Inviting Children to the Wedding
IT’S a
question almost every bride thinks about. Does she want children — at her
wedding?
There are
pros and cons: They photograph well, but they steal attention. They don’t
drink, but don’t always keep the costly food on their plates. Are children cute
guests or annoying disasters waiting to happen?
It is one of
the biggest questions you'll ask while planning a wedding: Are you going to
invite kids? You could opt to not have children at your wedding. In this
case you would not add the children's names to the inner envelope of the
invitation. It would also be a good idea to spread the word to family and close
friends that children are not welcome at the wedding to ensure guests who were
curious about bringing their children would not have to directly ask you.
However,
many event sites have begun offering free or discounted meals for children.
This has made their inclusion easier on the budget, especially if inviting one
cousin’s child requires you to invite the offspring of your other six cousins.
The trend is changing because more families are spread out geographically and
weddings have become one of the few opportunities for older and younger
generations to bond.
There are
more conventional options for including children: hosting a children’s
party in a separate room, providing baby sitters, and child-friendly food.
Activities can range from crayons and coloring books to DVD's and video games.
Whatever you decide on, choose items that are age appropriate for the children
that will be attending your wedding.
The
under-age crowd can even be invited back to the big room for dancing
after dinner. This would allow more space for adults and allow
friends to have some time away from their kids and enjoy the wedding.
Couples
should expect to provide sitters for the children of out-of-town guests even if
they are not invited. In some cases you just have to plan for children.
And all professionals urge couples to use licensed baby sitters,
preferably certified in C.P.R.
Another plan
is to send children home after the ceremony. If it’s a formal wedding,
children should go home after the cocktail hour, allowing your friends to
have a relaxed, fabulous, romantic evening.
In the end,
think about the atmosphere you want to create at your wedding, and decide from
there how much participation from children fits into that vision. No one is
immune to the charms of adorable children dancing their hearts out, and we all
appreciated the entertainment value. But at the same time, shouldn’t everybody be
watching the bride and groom?
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