Entertaining children at weddings

Spendless

I started reading this thread and wondered how long it would be before someone asked why they couldn't just sit still;)

Rachel-I think it's a wonderful and thoughtful idea of yours that will be very much appreciated by the parents. Can't give you any more ideas than you've already had.

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding.:beer:

Fleago

Spendless wrote: »

I started reading this thread and wondered how long it would be before someone asked why they couldn't just sit still;)

Rachel-I think it's a wonderful and thoughtful idea of yours that will be very much appreciated by the parents. Can't give you any more ideas than you've already had.

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding.:beer:

It is thoughtful of Rachel, BUT, and to me it's a big but, she's said she's watching her budget. I'm going to sound like my own mother now (someone shoot me, please :rotfl: ) but when my daughter was a little girl and we went to weddings, it would never have crossed my mind to expect things there to entertain her; she enjoyed just dancing and joining in the general fun. And sitting still to eat her meal.

I just feel so for people organising weddings nowadays! They seem to be hideously expensive enough as it is and it does seem to me that entertainment for the children might be a very nice idea, but could be left out if the bride is watching her budget.

However, everyone has different views, which is a good thing, cos variety is the spice of life.

oneofseven

Its not a case of brides having to worry about entertaining the child guests, for me, it was more about wanting all my guests to have the best time possible at our wedding. Not having to worry about keeping kids quiet,
most parents will have thought of something they can bring to entertain their children, so just a few little extras like balloons, colouring stuff will be great. Disposable cameras are also great fun.

We had a bouncy castle for the kids although somewhere there is a video of me in my wedding dress and husband in kilt on the bouncy castle.;)

To be honest we just let the kids do their own thing, they had great fun dancing and playing with balloons. Party poppers were also a big hit. There were lots of kids at our wedding and all the parents helped each other out.
At a friends wedding there were lots of babies and they had a room set aside for feeding and nappy changing and lettting babies chill out away from main party.

The ideas given so far have been great, but don't be tempted to give out lots of sweets as one friend did, after the sugar rush we had quite a few sick and in tears.

Spendless

Fleago wrote: »

It is thoughtful of Rachel, BUT, and to me it's a big but, she's said she's watching her budget. I'm going to sound like my own mother now (someone shoot me, please :rotfl: ) but when my daughter was a little girl and we went to weddings, it would never have crossed my mind to expect things there to entertain her; she enjoyed just dancing and joining in the general fun. And sitting still to eat her meal.

I've got a daughter just like that, a result of my excellent parenting skills:p I've also another child that can't sit still to save his life. He must be being brought up by different parents despite living with us, and him having the same parents as his sister.;) I don't expect any one to provide me with something to amuse my kids at a wedding, but I| would be very touched and grateful if they did.

Since the OP didn't ask for opinions on whether she should or shouldn't provide anything, just where she can get stuff cheaply from and I can't give any more ideas than have already been given, I'll now bow out of this thread.

halia

If you want the kids to be there, rather than just agreeing to have them along for the parents sake then they are your guests just as much as the adults. You entertain the adults with a meal they will enjoy and dancing so why not the kids too?

I'd agree with setting aside an area/room for kids if you can. For a party we held we arranged for a local girl to come for the day to be around to 'babysit'. It cost us £50 but was well worthwhile as there was always one sober adult whose responsibility was making sure 2 yr olds didn't fall into the pond or run out of the garden.

Fleago

Sorry, Spendless, I didn't mean for you to think I was getting at you in any way I was more coming from the thought that maybe Rachel thought she was obliged to provide things and might not realise she didn't have to.

Gawd, I am a miserable old so and so. I am become my own mother! :eek:

Mind you, a bouncy castle would be excellent at a wedding. I'd definitely have a go on that.

Fleago

PS I stopped at the one child to avoid risking having one that wasn't as well behaved as the one I had!

Kaz2904

I went to a wedding in October and have 2 kids. I was concerned about DS walking down the aisle so I phoned the bride beforehand and asked how many kids there were going. She also asked me about what to get for the kids to keep them entertained and was going to go out and buy toys.
I told her I'd sort it and got each child a colouring book and a packet of pencils. She had enough to worry about with her big day and 2 of the kids were mine.
The kids were happily entertained along with the toy cars another mum had brought. They had the colouring in the church with a lolly (not too sticky and quiet to open) and just played later. Fantastic behaviour from all kids all day- espescially when the disco started!

Why not give that job to one of the bridesmaids or if one of the mums is a close friend ask her to sort it?
Whatever you do- I remember going to a wedding when I was about 12. They had a facepainter for the children...... even at 12 I could see it was a bad idea. And it happened- cue small child drawn to white dress..... picks it up and buries face in said dress, leaving a lovely image on the dress. Oh how the bride cried (daft bint!) how could you not see that coming- honestly?

MKwife

I had a fat bouncy castle at my wedding and we didn't see the children hardly ever except when they came bouncing in happy and out of breath desperate for a drink, then they disappeared outside to bounce again!

At the dinner tables we had party bags for the children full of sweets and little puzzles and crayons etc (check out woolworths!!) to keep them entertained for half an hour then they carried on bouncing!

DaisyFlower

I went to a wedding where the bride had sectioned off the end of the room for the kids only, there were tables set up with colouring books, crayons, stickers etc. Then a space for Twister which went down a storm with the kids and I think an area for bubbles, streamers etc.

It was fab, the kids had a great time and the mums and dads got to enjoy themselves too. Weddings can get a little boring for children when sat with so many grown ups.

The crayons and books could be bought in bulk to keep it cheap and Twister is about £5 at the moment so not a great outlay.

ailuro2

My sil had goodie bags for each child, and had put in an age related activity - colouring in can be done during the meal - I agree origami is great for older kids.Colouring pencils make a lot less mess of clothes than felt tip pens do;)

Have a competition for best dancer, for drawing the bride and groom etc. to help include them in the day- the pictures produced will make a wonderful souvenir!
Make the prizes something simple - not sweets- they can make some kids hyper- our Dd's behaviour is awful after she's had Smarties, though normally she's an angel!:A
Smelly gift sets from poundland for girls? Comicbook heroes for the boys?
Don't let them take over the wedding though, it is your day too!:D


one thing- if you do go for bubbles, make sure they're fabric friendly- bubbles can ruin material- which won't go down well with all the new outfits being worn on the day!;)