Here are some tips to help you decide whether to invite kids to your wedding.
Will your wedding be adults only or family-friendly? There’s no right or wrong answer, as your wedding and reception are meant to be as unique and individual as you are. However, this is an important question to ask yourself before planning your celebrations. The answer will affect your decisions and your budget.
When thinking about your options, consider your guest list. How many of your guests have children and would cause hurt feelings if you didn’t include their children? You want this day to be memorable but for the right reasons.
If it’s important for you to have a child-free wedding, here are a few suggestions that may help without alienating your guests.
Will You Have a Flower Girl/Ring Bearer?
Young children in the bride or groom’s family typically fill these roles in most weddings. Is it okay to have them attend the ceremony but not the reception?
If you are close to the parents of the children who fulfill these roles, you may want to ask if they’re okay with not having the kids at the ceremony. This way, their parents can enjoy the celebration without being on “duty.”
Deciding not to have a flower girl or ring bearer makes a potentially difficult situation more manageable. You can have your desired wedding without worrying about whether someone will feel slighted that you didn’t invite their children, but the ring bearer and flower girl are allowed to attend.
Let People Know in Advance
One of the easiest ways to defuse any situation is to address it before it becomes an issue. Before sending your invitations, make a list of your guests with children. Call and let them know your plans for a child-free wedding ahead of time.
It’s a lovely touch to help your guests feel personally considered when planning your wedding. Though you’re not allowing children, you’re thoughtful enough to call guests and let them know personally ahead of time. It will also give them enough time to plan their childcare.
Have Your Wedding in the Evening
Planning an evening event will make finding a babysitter easier for your guests. Weddings are a time to celebrate with friends and family; most families have children of various ages. So, if you are unsure about whether to include the kids, here are a few ways you can include them without having them distract from the feeling you want at your reception:
- Kid’s table: You can put crafty projects on a kid’s table to keep them during the reception. Provide stickers and paper or sticker books, coloring, activity books, and crayons, or games for them to play, like cards or memory games. If you’re having an outdoor wedding, provide bubbles for blowing and even small squirt guns if it’s hot.
- Kid-friendly food: Have your caterer create a kid’s menu so the children are fed well. Plus, you won’t have to pay the higher price for the full meal you plan for adults.
- Hire childcare: If your budget allows, consider hiring a childcare professional to help “run” the kid’s table. Hiring childcare allows the attending parents to relax and enjoy their celebration without worrying about whether their kids are having a good time and staying out of mischief.
HISTORIC OAKLAND MANOR: THE PERFECT WEDDING VENUE
Nestled in a peaceful wooded area in the heart of downtown Columbia, Historic Oakland Manor stands proudly in natural splendor. Elegant Oakland is the perfect setting for ceremonies, wedding receptions, bridal showers, holiday parties, family celebrations, business meetings, or retreats. Schedule a tour today with our expert venue coordinators! Please call (410-730-4801), email ([email protected]), or visit our chat on our homepage to book a tour appointment.
