Many couples prefer adult-only weddings and receptions, but many feel the need to include all the children in their lives and families. This is especially noticeable in the case of couples getting remarried. If you’re planning a black-tie function, then children probably won’t be invited, but if not, then most families have kids of all ages where weddings tend to become boring for the children present. Most couples getting married are very attached to their nieces, nephews, cousins, or even their own children. If this is the case with you and your partner, then it is usually a good idea to be prepared with a few kid-friendly provisions.

Katie from Orla James attended a wedding recently where almost all the invitations were sent out to couples with children. The wedding was planned around kid-friendly ideas that made it a fun event for the adults and children attending and many of the adults actively took part in playing with the children! This made the entire wedding a very loving, family-oriented event with the couple being blessed by adults and children alike.

Let us look at a few ideas to make weddings more kid-friendly.

Kids Meals:

There is nothing more important than ensuring there are kid-friendly meals available. Speak to your wedding caterer in advance and look at several finger food and dining options for kids. Avoid spicy foods and foods that can be messy to eat. With kids present, the idea is to have simple, yet tasty food. Have ample cheese platters, fruit platters, chicken fingers, and French fries. In drinks, opt for fresh juices, smoothies, chocolate shakes, and non-alcoholic drinks with funny names to make it more enjoyable. Avoid foods and drinks that might have an allergic reaction, and avoid keeping seafood on the kid’s menu.

 Have some activities planned:

Have an activity station or area cordoned off for kids so that they can remain occupied throughout the reception. If your event planner has some kid-friendly ideas for activities, incorporate those too. Keep an ample stock of non-toxic crayons, coloring books, story tales, and organized games like hopscotch and group games. You can also have a Lego station to keep kids occupied in a fun manner.

One couple also had a wedding themed coloring book made with outlines of their special dates for kids to color. You could also set up a ‘Kids Only’ tent with an attendant to ensure they are well taken care of. If possible, hire an entertainer and sitter to keep the kids busy throughout the ceremony and reception. This will help parents also enjoy the wedding without having to constantly look after the children.

 Give kids useful wedding favors:

Planning wedding favors for kids is always an impossible task. Most kids love getting gifts. Tie the wedding favors with little bows in colorful wrapping paper to make them look extra special. You can pot for little treats of marshmallows and gummy bears as wedding favors. If you want to avoid treats, opt for small board games, coloring books, non-toxic crayons, school bags, lunchboxes, craft kits, and so on.

 Set up special seating for kids:

Kids find it difficult to sit on chairs meant for adults. You could organize mini bean bags, small chairs, and tables. Speak to your wedding organizer about décor and seating arrangements for children. Many times, these services are also offered apart from regular table décor and decorations and seating arrangements. You could also include placemats with little puzzles to solve as table décor for children. Small word search puzzles, join-the-dots, and color by numbers, or mini quizzes are always great entertainment and fun for kids while being seated.

 Get the kids involved in your wedding:

Let kids know that they will be welcome on the dance floor during the reception and should let the DJ or band playing know what music they would also like to dance to. If you are aware of this in advance, you could include some kid-friendly songs in your music selection. You could also give them disposable cameras and tell them to take lots of pictures at the wedding so that you can add the best ones in the wedding album. Let the children also know that you will send them these photos later.

Whatever you decide for children’s entertainment at your wedding, make sure to budget for it in advance so that it does not seem like an additional cost. Making your wedding child-friendly is a wonderful way to include all your loved ones in your special day!