Making Your Wedding Kid-Friendly: Tips For A Fun Celebration

Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially when deciding whether to invite children. While some couples prefer an adult-only celebration, others may want to include their smallest friends and family members. If you're in the latter group, there are several things you can do to ensure your big day goes off without a hitch and keeps your tiny guests entertained.

First, it's essential to know how many children will be attending, their ages, and any special needs or dietary requirements. This information will help with seating arrangements and meal planning. Consider creating a separate kids' lounge or play area with age-appropriate activities and entertainment, supervised by a trusted adult or hired help.

Provide a variety of kid-friendly foods and treats, and if possible, offer a separate buffet or menu just for them. Keep the little ones occupied during the ceremony with quiet activities like colouring books or outdoor games. For older kids, giving them responsibilities like passing out wedding programs or favours can help keep them engaged.

Finally, don't forget to include children in your wedding timeline and consider their nap and bedtime schedules when planning the day's events. By making these simple accommodations, you can ensure that both kids and adults have a memorable and enjoyable time at your wedding.

Create a kids' menu

When it comes to creating a kid-friendly wedding, food is a crucial consideration. Here are some tips and ideas for putting together a children's menu that will satisfy even the fussiest of young guests:

Know Your Guests

Before you start planning the menu, it's important to know how many children will be attending, their ages, and any dietary requirements or allergies they may have. This information will help you tailor the menu to their needs and ensure there's something for everyone.

Offer Kid-Friendly Options

While adults may enjoy a fancy plated meal, children often prefer something more casual and familiar. Offer kid-friendly fare such as mini pizzas, spaghetti, chicken fingers, or DIY sundae bars. You can also provide a buffet with a variety of options so they can choose what they like and create their own plates.

Make It Fun and Interactive

Make the meal fun and engaging for kids. Colourful fruit skewers, a build-your-own-taco bar, or milk-and-cookie shooters are all great ways to make dinner entertaining. You can also offer interactive late-night snacks like a popcorn cart with toppings or a cotton candy machine.

Provide Finger Foods

Toddlers and younger children may prefer to graze and play at the same time. Offer platters of finger foods that they can easily pick at, such as fruit, vegetables, and other bite-sized treats. This way, they can enjoy their meal while still having fun.

Ask Parents for Input

If possible, reach out to the parents of the young guests and ask about their children's favourite foods or any specific foods they should avoid. This ensures that the kids will actually eat and enjoy the food, and it shows that you've gone the extra mile to cater to their needs.

Don't Forget Dessert!

Kids love sweets, so be sure to include some tasty treats on the menu. Personalised M&Ms, chocolate wedding bells or hearts, cupcakes, or a candy bar with a variety of options will be a hit with the little ones. Just be mindful of sugar crashes and offer some non-sugary options too!

Provide entertainment

Entertainment is key to keeping kids happy at a wedding, and there are lots of options to choose from. If you have the budget, you could hire some external entertainment, such as a magician, a clown, or a face painter. You could also bring in some fluffy animals – these will work with any theme and are always a hit with kids. If you're looking for something more low-key, set up a few activity tables with non-messy crafts, board games, or toys. For something in between, you could rent some old-school arcade games or a bouncy castle. If your wedding is outdoors, lawn games like a bouncy castle, Jenga, or Connect Four are a great option. For something more relaxed, create a quiet space with a TV and some movies, or set up a bubble machine and let the kids go wild. If you're feeling creative, you could even make your own piñata.

If you're looking for something more structured, you could create an activity pack for each child. This could include colouring books, crayons, small toys, stickers, or activity sheets. If you want to get the kids involved in the wedding celebrations, you could create a wedding-themed colouring book, or set up a cookie-decorating station with cookies shaped like wedding bells. You could even have a colouring competition, with a small prize for the winner. For older kids, you could give them disposable cameras and ask them to act as wedding photographers.

Set up a separate kids' space

Setting up a separate kids' space is a great way to ensure that children are entertained and well looked after during a wedding. This can be especially helpful if the wedding venue is not particularly child-friendly, or if there are a large number of kids in attendance.

Firstly, it's important to assess the space available. A separate room is ideal, but if this is not possible, a kids' table or a dedicated area away from the main festivities can also work well. The space should be quiet and safe, preferably away from entry and exit points to avoid any children wandering off.

Next, consider the age range of the children attending, as well as the number of kids and their specific needs. This will help determine what type of activities and entertainment to provide. For example, a lunchtime reception might benefit from an active kids' area with outdoor games, while an evening reception may require a quieter, more calming space.

Some ideas for the separate kids' space include:

• A crafting station with pipe cleaners, pom-poms, glue sticks, colouring books and crayons.
• Outdoor lawn games such as Jenga, Connect Four, or a bouncy castle.
• Video games, board games, or interactive food stations such as a popcorn cart or cotton candy bar.
• A movie corner with comfy seating and a TV or projector.
• A separate kids' buffet with child-friendly finger foods and snacks.
• A quiet room for babies to nap, or for older children to retreat to if they need a break from the festivities.

It is also a good idea to provide a dedicated babysitter or nanny for the duration of the wedding. This will allow parents to relax and enjoy the wedding, knowing that their children are being well looked after.

By setting up a separate kids' space, the children will be entertained and kept busy, while the adults can celebrate without having to worry about keeping an eye on their little ones.

Offer activity packs

Offering activity packs is a great way to keep kids entertained during the wedding ceremony and reception. These can be in the form of goody bags or boxes, or even a separate booklet. Here are some ideas for what to include:

Activity Booklet

Unbridely offers a free, gender-neutral wedding activity booklet that can be personalised with the couple's names. It can be printed out and put together with a couple of staples. The booklet includes activities such as word searches, puzzles, and drawing.

Goody Bags

Goody bags can be filled with small toys, stickers, colouring books, and crayons. You could also include bubbles, small disposable cameras, or other items that will keep kids entertained throughout the event. Some couples choose to give out candy or chocolate as wedding favours, which can also be included in the goody bags.

Crafting Kits

Kids can be provided with a crafting station and items such as pipe cleaners, pom-poms, glue sticks, and paper. This will allow them to get creative and make their own wedding-themed decorations or artwork.

Games

Setting up a separate play area or lounge for kids with board games, video games, and outdoor games will give them a space to have fun and socialise away from the adult guests. You could also set up a movie corner with comfy seating and put on child-friendly films.

Food

In addition to the activities, it's important to provide kid-friendly food options. This could include a buffet with finger foods, fruit skewers, make-your-own tacos, and milk-and-cookie shooters for dessert. Having a separate kids' table with activities and food will keep them occupied and entertained throughout the event.

By offering activity packs, you can ensure that kids have a fun and engaging experience at your wedding, allowing their parents to relax and enjoy the celebrations.

Hire a babysitter

Hiring a babysitter or nanny service is a great way to ensure that your wedding is kid-friendly. This option allows children to be looked after and entertained in a safe and nurturing environment while the adults enjoy the festivities. Here are some tips to consider when hiring a babysitter for your wedding:

Determine the Number of Children:

Before hiring a babysitter, it is important to know the number of children attending your wedding and their ages. This will help you decide on the number of babysitters required and the types of activities or services needed. Some babysitting services provide packages tailored to the number of children and their age groups.

Dedicated Space for Children:

Consider allocating a separate space for the babysitter and the children, such as a room or an outdoor area with appropriate supervision. This allows the children to have their own area to play, relax, and enjoy age-appropriate activities while being safely away from the main wedding events. Ensure that the space is safe, comfortable, and equipped with necessary amenities.

Hire Professional Babysitters:

Look for babysitters or nanny services with experience in handling large groups of children and those who are trustworthy, reliable, and background-checked. You can contact local childcare companies or event childcare specialists who provide trained professionals for weddings. These individuals can engage the children in creative and fun activities, ensuring a memorable experience for your young guests.

Communicate with Parents:

It is essential to communicate your babysitting plans to the parents of the children attending. Let them know about the availability of babysitters, the designated space, and any other relevant details. This will help parents feel confident about their children's care and allow them to relax and enjoy your wedding festivities.

Involve the Babysitters in Wedding Activities:

In addition to providing separate activities for the children, you can also involve the babysitters and children in some wedding activities. For example, they could participate in the first dance, enjoy a kids-only dance floor time, or be included in wedding photos. This creates a sense of inclusion for the children and their parents, making your wedding a memorable and enjoyable experience for all.

By hiring a babysitter or nanny service, you can ensure that the children at your wedding are well cared for and entertained, allowing both the children and their parents to have a wonderful time at your special celebration.

Frequently asked questions