Kids or No Kids? That is the Question... — The Double Knot | Certified Planners | Weddings and Events

Are you inviting children to your wedding? It can be a difficult decision, but it is an important one to think about early on in your wedding planning process. Every family is different, every venue is different, and every couple’s priorities are different. Children are adorable blessings, but they can also be difficult to manage. How will you handle the age-old guest question: should I bring the kids? Read on for some thoughts on the subject and some ideas on how to entertain them.

Reasons to Say No to Inviting Children

Some weddings are classy and elegant affairs where children would be bored and may cause chaos. If your event starts late and ends late, it will not be very “kid-friendly” as witching hour comes quick. Children have a lot of energy, they do not like to dress up, and they require constant supervision and guidance. Keep in mind that some venues do not even allow children and will even state rules for them in their contracts. We have seen venues that do not allow strollers or car seats inside their space as well. Maybe the wedding is in a museum and there is no room for mishaps, spills, and accidents. If this sounds like your wedding, then we recommend putting “Adult Reception to Follow” on your wedding invitation. If you need to do this, please don’t feel like you are offending your guests who are parents. We guarantee they are excited to have an excuse to get a babysitter and to enjoy a night out away from the kids! We are parents too. We get it!

Reasons to Invite the Kids!

I know what you are thinking… But there are a lot of kids in your family and you would hate to leave them out of your family photos, right? If this is the case, then maybe you should invite the children! They are a joy to so many and your family will be there to help, so welcome them! If this is the case, it is a good idea to make sure the event isn’t held too late in the day and that it is in a venue that can endure the added energy. Hotel and country club ballrooms or parks are great places for kids to explore safely. Even more, if you are in a hotel, you can easily disappear for a few minutes to your room to put them to bed with a sitter and then go back to the party knowing they are nearby if they need you.

Can I have a Little of Both Worlds?

If you want the attending children count to be a minimal number, you can always invite only the children who are part of the immediate family and then ask additional guests to enjoy a night out without the kids. To do this, simply write on the invitation the specific names of the invited guests (i.e. Mr. & Mrs. Smith) and write that you have reserved a specific number of seats for them. YOU write in the number of seats you are expecting them to fill. For clarity, do NOT write “Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Family” on the invitation because that can cause confusion if you do not want additional guests aside from Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

How Do we Entertain the Kids?

So you decided to invite the kids to attend, but you need some ideas on how to make it fun for them too? Create a “Kids’ Corner” with activities for them like coloring, puzzles, games, or fidget toys. Ask your coordinator to place a goody bag on their place setting or create a space in the corner for them to escape to and play. Another idea is to provide fun fairy wands that light up to encourage them to dance later into the night. You can also hire a nanny team to help supervise (and even change diapers) or a professional child entertainment service to set up and run a special kids’ corner. Just like adults, the children will love photobooths with props, cornhole, giant Jenga, and dance floor entertainment too! There are so many ways to entertain out there!

We hope these tips have been helpful as you plan your Southern California wedding! We believe children can be an important part of every celebration and they always create some magical memories. Let us know if you need help executing the entertainment details to perfection on your special day! Don’t forget to pose with them for some photos too!