10 TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A SUCCESFUL WEDDING WITH KIDS

Are you planning your wedding day and gradually discovering many children’s names on your guest list? There are tons of ideas online for entertaining the oldest among the wedding guests. And what are the kids supposed to do in the meantime? We are increasingly forgetting to make our little guests happy at our wedding party. So what to do?

First of all, we should ask ourselves what does a child-friendly wedding stand for? Are there wedding-specific activities for children? Or how can the little ones be involved in the wedding process? There are a few things that you need to consider in order to plan a successful wedding with children. Once this is done, nothing stands in the way of the big wedding celebration where adults and children alike have fun!

In this blog post I will show you our TOP10 tips and tricks for a successful wedding with children including detailed explanations, examples, activities and fun duties for children. Discover a lot of creative planning solutions. Here you will find many answers to many questions in order to finally bring order to this chapter. Let our TOP10 inspire you to celebrate a uniquely child-friendly wedding. May the bride and groom, the wedding guests AND the children have a wonderful time with unforgettable memories.

1. CHILD-FRIENDLY WEDDINGS — WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE?

• Pre-check your wedding venue. For example, a high-rise loft with a roof terrace is less suitable for weddings with children.

• Plan an area for children only and choose a fun theme, e.g. “No entry for adults“ or “Kids only“.

• Accept music requests from children or schedule 15 minutes of music for children. Ask the DJ or the band.

• At weddings with children, you should not be missing (lots of) confetti. This makes cleaning more difficult, but it is a lot of fun.

• Child-friendly food and beverages as well as suitable table equipment (small plates and cups, preferably made from recycled bamboo or similar, no glass) are a must!

• relaxation/ nursing area and mobile changing station (detailed explanations below)

2. PRE-WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS

• Parents should explain their children that weddings are a special occasion and that “new rules” are in place on this particular day (if necessary, write down a new rule board).

• Make it clear that other children will also be attending the wedding reception. That means games need to be shared. At the same time, there will be a friend to play with!

• Also, let the wedding planner know about the number and ages of children attending your wedding. That way, planning can be more effective and ultimately more child-friendly.

3. WEDDING DUTIES FOR CHILDREN

• Greeting wedding guests at the reception

• Handing out wedding favors, e.g. small soaps

• Handing out handkerchiefs for tears of joy

• Receiving the wedding couple’s gifts at the gift table

• Holding candles and walking down the isle (especially at church weddings)

• Holding the bride’s train

• Throwing confetti after the wedding ceremony

• Throwing rice outside the church. An old tradition that leads to happiness and prosperity for the life of the bride and groom together.

• Capturing the wedding day with disposable cameras

• Do not forget to include your children in your wedding speech

4. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

• Unless professional childcare is commissioned, it is advisable to appoint the supporters in advance.

• Supporters have to introduce themselves to the children as “contact persons for all matters”. It is nice to have a little welcoming ceremony for the little ones, e.g. an alternative champagne reception with homemade lemonade. This way, the children can get to know each other right away.

• Very important: assigned children’s corner! In this way, the little ones have their own place at the wedding party and feel comfortable. This also reassures their parents.

5. ACTIVITIES AND PARTY FAVORS

• Soap bubble machine

• Balloon modelling, e.g. animal balloons

• Photo Booth for kids or ask your wedding photographer about a short kids’ photo shoot

• Cotton candy or popcorn machine

• DIY activities, e.g. craft projects

• Linen bags painting project

• Coloring books with colored pens, stamps and stickers

• A “kids bar” with delicious fruit juices

• Kids tepee with pillows, wooden instruments and some music

• Rent a bouncy castle (also fun for adults!)

• Candy bar or “take away“ candy bags

6. PLAN TIME BUFFER

• Pay attention to time buffers when planing your wedding day. Because with children you always experience some delays. Prime example: the legendary walk to the toilet or the moment you have to change the diapers.

• Win case you hire a wedding planner, make sure you go through all of the details to come up with a child-friendly wedding concept.

7. PLAYFUL KIDS’ TABLES

• If the wedding budget allows, the biggest hit at wedding parties with children today are specially allocated and decorated children’s tables. This includes suitable table equipment, snacks, drinks and table activities

  The children’s tables serve as starting points for the little ones. This is especially relevant for large wedding parties or outdoor weddings

• Kids’ tables help the little ones to get to know each other. In this way a group dynamic among children can develop. This is of course very positive for the general wedding mood.

• Parents want to know where their children are. This is very important. The integration of children’s tables in the wedding planning also supports the parents among the wedding guests, which will allow them to participate more intensively in the wedding event.

8. COZY CORNER FOR RELAXATION

• The moment will come when children start to nag and long for some rest. Or they just want to be alone with mommy / daddy for a moment. A cozy kids’ corner, e.g. with a tepee, pillows and blankets provides the necessary moments of relaxation.

• The “Cozy Corner“ can also be used as a nursing area for mothers and their babies.

• If parents among the wedding guests want to rock the dance floor with the newlyweds a little longer, you can turn the cozy corner into an improvised sleeping area. Keep in mind, however, that this is not suitable for long hours as it does not replace a kid-friendly sleeping area.

9. HANDY DIAPER STATION

• Many wedding venues, especially improvised ones, e.g. outdoor weddings on the beach or in the woods do not offer diaper changing rooms or stations for babies and young children. So make sure you organize a mobile diaper station if babies and toddlers are on your wedding guest list.

• Add some products to your mobile changing station to give parents a little comfort at your wedding. There is probably nothing worse for mom and dad who look forward to the one and only wedding celebration (whether it is their own wedding or the wedding of a friend) and finally arrive to the party with a fully packed, heavy diaper bag. And by the way, the bag often does not match the outfit!

• Pay more attention to good quality products, e.g. organic diapers, changing mats (very important), wet wipes and an organic babies’ cream. Do not forget to add a small trash can for used diapers to your mobile diaper station.

10. SOS: BEING PREPARED!

• Safety first! Always have an emergency box / first aid kit ready. Child-friendly band-aids with colorful patterns are an eye-catching and fun.

• Do not forget to add sunscreen to your first aid kit if your wedding is in the summer. Also think of suitable head covering, for example hats on very hot summer days.

• However, sometimes beauty comes first. Make sure you get colorful children’s bibs.This way the kids’ clothes do not get dirty while eating.