Inviting Kids To A Wedding

During the planning stages of a couples wedding, the question comes up so often whether to invite kids to their wedding. With today’s weddings, you’ll attend wedding receptions that’ll have the children from all ages enjoying the party celebrations almost as much as the adults, but then you attend other receptions with no children present at all. So there is no real tradition set, it’s a decision made by the bride, groom and sometimes their parents may have some influence as well.

   When kids are attending, there seems to be more attention set on them while they get out and dance on the floor to the beat of the music, or they may steal the show during the bride and groom dance, but as you know, that it not their intentions. They’re there to enjoy themselves just as the adults are. If you think back to when you were a kid and attending your aunt or uncles wedding, you remember the fun and the lasting memories as you celebrated their wedding bliss.

   If your decision is to include the kids to your wedding reception, there are some things you can provide that can entertain them. Remember, weddings can be tailored to fit anyway you want, there’s no set rules that apply, only your rules. Here’s some ideas to include that will keep them entertained and also they will enjoy the company of the other children as well.

• Create a Kids Corner or an area that can be just their area if there’s enough room in the reception hall.
• Provide fruit juices in the small squeeze boxes or bottles, this may keep them away from the pop at the bar area. Plus with juice, they will feel it just their own and there’s no sugar buzz for the hyper effect.
• There should be activities for them to do. Spread some coloring books and crayons around or put a set at each of their place setting. Another idea maybe little foamy puzzles to be put together. Another idea maybe sticker books filled with wedding items like the wedding cake, brides and grooms ring, wedding bells, or doves to name a few. Another creative idea that would be fun and will entertain them is to make or purchase a large maze and either hang it on the reception hall wall or use it as a table covering. Another idea is possibly using one of the teens at the wedding to oversee a scavenger hunt or some word or trivia games.
• Not many kids as you know are into the food at the wedding with the exception of the beautiful wedding cake. So instead of paying that cost per plate for the kids, why not bring in a few $5.00 pizzas. What kid wouldn’t prefer pizza over baked chicken and mosticholi, peas and corn. This would be much cheaper than paying $14.00 - $24.00 a plate for a child you know won’t eat maybe $2.00 worth! 

Time for desert, this by far is a favorite by kids and adults alike. Of course there is the wedding cake for the guests but, most of the time there is left over cake batter and frosting, right. The thought is, why not use the left over to make cupcakes for the kids. Cupcakes also work very well if you are setting up a candy buffet which is a new trend to add to the wedding reception.