I have always wanted to be a wedding planner. Getting married is exciting but could be draining if you are doing it by yourself. If you’re planning a wedding not far from London, it’s worth taking a few steps to ensure that it’s child-friendly so that the parents in your life can enjoy the day without feeling guilty, or rushing off every so often to call and check on the babysitter.
Plus, happy kids can be a lot of fun and they can bring a whole new level of joy to the day!
The Venue
When you are choosing your venue, think about making it child friendly. A few things to consider are:
- Is there ample space for children to run around to burn off all that sugar from the cake?
- Is there a separate room that the kids can play in away from the adult guests?
- If there are any children attending who have difficulty with sensory overload, is there a quiet space that they can go to to be away from the bustle of the main event if necessary?
The Preston Cross Hotel in Little Bookham has received great reviews from parents because they have a huge garden which is well secured. They set up a bouncy castle for the kids so they were entertained for hours!
Guest List
When people RSVP, ask them to include the names and ages of any children that they are bringing along for the day. They should also include whether they intend to bring them to the ceremony, or just to the reception and if there are any other kids in your group that they are already friends with.
You can use this information when you’re making the seating plan so you can seat kids together who are likely to get along, and if you have enough children think about having a kids table.
It’s also a good idea to find out if there are any food allergies or intolerances ahead of time so that you can ensure that you cater for them.
Entertainment
Ensure that you have booked entertainment that is suitable for children, as well as for adults. Some favourites with children are giant lawn games or music. As an added bonus, both of which will get them to burn off a lot of energy!
Take a look at the wedding bands in Surrey that Alive Network has to offer and find the right one for you!
Babysitting
If you have enough children coming to the wedding, you could consider hiring a babysitting service to keep them entertained and give the parents a little time to themselves, or alternatively organise a rota so that the parents take it in turns being the responsible adult throughout the day.
Food
Most venues will offer a kids menu, but it’s worth checking that they are providing something that the children at your wedding actually want to eat. You definitely don’t want a herd of hungry children running around!
Create An Activity Pack
Create some activities to keep the kids busy, perhaps give them a gift bag with a colouring book in or design a scavenger hunt for them.
