Wedding Creche's

kazzachick

Hi all

Im starting up my own business providing wedding creches, I was wondering if anyone has used them before and wondering what the need is out there?

Karen

trying_2_b_good

I haven't - but a friend hired a child minder for the full day at her wedding. She said it was great as they got to spend the day together as a family, but not burden other family with him while the speeches etc where on. Also meant everyone got to stay up for the night do when he went to bed.

As for a full on creche - I don't know how necessary it would be at a lot of weddings. There were only 5 under 4s at my wedding so we didn't even think about it.

Sounds like a great idea though - good luck!

trying_2_b_good

Also...I'd try asking on the specific wedding websites - I guess a lot of us money savers may see it as an unnecessary expense

http://www.hitched.co.uk/search/index.aspx?q=creche

There's also Confetti and I'm sure google will help you find more!

bekkki1

Someone on facebook was advertising their business in our area. I just had a quick search for it and loads popped up.

Maybe you could have a look see what they are offering?

Dekazer

I've never heard of this idea. We don't have children, so perhaps it wouldn't have occurred to us to seek it out, and I haven't come across it anywhere.

Would you provide toys/games etc, entertainment? Approximately how much would it be?

If it's what I'm thinking it might be, it would possibly be something we would consider.

LEJC

Personally I wouldnt put my child in a "wedding creche"..either they are invited to the wedding or not..if the answer is no then I wont bring them...if the answer is yes they are invited...then I would want them to enjoy the day with everyone else...admittedly my child is not a small child but I think I see it as possibly an unwanted expense on the bride and groom...but having said that,its each to there own...if you want it and you can afford it then its fine...but not something I would have considered either when I was the bride or would think a good idea as a guest...sorry..

Minimoo24

I dont think i would do it either. Ive posted about children at my wedding before, I would never not have children at my wedding but i know that doesnt suit everyone (before you all start) I wouldnt do it because i would feel like i was pushing him out the way even though he probably would have fun... i would say yes, unwanted expense.

LEJC

Are you already a registered childminder...and you are planning on doing this in addition to your usual childminding or is this the first experience you have of setting up as a childminder?

I ask purely because my friend is registered and has undergone lots of vigourous checks on both herself and her premises in order to provide childcare facilities...and I just wonder how that may fit in with charging money for a service but conducting the service at an unregistered site which I assume it would be if you were mobile and went from venue to venue...and whilst you may be registered to childmind it may be necessary to have the area at the venue checked too...you could be the most wonderful childminder but if the venue is not considered safe for that type of activity then there could be problems... I guess that many hotel function rooms may not be deemed suitable as appropriate creche facilities

I would assume that once you start to charge for a childminding service then there are lots of health and safety issues that will need to be addressed and satisfied regarding where the childminding takes place before you will be allowed to look after the children...so it may not be as simple as turning up at a venue and taking the children to a quiet part or another room to entertaian them whilst the speeches or whatever are on...

Most of the weddings I have been to over the years you usually find that the children all look out for eachother and maybe one of the older ones takes on a bit of a supervisory role...if an accident were to happen then there is nobody to really blame because everyone knows its an informal agreement...however if an accident were to occur with you as the paid childminder it may be difficult to establish liability between yourself and the venue....

Sorry to sound so morbid at your suggestion but there are points you need to consider before setting up as a buisness...

VICSH

HI
I have to say I agree with a lot of what LEJC says. My son attends a childminder who is fully registered and check for her benefit and mine if something was to happen while he was in her care she would be covered by her insurance. She also knows the risks etc of her house and regularly carries out risk assesments.
Also I would say that if I went to a wedding that had a creche i doubt I would leave my son there mainly becasue as a parent I wouldnt want to leave my child with someone I dont know. With all that said some people will pay for this for children at weddings something to consider would be how to entertain I'm not sure you could entertain a 7-8 year old at the same time as a 2 years old???

Good luck

Alikay

I did some occasional work a few years ago for a babysitting agency who offered creche facilities at functions, weddings etc. It worked OK although it's expensive for the bride and groom as they'll also need to pay for a separate function room for the creche which isn't cheap. You will probably need to hire in quite a few qualified staff too, and have them available through to the wee small hours as many parents who put their children in the creche will also want an in-room sitter for the evening.

I'd be surprised if you could make it profitable as a stand-alone service for weddings - are you a childminder too or have some way of getting plenty of qualified child care workers on an occasional basis? There are already a few companies which offer this service nationwide along with normal babysitting so there will be some competition.

kazzachick

Hi all

Thanks for all your replies, you really have gave me something to think about, I am a qualified nursery nurse and currently work as a childminder, because of the recession things are quiet so I was thinking about this as a side line. I would have my own insurance, my idea is to provide lots of fun activities like party games, art and craft, toys etc. I wouldn't be much on outlay as I have everything already its just the insurance and Im waiting for that to see how much interest there would be. I spent the day yesterday phoning hotels in the area and they were 90% positive about it. So going to try and get my name out there and see. I personally had children at my wedding and wouldn't have had it any other way but you know what a lot of people are like. I do also have lots of qualified friends who I have worked with and know what they are like, I was going to put it that everyone I have as staff are qualified and at least two years experience. Plus all disclosed.

I have worked for a company safehands which do also do it but I only think they offer babysitting around here and not the creches. Think I will get a website and flyers and see what response I get. Thanks all