[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wedding-guests-children-entertainment\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wedding-guests-children-entertainment\/","headline":"Entertaining children at your wedding","name":"Entertaining children at your wedding","description":"Having children at your wedding? Here are 10 ways to entertain your littlest guests.","datePublished":"2010-12-18","dateModified":"2021-06-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"Equally Wed","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":787,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/gay-weddings-childs-play.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/gay-weddings-childs-play.jpg","height":336,"width":504},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wedding-guests-children-entertainment\/","about":["DIY","Planning","Receptions, Showers & Parties","Wedding Planning Tools & Tips"],"wordCount":438,"keywords":["children","family","games","ideas","the guest list","wedding guests"],"articleBody":"Having children at your wedding? Here are\u00a010 ways to entertain your littlest guests. By Genevieve P. Charet Our Labor of Love PhotographyThey scream through the ceremony. They careen dangerously close to the cake. They have meltdowns on the dance floor. They\u2019re kids\u2014and they can be anything but elegant. Still, many gay and lesbian couples tie the knot later than average and have children in their lives they wouldn\u2019t dream of excluding. Sound familiar? With an arsenal of ideas keeping the kids on your guest list entertained, you\u2019ll be able to have your cake\u2014and keep it off the floor! Crayons and coloring books are an old standby. Kick it up a notch with puzzles, sticker books, glow sticks and temporary tattoos. Put favors in a bag for easy toting, and provide a low table for their more serious work. 2.\u00a0Set up a mini-daycare, complete with hired babysitter, in a roped-off area. Have each child wear his parents\u2019 names on a wristband to provide peace of mind for everyone. 3. \u00a0Give each tyke a set of finger puppets and place a puppet show booth in one corner. They\u2019ll provide material for the videographer, and unoccupied guests can wander over to watch the undoubtedly hilarious show. 4. \u00a0Hire a face painter, magician, balloon artist or \u201csuperhero\u201d to keep kiddos in a state of well-behaved shock and awe. 5. \u00a0Stock a playroom with Twister, hula-hoops, card games, beads and string, and the like. Be kind to parents and nix anything messy. That mini-tux is a ticking time bomb. 6. Supply a photo booth, a fun backdrop and inexpensive props. Hit vintage shops and dollar stores for feather boas, neon sunglasses, crowns, capes, wigs, pearls, etc. 7. \u00a0Children don\u2019t enjoy ceremonies so much as tolerate them. So after getting the venue\u2019s permission, appoint a chaperone and give the kids sidewalk chalk to make a congratulatory mural. Alternatively, they can decorate the getaway vehicle with car markers. 8.\u00a0If these are your kids or your spouse\u2019s, include them in the ceremony with family commitment vows. Older children can also perform readings, escort you down the aisle or serve as junior attendants. 9.\u00a0Offer a buffet of kid-friendly food, and serve it during cocktail hour. This prevents hungry grouchiness and may save you money on the food tab since\u2014let\u2019s be honest\u2014tuna tartare is wasted on toddlers. 10.\u00a0If you\u2019ve invited new moms and their babies, set up a quiet room with comfortable nursing chairs. Add naptime blankets so parents can move grumpy and overstimulated toddlers to a calming environment. \u00a0"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Entertaining children at your wedding","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wedding-guests-children-entertainment\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]