Your wedding is a day of celebration and joy. That means you might want to share it with everyone – including the kids of those nearest and dearest to you. Having children at a wedding is becoming increasingly common. In fact, a recent survey found that 25% of people think kids should be given an invitation to a wedding.
But as anyone who’s planned this kind of celebration before can tell you, accommodating pint-sized attendees can be a challenge. Keeping kids engaged can be tough, with it estimated that children under 10 have an attention span of under 30 minutes. The last thing you’ll want is for the little scamps to lose focus and start (accidentally) taking the attention away from you and onto them.
Today, we’re going to discuss four ways kids can be kept entertained throughout the day, giving their parents the chance to celebrate with you.
Outdoor games
Having various lawn games available is a great way to keep children busy at an outdoor wedding, as well as a fantastic photo opportunity. Think ring or bean bag toss, croquet, and bowls. If you want to have something extra special, giant versions of classic games are a unique alternative. For example; giant Jenga, noughts and crosses, checkers, or chess.
There’s a good chance some of the big kids (adults) might want to also get involved. Make sure to provide enough to keep everyone busy, but try to make it obvious that kids should have the priority while the sun’s still up.
Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts are perfect for indoor weddings where there’s a specific space you can set up for the kids. Provide a variety of craft supplies that allows for a child-led activity that can keep them entertained for hours.
Be conscious when choosing the supplies, as some items tend to be a lot more biodegradable than others. Sustainability is important to many couples in the modern world, so your wedding should also align with these values. Opt for recyclable paper or card, and provide colouring pencils that can be used after the big day.
Board and card games
If the children are a little older, having some board and card games for them to play together can help keep the “Can we go home yet?”s at bay. When deciding which games to get, keep in mind the ages of the children attending and look for a few different types that are popular among their age groups. Make sure to steer clear of more complex offerings or anything with lots of little pieces like Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, or Cluedo.
Treasure hunt
Whether you plan a big outdoor hunt or a smaller-scale indoor “I Spy” style for the kids' table, treasure hunts are a great way to keep children’s minds active and entertained. If you’re having a themed wedding, this is something that you can naturally tie into the day. Print off a list of items (on recyclable paper), then hand it out to all the younger guests. For added incentive, give out prizes to the kids who manage to tick off everything.
Kids at a wedding don’t necessarily mean extra stress – at least, not if you take the right steps beforehand. Make sure to keep these pointers in mind in order to maximize their (and your) enjoyment of the day.
