Crikey, haven't been on here for aggeess! But since the wedding is only 6 months away (eek!) I imagine I will be on here quite a bit, frantically getting advice for all the last minute things I'm bound to think of and panic endlessly over...! The latest of these panics arrived last night when I realised that a quarter of our guests are children/teenagers. And what on earth am I supposed to do with them in regards to entertainment and seating?!
We have 8 kids under 5 (2 of which will be under 1), so I'm planning on keeping them with their parents during the meal. Most of them will be around 3-4 yrs old, so I'm thinking some sort of colouring book?! Seriously, I'm totally rubbish with little kids so I have no clue what will keep them amused!
However, that is nothing in comparison to what to do with the remaining 10 who are made up of:
1 under the age of 10
5 under the age of 16
4 who will either be 18 or on the verge of turning legal.
Do we seat the under 10 and under 16s together on their own table?? Do we add in the 4 17-18 yr olds as well, or seat them with the grown-ups?! (The problem with this is that the under 10 is from OH's family and the under 16s are all from my family - not sure if they will all get on tbh)
Do under 16s need entertaining?! If so, what with?! I saw an idea somewhere about giving younger teens disposable cameras and a checklist of weddingy-moments to take photos of. Is this a good idea or not?!
Finally food: we're having a buffet, so there'll be plenty of choice, but should I ask the parents if this will be okay? I think our venue does a kid buffet so can order this if necessary.
Any advice from people who have an idea about what kids like/want/need would be extremely appreciated!
Thanks :-)
CommentAuthorx~Hails~x
edited
Personally I would keep the kids with their parents weather they be 1 or 18 and not seperate them onto their own table! As for entertainment I wouldnt bother for the 17-18 year olds as they will prop either be up dancing or sulking n the corner because they wanted to go out with their mates and not to some "stupid wedding" lol The rest just do colouring books and pens and maybe go in wilkinsons and get some of those little making kits for either finger puppets or mask making and that should keep the rest occupied!
Food wise if your having a buffet that should be fine, the parents will sort out what they do and dont like and put it on their plates if younger ones so dont worry!
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CommentAuthorTori
You could perhaps seat them together if they know each other well, otherwise it may cause problems. 16 years olds may feel too grown up to be stuck on the 'kids table' and the 10 year old may feel much younger than the rest.
There are loads of threads on entertaining kids which should give you some ideas x
CommentAuthorlizzylou
No matter how old they are i would keep them with their parents. Even though they are children it doesn't mean they know each other or would enjoy sitting together. I know that as a child i would have hated sitting with children i didn't know. They can always get up later on and hang out together. And at least that way their parents are responsible for them. x
Lizzy. x
CommentAuthorJoanna
I definitely wouldn't put all the kids together on a table. The older kids will feel patronised, and I think they'd all prefer to be sat with their parents and people they know. I also don't think the teenagers need any special entertainment so don't worry about it xxx
The greatest thing you'll ever learn
is just to love and be loved in return
Thanks ladies! I will worry no more and seat them all with the parents :-) I knew I could rely on you guys for some sensible answers (h2b just looked bewildered when I asked him what he thought!)
