Advice About Including and Having Kids In weddings…

Why and when having and including kids in your wedding is mandatory.

I know lots and lots of couple have the big debate. Should we invite and have kids at our wedding?  They’re expensive to feed, they will most certainly be disrupting, especially if “classy” is the tone of your wedding. I get it. Many, many of my clients clearly state in their wedding invitations that the wedding is “adults only”. But, if you have a child or have nieces or nephews, you probably need to include them. I do see weddings where the couple’s kid is the only one and man do those kids look bored and lonely.

When You Need to Invite Kids to Your Wedding:

Another thing to consider is that any of your wedding party that have kids (especially small kids), you need to ask them what their preference is. If they are traveling to your wedding, they might not have access to a babysitter. Even if they do, wedding days and the days leading up to it are super long and super hard on kids. Their schedules are out of whack, nap times are ruined and they’re often up way later than normal. They almost always entertain each other during weddings. Yes, they’ll be on the dance floor and yes, they’ll probably get stepped on. But they also usually shame adults on to the dance floor and kids bring a joy and energy we adults usually lack. But do ask the parents. Maybe this is the parenting vacation they’ve been dreaming of since you announced your wedding!

When You Can Say No to Having Kids at Your Wedding:

None of your wedding party has kids. Those that do have kids are local and can easily find a sitter. If you are on the fence and want to make sure your guests and family members that do have kids come and stay and play at your wedding, ask the local parents for some babysitter recommendation and hire two to come to your wedding with activities for the kids. If this doesn’t work, make sure there are in-laws or other family members that can come collect the kids for a sleep over. Your friends and family will greatly appreciate you taking their needs into consideration when making that decision to include or exclude kids from your wedding day.

Paw Paw, Michigan Wedding

Danielle and Jeremy

New Apostolic Church, Portage Michigan

Reception at Vineyards Banquet Hall in Paw Paw, Michigan

The flower girl, Adeline, rests under the altar while the bridesmaid’s get ready for a wedding in Paw Paw, Michigan.

And sometimes it really is about the kids! Danielle and Jeremy’s fun and unique wedding day (I’ll just have to blog about Danielle’s royal blue wedding dress another day!) featured kids. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. They love kids and as many wedding couples who decide to have kids in their wedding party, they were up for whatever happened. They’d already rolled with the news their church’s renovations wouldn’t be completed on time and had their ceremony partially under a tent out back. They’d already had to move their wedding reception to a different location and they dealt with the surprise heat that appeared with no access to air conditioning. So while the day went really smoothly (Danielle is an uber planner!), I thought the flower girl, Adeline and the ring bearer Henry deserved their photographic due.

The groom plays foosball with the ring bearer before the Paw Paw Michigan wedding ceremony.

The bride gets a kiss from her bridesmaid’s son shortly before the ceremony in Paw Paw, MIchigan.

The flower girl and ring bearer are stopped from starting their entrance by the ring bearer’s mom during the Paw Paw, Michigan wedding ceremony.

The ring bearer offers the other groomsmen his sucker during the Paw Paw, Michigan wedding ceremony.

The flower girls rests in the available shade her mom’s legs provide during a hot June wedding ceremony in Paw Paw, Michigan.

The flower girl rests during family photos after the Paw Paw, MIchigan wedding ceremony. In case you are worried, she WAS able to stand up!

The flower girl goes rogue during the chicken dance at the wedding reception at Vineyards Banquet Hall in Paw Paw, Michigan.

A little guest decides to show off her pull ups during the dancing portion of the wedding reception at Vineyards Banquet Hall in Paw Paw, Michigan.