I'll have quite a few children attending my evening reception. Ages range right through from 2 to 13... any ideas on entertainment or activities to keep them out of mischief?
I've seen some stuff online such as activity packs, wedding bingo, colouring in... has anyone used these and were they any use?
thanks xxx
CommentAuthorValentinaK
I'd like to know this too!
And we lived happily ever after!
CommentAuthorHelenW
Weve got activity boxes like yourself with crosswords and colouring etc, and other bits for the smaller children. I think ours range from 6 months up to 10 and about 20 of them! X
"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary
life, love gives us a fairy tale"
CommentAuthorValentinaK
Hmmm.. that may be fine during the meal, but I don't think that will be sufficient for the evening to be honest, I'm dreading kids at the wedding. I have to have them due to family not being able to get baby sitters for a weekend etc and most family members who would normally look after them, also being in attendance. I am reluctant to have children there but as explained I have to have some... plus the page boy is his very young brother (who I am not worried about as I know his parents will grip him for the day as will the best man, his brother and my H2Bs bro too). It's unfair if he has no kids his age on the day too.
But beyond the meal, and the first hour or so with the band, I'm not sure what will do. Tired kids are a nightmare, drunk parents or even tipsy parents are a handful too as they don't look after their kids as tightly, and the sober parents get pre-occupied and grumpy, and I don't want them remembering the wedding as a handful for them. I don't want to pay for a kids entertainer, as it's my freeking wedding and not a kids party. Also, why should I pay for them to bring the kids I don't want there and have to pay for food for them anyway!!??
Bah. I have to put up and shut up....but woe betide family members when I have kids that don't let me bring mine...
Whereas I'm grumpy here about it...I am trying to be positive about it on the outside so they don't feel uncomfortable that I don't want their kids there... and trying to be proactive to stop them becoming an issue in the first place. If One child cries in earshot of me though... I may have a bridezilla moment... Kids at the wedding are the only thing I'm really worried about!
And we lived happily ever after!
CommentAuthorAna40
we have two ladies at our reception who will entertain the children if the parents are happy. theres an area where they can watch a film. but we will also have activity packs on the tables if the children want to stay with the parents. X
Is there a seperate area where you can stick them?
When I was a wee'un, they used to have do's in the officers mess and there would be a room for kids with games and a video on which the kids could amuse themselves on whilst the adults enjoyed themselves xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorHelenW
Ah sorry for the evening I think the majority of mine will be going home, my sisters etc are thinking in the hour that the venue is being turned around they will send the children to grandparents so they can have a night off. Otherwise, we have a sweetie table (which will keep the most of them amused!), and balloons on the tables etc.. We were thinking of hiring a childminder etc but decided against. The older ones will also have photo hunts (theyve got disposable cameras in their box and a list of things to take a pic of), and we've got a caracturist in the evening too.. That should keep most people amused! xx
"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary
life, love gives us a fairy tale"
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
That sounds great...tbh,as long as there are other kids in the same age group, Im sure they will be able to find something to keep themselves occupied xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorLauz&Stu
edited
I think the evening do will be ok. Most weddings I've been to, the kids spend the evening do running about with each other and dancing - even the little ones. My 7yr old was 2 at my cousins wedding and he danced himself to sleep! I would think that children need more entertaining during the meal/speech.
Mother to 4
Engaged to my soul mate
Loving life
Mrs Tomlinson to be
CommentAuthorHelenW
I defo agree Lauz&Stu.. they just want to join in the dancing usually so will prob amuse themselves x
"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary
life, love gives us a fairy tale"
CommentAuthorValentinaK
We're not getting married in the mess... I really didn't want to associate my wedding with the bloody Officers' Mess, bearing in mind we've just changed to PayAsYouDine and CRL contract so is all civilianised, overly pricey and poor quality nowadays in the mess.. it's left me with a bitter taste in my mouth about having a wedding in the mess... it's not as cheap as you'd think anymore... People suggested CHOM to me but I only associate it with IOT... plus it's too big for 120 guests!
Plus I wanted to get married at home! :)
I like the film Idea... I can easily have a laptop set up somewhere and delegate a bridesmaid to set it all up.
And we lived happily ever after!
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
Oh yeah I've heard it's all gone civi now..it's a shame, at our (raf) base we used to have some cracking dos in there, however I guess it isn't the same anymore...I had my first drink in the mess bar (my father was in the forces) and the prices were ridiculous! Like 60p for a vodka and coke...happy days!
Xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorValentinaK
Yeah...it's still cheap... about 97p in the bar for a G+T! The summer ball and Christmas Draw are always good... They cost a bit more but they're also two of the subsidised events of the year... usually £50-£70 a ticket!
I take a lot of inspiration from the do's to my wedding in terms of format, decoration, entertainment etc!
I'm on the Officers' Mess Committee as the Deputy House Member... it's good as I have access to the silver and can negotiate borrowing some if required (because it will be my fault if it goes missing as I'm the one that's signed the current inventory and property book for the insurance!) - was thinking of asking for permission from the PMC to borrow a few candelabra!
It is a traversty that they civilianised the mess, it's as bad as them scrapping the Nimrod but hey!
Back on the original topic ... Maybe I could see if any of the people that provide childcare services would do it discounted or know of anyone good up in Yorkshire??
And we lived happily ever after!
CommentAuthorBryonyEminson2Be
Kids are a bit of an issue for me and OH as both are families are riddled with them- and my mum herself has 3 who are under the age of 10 and still will be at the time of the wedding- but since i work at a wedding reception venue i have realised that the entertainment provided for the children often ends up being the focus of the adults too- especially sweetie counters (usually the kids cant get to them because the adults are helping themselves :P ) and when it begins to get later im hoping all the children will do what they did at every other family do- dance or try to listen to their parents gossiping
And my soul saw yours and said
"oh, I have been looking for you"
we met 07/09/2004. we loved 28/02/2012
we'll marry- 14.08.2021
CommentAuthorKirstenD30
We're having the activity packs and sweeties on the tables for the meal/speeches. We're also thinking about hiring a magician, he's roughly £80 for 2 hours for afterwards.. By then the party will be in full swing and then it's down to their parents to either take them home/babysitters or watch them for the rest of the night x
CommentAuthorLauraM9144
awww i am happy to have kiddies at the wedding its a real family affair and they are part of it although i do appreciate everyone is different :) for the meal i have made up little packs with colouring pencils and print outs which you can free online, also popped in a few party bag style games like the ones where you get the ball in the hole etc. but even better our venue includes a crech for little ones then a games room with ps2 ,xbox pool table and other teenage type games so i know they are well catered for in the daytime. for the evening reception i will section of an area in the room which will be a kids corner with games and colouring make it bright and apealing for them and also for them to feel they are part of it i also have a huge dome bouncy castle that can used in wet or dry and for kids or adults so im hoping that will keep everyone happy.
One BIG day will lead to lots of little happy days !!
CommentAuthorValentinaK
I do think they can be family affairs... but sometimes they just get in the way...and they cost a lot of money too. I want kids of my own later too..
However, it's a bit one sided with kids only on my h2b's side and lots of them... in addition, we were trying to keep the guest list down and nobody in the family really know any of the kids due to his family being so big and spread out (2 re-married parents with big families).
I do resent the fact that his already huge guest list is expanded by the kids and if we didn't invite the kids too then the guests that we had to invite making the list big in the first place won't come and I will be domonised. Sigh.
