I am the Maid of Honor helping my sister plan her wedding. There are 42 children invited to the wedding (children of family members and friends) I would say that a large percentage are under 5 and and almost all under 10 years old. I suggested to my sister that she do some entertainment for the kids. Which I did talk to the DJ and they can do some kids songs. She thinks that the kids should sit quietly. I have a 3 year old of my own - my sister has two older stepdaughters who would sit quietly, but I know my 3 year old will get bored. She said the food, cake, and dancing will be enough. I am worried that her family will come and bring their children who will get restless and bored and will go home after she has spent a couple thousand of dollars on drinks and food that will go to waste. I realize that there really is no requirement to provide entertainment for the children and I haven't been to a wedding where children attending so I am having a hard time giving good advice here. This is a 3 o'clock wedding with a 4 o'clock reception.
I suggested that she find a reception place that has a side room in which she can decorate with a paper table cloth, crayon favors.balloons, pizzas, fruit kabobs, punch, and hire a clown to entertain the kids for an hour or so. I thought this way the parents can enjoy the reception adult food and dancing without worrying about their kids running around tearing up stuff etc. She said that she dosen't want a circus for a wedding - I think that it will be a circus if she dosen't do some kind of entertainment. Possibly I am in the wrong here.
I really need some advice from someone who has experience with children at a wedding reception. Especially so many children.
Thanks,
Crystal
TWQadmin
FORUM EXPERT
/ Moderator
Sep 6, 2005, 7:00 AM
Post #2 of 5
(1415 views)
Re: [cnewberry] Questions about Children at a wedding reception
[In reply to]
Dear Crystal:
Although I do agree with you that young children can, and will, become bored with a lengthy adult reception, you have already made the suggestions we would make for entertaining the children. This is your sister's wedding and obviously she has her own ideas. You made your point but she doesn't agree. Sometimes people who do not have children think that kids can "just sit still" if told. However, all of us who do have children know that they just can't do this at the age of three (not for extended periods anyway). We parents must then decide if the event is appropriate for our child to attend. Just because the child is invited doesn't mean they have to go.
If you feel your own daughter will become bored and cause you to have to leave before you're ready perhaps you can consider a babysitter either in your home or on the premises of the reception facility (prviding this is ok with your sister and the site). Perhaps other family members might chip in to hire a few teens to babysit or there will be a few teens at the reception (they could be bored too) who are willing to entertain the youngers? Maybe the small ones can attend for an hour and you can arrange for a trusted adult to come and pick up the child (perhaps an in-law?).
I'm afraid there's not much more to do but to sit back and see what happens.
Good Luck... Top Wedding Questions Forum Moderator - "Write your sorrows in the sand, your blessings in stone".
Nancy Tucker
PRESIDENT - WEDDINGS BEAUTIFUL
Sep 6, 2005, 8:16 AM
Post #3 of 5
(1413 views)
Re: [cnewberry] Questions about Children at a wedding reception
[In reply to]
Dear Crystal,
I totally agree with the Queen. I have served professionally at many weddings where very young children become a part of the reception. The real hazzard is that they can become hurt on the dance floor which they will do whether you like it or not. They are also normally not maintained while food service is being done and servers have to be very careful not to fall over them.
As the Queen has stated, you have made all of the suggestions that I would have made as a professional and your sister has to make the decision on her own. Accept what she decides and try to make the best of it. Nancy Tucker President of Weddings Beautiful US http://www.weddingsbeautiful.com
expertplanner
BRIDAL CONSULTANT
Sep 6, 2005, 8:47 AM
Post #4 of 5
(1403 views)
Re: [cnewberry] Questions about Children at a wedding reception
[In reply to]
Dear Cnew:
I too agree with both the Queen and Nancy. Having served at many weddings with children of all ages, it can be a bit of a challenge trying to keep their interests equally. I do have one more suggestion that has worked for us, and sort of falls in with the clown. Hire professional event sitters. Unlike the clown (circus style entertainment), these companies bring in several people to help watch over and keep the children occupied. They'll bring items appropriate for each age group from crayons to dvds/cd players. It helps when there is a separate room.
Other than that, like both the Queen and Nancy stated, there really isn't anything else you can suggest. Rhonda Allen, Bridal Consultant New Beginnings Weddings
cnewberry
Sep 6, 2005, 9:05 AM
Post #5 of 5
(1400 views)
Re: [expertplanner] Questions about Children at a wedding reception
[In reply to]
Thanks for all the wonderful input. I just want my sister to aware (an not told by her big sister) that 42 children are not going to be sitting quietly with their parents but are going to be running around. Some parents will try to control their kids but with the other kids running loose it makes it hard for other parents to enforce the sitting still thing. I think parents are not going to be able to enjoy the wedding reception because the kids will take over. I think it will be especially annoying to the single people w/o kids, who also won't be able to enjoy her wedding reception.
I will check into an events sitter - however we are from a small town and we don't have a lot to choose from. However I do hear you all saying that some sort of entertainment is a good idea for the kids? Possibly not a clown but some alternatives to make the event more elegant for my sister.
Also a babysitter is out - my daughter is in the wedding, the flower girl. We are traveling 5 hours from where we live to get to the wedding and all my family members will be invited so I really have no one to babysit. I am also in the wedding party so this is also an issue with me because I will be so busy with my Maid of Honor duties that I don't want to have to worry about my daughter as much. My husband will have his hands full with our infant so I just want to stress to her that if she wants her family and friends to have a good time - other entertainment besides food and the DJ would be a good idea.
Questions about Children at a wedding reception
