Something I love about being in the wedding industry is connecting with other industry professionals and being able to refer our couples to them when they are looking for quality, dependable vendors.  Recently, I met the founder/CEO of My Fair Nanny, a local event nanny service that I absolutely have to recommend to our brides and grooms.  Here are some tips they had for managing children at a wedding.

Top 10 Tips for Managing Children At Your Wedding

Many brides and grooms struggle with the idea of children at their wedding. Let’s face it, a wedding really isn’t the ideal place for bunch of kids to be running around freely. There are tons of hazards to be aware of : delicate centerpieces, the cake, candles, fine china, eating utensils, extremely loud music, long speeches, late nights and of course the quiet and still ceremony.(Have you ever witnessed a child throw a temper tantrum during the wedding vows?)

So what can you do to combat all this chaos without offending any of your guests by saying “No Kids Allowed”?

1. Hire an Event Nanny.

Event nannies can supply you with an array of different options. They can supervise a group of children at a kiddie table and make sure everyone is taken care of so they aren’t bothering mommy and daddy throughout the night or they can take care of the kids at a location outside of the reception ie. Bridal suite, groom suite, guests’ hotel room etc.  An event nanny provides both these services, and then some. They bring age appropriate toys, games, movies, books and arts and crafts so parents don’t have to worry about a thing aside from the diaper bag. They are CPR and first aid certified and can also supply your littlest guests with personalized wedding activity books to make sure they feel super special at your event.

2. Create a kid friendly space.

Whether you want the kids to stay at your reception or you want them to set up shop elsewhere, make sure the space is childproof.

• Remove centerpieces from kid’s table
• Remove glasses from their table and replace with kids cups with lids
• Make sure the kiddie table is as far away from the dj/band speakers as possible

3. Create individual activity bags for each child.

While sharing is always a nice idea, when it comes to a child’s “stuff” , they prefer their own and if they lose it, it’s best to have it labelled so they can retrieve it fairly easily without attempting to steal anyone else’s. Companies such as My Fair Nanny can create these bags for you and ensure their contents will keep your littlest guests busy for as long as possible.

4. Activity bag content “No-nos”

All the children attending your wedding will be dressed to impress so we don’t want to ruin their outfits, or possible ruin any of your adult guests’ outfits either. So we suggest shying away from the following supplies :

• Playdough (think about the venue’s rug, guests’ shoes, etc)
• Markers
• Paint
• Hard Candy (or candy of any kind unless permission from parents was given prior to the event)
• Glue
• Scissors

5. Create an escape for the kids.

A wedding can be a very overwhelming time for children of all ages. Will all the loud music, times where they have to remain seated and quiet and just the entire length of the day, they might need a place to unwind for a little while. Ask your venue if there is a room they can lay down in and watch a movie, but make sure to have this room supervised.

6. Put together Kid Friendly Outdoor Games.

What better way to help them release all that energy! Think:  Hop Scotch, Relay Races, Simon Says etc. Games where kids can avoid any injuries are always preferred .

7. Kid Friendly menu.

While some 5 year olds prefer a filet mignon dinner, it’s more appropriate to have grilled cheese, pizza or chicken nuggets as their options. This will of course help them be able to eat on their own, so their parents can enjoy their dinner as well. 

8. Give them a job.

While this might be a difficult task at the reception, it could work wonders at the ceremony! Have the little ones pass out bubbles or programs to arriving guests. This will keep them occupied and it will also supply your guests with the “Awww how sweet” moment. 

9. Have a dance with the kids.

If there are a lot of children in your family and you just couldn’t imagine your special day without them, invite them to the dance floor for a “kids only” dance. This will help them burn off some energy and get all their sillies out. It will also create some adorable and hilarious pictures! Don’t forget to add some props like crazy hats/masks or blow up guitars. 

10. Hire an event nanny.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again. To allow ALL your guests the most enjoyable night possible, hire a professional to take care of the little ones. This will not only ensure your littlest guests get the attention and care they need, but also that their parents can enjoy a night out celebrating your wedding day!!!

Thank you to My Fair Nanny for putting together these tips for our brides!   To learn more about their event nanny services be sure to visit their website or find them on Facebook.

For more Tips for Brides click here. Happy Wedding Planning!!