For junior guests, a wedding reception can be a rather long, unexciting event. A lot of time is spent sitting down, all the grown-ups drink and talk too much, and then there's the speeches... When you're only six, it's all a bit, well boring. If you're having children at your wedding reception, put a little thought into making their day more exciting. After all, if they're happy, so are their parents, and you've got a real party on your hands.
inviting prospects
To invite or not to invite the kids? This is always a tricky one. Whatever you decide, the most important thing is to stick to it absolutely. If you decide on no children under the age of five, don't tell your friend she can bring her three-month-old baby. If you know a lot of your friends will have trouble finding childcare, start working on solutions.
Crèche course
A lifesaver when it comes to large weddings with children, there are various crèche services (ask your venue for a recommendation) that let you hire professional carers to watch over the little ones. A good crèche will offer various extras to ensure children have a fun time, from magicians, face painters and bouncy castles to their favourite films on TV. If a crèche is beyond your budget, speak to the parents coming to the wedding. They may prefer to contribute something towards the cost of a crèche rather than leave their children at home with a babysitter.
If you don't want or can't afford a crèche, the key is to think about times when the children's interest levels will drop and fidget levels will rise, and arrange for them to have something to do. The peak boredom times will probably be during your welcoming reception drinks (as they'll have just sat through a ceremony), immediately after the wedding breakfast and during the speeches.
When children first arrive at the reception, it's time to pounce!
- Give each child a treasure hunt. This is simple to organise but can take them plenty of time to complete.
- Ask one of your ushers to hand out a list of "jobs". This can be anything from collecting disposable cameras at the end of the day to handing around canapés or asking guests to sign the visitors book.
- Organise a wedding related quiz that must be completed by the end of the day with a prize for the winner.
Grub's up
If you have a few children at the reception, arrange a "young adults" table - they'll probably be thrilled not to sit with their parents. Liven up their table with a patterned tablecloth and forget about flowers and sugared almonds. Instead, opt for a bowl of sweets and favours in the form of coloured pencils, plastic jewellery for the girls and toys for the boys. Goody bags to take home are always a success too.
Speak to your caterer well before the wedding and ask them to rustle up chicken and chips, cheeseburgers, jelly and ice-cream or some other child-friendly food. You might like to consider giving them a novelty chocolate cake instead of a slice of traditional fruit cake.
You don't want your guests to have to leave early because their children are bored, tired and grumpy. Think about hiring a children's entertainer. All you need is a small function room, or even a spare corner of your reception venue where children can sit on beanbags or cushions and be entertained. If it's possible to hire a TV and a selection of DVD's, you're guaranteed to keep them happy for a few hours. Supervision is, of course, necessary, but parents won't mind taking turns.
Photo www.lovegroveweddings.com
