Kids At Weddings
PHOTO CREDIT: Tanya Challice
Maybe you’re planning on not having kids present and wondering how to traverse this delicate subject. Maybe you are having kids and are trying to plan out how that works. How to have them there and still have a good time.
If you’re deliberating on the presence of kids - don’t assume that their parents will actually want them there. Maybe they’re just gagging for a good night out, off the clock.
However, you’re almost certain to offend some people also. I find this happens a bit with family. ’But they’re your nieces!’ etc. It’s your day. Stick to your guns. If it’s a real struggle, just allow them to the ceremony only.
Kids taking part in the ceremony? My mantra is ‘Hope for the best, expect the worst’. They might practise walking the aisle beautifully and be totally besotted with their twirly skirt.. doesn’t mean they’ll do it on the day.
Never force a child onto an aisle. It’s traumatic. Most adult bridesmaids are nervous about walking the aisle. Now imagine you’re three feet tall and surrounded by strangers looking at you. Often goes pearshaped tbh. Let it go.
If you luck out and they do as you’ve planned- make it easy at the end. Don’t stand kids up the front with the other wedding crew. They’ll be fidgety and distracting and make your photos look messy.
A great idea (ala Shannon Jeans) is to put them all on a rug at the feet of the front row. Looks cute, they’re all together and there’s adults in close proximity to shh them if required. If you give them a lollipop- you’ll get some guaranteed sweet silence( as shown in the pic above).
Always be ready with the sneaky phone distraction, particularly for toddlers. A show they like cued up and not audible. Something to distract them if they get bored and start playing up.
“Hope for the best and expect the worst..”
If you have kids yourself or are having other people’s kids at your big day, make plans to ensure it’s as stress free as possible.
Wedding nannies are a thing! And a very good thing! There’s a few companies about who deal in experienced child care workers who do this. I’ve had them at many a wedding and they’re fabulous.
They lug babies around, take grumpy toddlers back to rooms for sleeps and play, play, play. So the kids have a great time and you’ll be able to relax, knowing they’re not playing near a dam or a road or a vineyard full of tiger snakes.
‘There’ll be heaps of family there on the day to keep an eye on them’
It’s not always a great idea to entrust the care of your children to your parents or broadly, ‘the family’. The family are usually preoccupied or p1ssed. If they are graciously committed to the job, they aren’t having a good time themselves.
Book a nanny. You’ll find industry faves The Event Nannies here if you want to look into it further.
It will be money well spent, I promise.
Images: Tanya Challice
HEY THERE LEGENDS! I’M NAT SPROAL, MELBOURNE WEDDING CELEBRANT, AND AFICIONADO OF ALL THINGS HITCHING-RELATED.
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I’m your wing woman and captain of your ship when it comes to having a cruisy, loved-up and utterly memorable and joyous day. Enjoy!
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