To have kids at your wedding and reception or not to have kids at your wedding reception? It can be a hard question to answer if you have a lot of kids in the family, have lots of friends that have kids…or just don’t like kids. There are a lot of reasons you may or may not want them present. Some questions to ask yourself:
-Will a lot of the guests we really want to attend, not attend if they can’t bring their children?
-Can we live with the possible distraction of having children present?
-Is there a place at the ceremony site for parents to take loud or unruly children/crying babies?
-Will there be so many children present that special measures should be taken (a special menu, etc) and can we afford the added expense?
-Will having children present add to or take away from the over all wedding day experience?
If you like the idea of having little ones there on your big day, here are some ideas for keeping them happy!
-Have a special table for them in the reception area. Cover the table with butcher paper and coloring utensils to keep them busy.
-Have a table of games and fun activities set up near the back of the reception area or in a different room for some kid-friendly fun while parents are havin’ a good time.
-Consider hiring a sitter (or more than one if you have a lot of tiny things running around) for the evening and have him or her (or them) do all the kid-watching. If your reception is in a hotel or another place with additional available rooms, consider renting a room just for kids.
-Have kid-friendly food. Chicken strips, little hamburgers, French fries, apple slices, Mac n’ Cheese. The list is quite long.
Overall, children can add a youthful, precious touch to your day, if you like having them around. If nothing else, they make for some super cute photo opportunities.