Make sure to have activities to keep your young guests happy
If you’re having children at your wedding (ages 3 to 13), you should plan some type of entertainment or activities for them. Parents of kids younger than 3 will probably bring something to keep their kids busy or you can offer to have a babysitter in a room at the venue to watch them. Here are a few ideas for the children’s table:
Kids love bubbles and they make a great wedding detail, too. Unlike a bubble bottle and wand which will only blow a few bubbles at a time, a bubble gun can blow dozens of bubbles at once and will make a great backdrop if blown while you make your grand entrance or during your first dance. Shown: Super Miracle Bubble Aqua Bubble Blaster, available in a variety of colors, $7.48, toysrus.com
Coloring is an easy, non-messy activity that can keep kids busy for long periods of time, which in kid time could be up to 30 minutes! Melissa and Doug have a variety of coloring pads for both boys and girls but the Picture Frame Pad will have their artwork already framed for hanging on the fridge. Pick up a box of crayons—quantities can vary from eight-to-96 per box, but I recommend sticking within the eight-to-24 range. Remember each kid should get their own pad and crayons to take home with them. Picture Frame Pad, $4.99, melissaanddoug.com
As the reception is getting started have kids decorate wedding cake sugar cookies. Ask your caterer to have the dough prepared and cut into the three-tiered shape in advance and present each child with the dough, edible color markers and sprinkles to decorate. Have the caterer bake them during the reception and serve the kids their masterpieces for dessert alongside a slice of wedding cake. Edible Color Markers and sprinkles, available in a rainbow of colors, wilton.com
If there’s a room available at your venue, ask if they also have, or if you can bring in, a TV and DVD player and create a small screening room. Make sure the movie you choose is appropriate for all the kids in the room and if you’re not sure, stick with a G-rated flick or ask the parents what’s OK with them. Netflix.com offers a wide variety of family-friendly films.
When in doubt, hire a professional. L.A. Wedding Sitter is a childcare provider that specializes in babysitting at and during weddings. In addition to watching children (newborns and up), it makes sure there is a safe and fun space for children to play and nap, if necessary. The company also can arrange for entertainment such as face painting. Each child goes home with a goody-bag and a lot of happy memories. L.A. Wedding Sitter works in the Southern California area, but there may be similar services near your wedding location. Ask your wedding planner or location manager for recommendations.
Anne Chertoff is the author of The Wedding Organizer available at russellandhazel.com.
