Yeah WeddingsDo you love children, but absolutely find child-free weddings to be less messy? Chances are your wedding guests have children, and you most likely have a guest limit. Should you invite kids to your wedding?
Below we discuss details that you should really consider before you decide to plan a kid-friendly wedding. If you’re asking yourself, “Should I have kids at my wedding?” this guide is for you!
Whether or not you decide to invite kids to your wedding, you and your partner must be ready to explain to your guests your wedding invitation plans. Your guests will want to know how many children and which children they can bring to your wedding, that is if you decide to invite kids.
Below we discuss the pros and cons of kids at weddings to help you decide between a child-free wedding and an adults-only wedding.
Pros of A Kid-Friendly Wedding
Below we discuss the benefits of having kids at your wedding that you’ll want to take into account when deciding whether or not to invite children to your wedding.
Pro 1: Kids Look Adorable at Weddings
Kids are super cute and they look even more adorable in their wedding outfits. They will make your wedding photos all the more beautiful. You and your guests will be awed by the little children in their lovely bow-ties, suits, and dresses.
They can also participate as flower girls scattering flower petals as they walk down the aisle. They can also be ring bearers by carrying the couple’s wedding rings down to the altar during the wedding ceremony. The little ones can also help hold the wedding dress as you walk down the aisle.
Pro 2: They Make Weddings More Entertaining
Apart from looking insanely cute, kids will add joy to your wedding. Imagine how much fun it would be to see little kids dancing on the wedding dance floor with their adorable dance moves.
You could also plan a wedding dance routine with children. They probably won’t be able to remember all the dance numbers, but their adorable dances will definitely put on a show that you and you’ll guest will always remember.
Kids can also make your wedding day more memorable by allowing them to make a speech or sing a song. If you have kids, you’ll want to do these activities with you as they will create special memories for the entire family.
Pro 3: Your Guests Won’t Have to Worry About Hiring A Babysitter
Your guest will happy to know that they have the option to bring their kids to the wedding. They won’t have to worry about hiring a babysitter to look after their kids the day of your wedding. It is common for babysitters to charge by the hour, so eliminating the “no kids” rule will save your guests a lot of money.
Pro 4: Unexpected Funny Moments
Kids can add unexpected funny moments to your wedding. They can make funny faces or expressions while photobombing your wedding pics. They might steal your spotlight but their playfulness, unexpected funny behavior, and their cuteness overload will melt your heart.
Cons of A Kid-Friendly Wedding
We provide a list of cons that you’ll want to consider before inviting kids to your wedding. Consider the following tips before choosing between a kid-friendly wedding or an adults-only wedding.
Con 1: Added Costs to A Kid-Friendly Wedding
Whether you decided to invite or not invite children to you’re wedding, they will still be extra wedding costs. Either you or your guest will have to pay for the added costs of having a kid-friendly wedding. If you invite kids to your wedding, you will have to pay for more plates at your wedding.
According to withjoy.com, the average cost of wedding catering with a guest list of 100 is about $8,500-$10,000.
Con 2: Kids are Unpredictable
No matter how much time you spend on planning the perfect wedding, inviting kids to your wedding could alter those plans. Some kids are noisy and their behavior is unpredictable. It is impossible to know how they will behave on your big day.
They could be disruptive during the wedding ceremony by yelling, by throwing a tantrum, by getting out of their seats, by crying, and by running around during the wedding reception and ceremony. They might also get into food fights with other kids, and make a mess.
It is also important to consider that some kids need nap time during the day, which means that your guests with children might have to leave early if their kids get tired. Consequently, your guests might leave early for children’s bedtime.
Con 3: They need Constant Supervision
Kids can’t be left alone; they need constant supervision so they won’t get lost or get away with sneaky behavior. Also, the little ones love to touch everything and put things in their mouth.
They can also be messy. They can knock over all your wedding decorations, pull the covers of the tables, knock over any glass, and even ruin your wedding cake. Therefore, your guests won’t enjoy your wedding if they are stuck babysitting their kids during the entire ceremony.
Con 4: You Might Have to Censor Your Wedding and Keep Everything PG
Having toddlers at your wedding means playing kid-appropriate songs. It also means that you and your guests will have to be careful not to curse in front of kids. Plus, parents will have to make sure not to drink too much if they are taking care of their kids.
Is it Rude to Have No Kids at a Wedding?
If you’re planning your dream wedding, you’re probably wondering if having a child-free wedding is rude, especially if your guests have children.
Although it is not polite to write “no kids” on your wedding invitations, you and your partner shouldn’t feel guilty if you decide you want no kids at your wedding. After all, it’s your wedding and your guests should understand that too.
If you decide that you don’t want kids at your wedding, check out our tips on how to make it clear on your invitations that your wedding is adult only.
How to Plan a Kid-Friendly Wedding
After considering the pros and cons of inviting kids to your wedding, if you decide you want a child-friendly wedding there are some things you might want to consider when planning your kid-friendly wedding. Learn how to make your wedding kid-friendly with the following tips!
How Many Children to Invite to Your Wedding
Be clear about how many children your guests can bring. If you don’t limit the number of children that your guests can bring, they might feel free to bring their children and the children of their plus one. You probably won’t want them to invite children you’ve never seen nor met.
In other words, you might want to only invite the children of your closest friends and family. If the kids are invited, be sure that their specific names are on the invitation so that the adults understand who is and is not invited.
Which Children Should You Allow at Your Wedding?
Again, it makes sense to only invite the kids of your and your partner’s immediate family, especially if you want to stick to your guest limit for invitations. At the same time, however, some people may be offended if their kids are not allowed when others are.
We recommend keeping it just to family when it comes to inviting kids, or allowing anyone with kids the option to bring them.
How to Take Care of Children at a Wedding
If you want your guests to enjoy your wedding without worrying about babysitting their children, you might want to hire onsite wedding babysitters. They are several event child care services that provide outstanding onsite care. They usually charge by the hour.
Perhaps you’ll want to hire exceptional babysitters for the entire duration of the wedding ceremony or wedding reception. If not, make sure that the parents are keeping track of their kids!
How to Entertain Children at a Wedding
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There are many ways to keep children entertained at your wedding. Set up a kids’ area at the wedding venue. You can set up a kids’ table where all the children can do kid-friendly activities. Kids’ wedding activities include the following:
- Fun outdoor games
- Arts and crafts
- Puppet shows
- Face painting
- Wedding coloring books
- Bubble station
- Ballon station
You could also set up a video game area or a movie area to entertain kids during the wedding reception. Another fun option is a wedding bouncy house that kids will enjoy if you have room for outdoor activities.
Regardless of what activities you plan for the kids, they will without a doubt enjoy those activities. Your guests will appreciate that you found a way to keep their children entertained so that they can party with you!
Food Menu for Children
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Wondering what to serve kids at your wedding? Common food items on the kid’s menu include the following:
- Chicken nuggets
- Mini hot dogs
- Mac and cheese
- Grilled cheese
- Mini Sandwiches
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- Cheese pizza
- Fruits and veggies
- French fries
- Milk and cookies
- Candy
- Cupcakes
- Juice boxes
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