Arrangements for your own children at evening do when you got married

Belle24

Slightly odd question this but what arrangements have people made for your own children for the evening do part of your wedding?
There is no accommodation at our venue so a Babysitter would be the obvious choice but the only people we use to sit for us (usually OH mum and dad or brother) will be at the wedding and I really wouldn't want them to miss out on the evening part. I'm considering either us or OH mum bringing the children back home to put to bed and then having a member of the nursery staff sit for us once they are settled. We are getting married locally, will be coming home to our house once the wedding has ended and someone from the nursery would be familiar to both children.
I guess the other option is to keep them with us in the evening and hope they will sleep in buggies etc but they will be 4 and 18m when we get married so is a big ask of the younger one in particular.
Anyone been in a similar situation?

LEJC

Ive not been in the situation exactly...ie I married before my kids were around...but ive been to plenty of receptions where there are very small children and sometimes their staying power is greater than the adults!!!!
Our youngest bridesmaid was just 2 when we married and found it fun to spend the evening dancing in front of the loud speakers long into the night...she was such a timid little girl normally but seemed totally transfixed by the music and people around her!
personally I would perhaps opt for bringing a travel cot or something similar to the evening venue just incase but you might find you really wont need it as there will be lots of willing babysitters around who wont mind a "tired one"cuddling up if they want a nap.
Let them enjoy the evening....im sure they will

minerva_windsong

I don't have any kids myself but I will have several young children coming to my wedding, so I'm planning to have a space upstairs in the venue with quiet toys, books and lots of big soft cushions for any littlies who might want some quiet time or to have a sleep. The disco is downstairs and the venue is pretty well soundproofed so hopefully it shouldn't bother them too much.

traleegirl

At a wedding we were at recently, my aunt bought a duvet and pillow for my 4 year old cousin...she made a little nest under the table and my cousin slept soundly!!!

justme1985

My nephew was 2 when he was at our wedding in October. He was really well behaved and enjoyed the evening! My parents stayed til about 10:30pm with him. (They didn't leave early because of him....because of a sibling who can't handle their drink!)

He was probably the best behaved kid there! The older kids (oldest 12) stayed up dancing til 1am!

Like others have said there will be plenty of people around to keep them occupied. I'm surprised what kids sleep through sometimes, so you never know they might be able to sleep there!

tinkerbellkirst

We do have rooms at our venue so this is not an issue as such for us. But my kids will definitely be staying up with the party, they will crash when they crash wherever they crash, but probably wont knowing my 2


If not perhaps OH parents will leave earlier? And could take them back with them? this is often what I have seen happen at others weddings with their own children.


Kirsty x

Belle24

Thanks all, appreciate your comments. Love the idea of bringing a duvet and making a den under a table!

runawaybride

my 2 will be DD 3yrs (2 weeks before reception) and DS 23mnths and they will be staying the duration DS doesnt sleep anyway so i cant see it being a problem and DD is the complete opposite and will sleep anywhere lol. im hoping my sis will take them to hers at the end of the night she lives locally to the venue, so we dont have to arrange getting them home (we arent taking cars so we can have a drink which means no car seats) our venue is just a hall but ill take pushchairs i like the idea of the travel cot aswell.

Sezzagirl

It seems like such a long time since my great huge teenage boys were this young but I do remember that when they were little and we went to events like weddings they would NEVER fall asleep

Instead, they would get more and more overtired and grumpy and demanding!:eek:

I suppose what I am trying to say is that you need to allow for the chance that your children will neither fall asleep or happily join in the whole party_party_ but instead they may become overtired and maybe clingy or tearful and only want Mum (as small children tend to do!):mad:

As you are going to be busy spending time with your guests and enjoying yourselves, it might be very stressful to try to wrangle an overtired child at the same time:eek:

I think if it was me, I would go with the idea in your original post of having your children with you to celebrate and enjoy the party for a while but have someone arranged or on stand by to take them home if needs be

That will allow you to enjoy your special day without being worried about your children

Maybe talk to the nursery staff. Someone from the nursery might have abright idea of how to sort it out!

Have a wonderful day and life together:)