By Sierra Mead
While you’re busy making plans for your Big Day, don’t forget to make plans for the little ones.
Chances are most of your family and friends who will be attending will have a kid in tow. Taking the time to make a few preparations for them will save everyone unnecessary stress the day of the wedding. Here are a few easy things you can do to make it a pleasant event for all.
Include your little guests in the wedding party. Having them dressed in coordinating colors make for adorable pictures. However, be sure to take those pictures early while they are clean and happy. Also consider scheduling your important events closer to the beginning of the reception such as cutting the cake, first dance, bouquet toss, etc. so friends and family with kids don’t miss out if they need to leave early to put kids to bed.
At sit down luncheons or dinners make sure to have kid friendly options for food such as finger sandwiches, veggie sticks and fruit kabobs. Maybe even think about having a buffet table set at just the right height for kids. They love being able to serve themselves and parents don’t have to worry when their kid wants to fill their whole plate with olives!
Hire babysitters. The parents come to see you, congratulate you, and visit with family and friends, subsequently their attention will not be on their children the entire time, and this is when the kids get bored! Having a few responsible teenagers there to coordinate games and activities will make for delighted adults and ecstatic kids.
Have games or small activities at the child’s place setting. Keep in mind their age: crayons and a small coloring book for younger ones and cross word puzzles for older children. You can go to Crayola.com and create coloring pages from pictures of the bride and groom. There are also sites online where you can create your own puzzles with wedding related words. Try to look for more unusual games to keep their interest longer: kaleidoscopes, geometric puzzles, mad-lib games, 3-D drawing paper, small magic games, and placemats they can draw on.
If you plan on having dancing at your wedding, dedicate a song to all the kids and let the rest of your guests sit back and be entertained. You could also have a song for child/adult couples only. My girls love dancing with their daddy.
Overall, relax and enjoy your day. Kids will be kids so go with the unexpected and they are sure to make your Big Day full of little surprises!
