disposable Camera. The children run around and find/take pictures of everything on the list.

3.       Hire a face painter- Children love face painting! You can even get the painter to use colours that match your decor or theme

4.       Have a children’s table/room or tent: You can have a movie playing, bubbles, lego, colouring books, puzzles or maybe even a simple craft project

5.       Have colouring books available at the ceremony: This is a quiet activity they can do right in their lap while you are saying your vows

6.       A Play Dough station (non toxic) with cookie cutters to make fun shapes. Check out this site for lots of fun Play Dough ideas: http://www.oneperfectdayblog.net/2012/11/23/play-dough-fun-with-christmas-cookie-cutters/

 

Note: Don’t forget to offer children friendly foods! Chicken fingers, pizza, veggies and dip and maybe some cookies for dessert are all simple and inexpensive ways to keep kids happy

I would not suggest:

1.       Hiring a balloon artist: Most likely a few children will pop their balloons and then they will be sad and start crying.

2.       Hiring a clown: Some children find them really scary.

3.       Any kind of bouncing castle or inflatable slide because that is an activity that parents will want to be make sure their children don’t get hurt.

4.       Avoid anything that children could potentially choke on

You can check out these cute websites for some more ideas:

http://bridalmusings.com/2012/03/what-to-include-in-a-kids-activity-goody-box-at-a-wedding/

http://www.kidfriendlyweddings.com/c.aspx?n=wedding-ideas-for-kids-at-weddings