For parents, what do you recommend doing to keep your young child content during a wedding reception?
And are there certain things that hosts have done that have helped out?
Re: Young children at weddings
I've never seen it, but have heard of weddings where if there is a room off of the main reception facility, it's kept for the kids - less need to decorate there. The menu is kid friendly (pizza, chicken, pasta - fun foods that kids like) and have a few child minders there to look after the kids. I'd set up some games and activities (colouring, mini bowling, arts and crafts) and make sure there's some space for the kids to run around there.
This way the kids are entertained, but away from the reception area.
Re: Young children at weddings
I don't think we're going to hire babysitters (I'm not sure people would leave their younger children with strangers anyway). But we do have an extra room near the hall in case parents need some space to feed their children or let them run/play.
I'm also making little treat bags with coloring and stickers and such.
Re: Young children at weddings
I've been to weddings where they have played kid's movies in the other room so kids actually stay there and watch them...
I've also went to a wedding where they hired a magician and he was busy occupying the kids in the lobby for most of the night with magic, balloon animals, face painting etc.
Re: Young children at weddings
Sahar, you’d be surprised. We’ve had nannies/caregivers stay with the kids in the kids’ playroom (the last party there were about a dozen younger kids) at the large scale parties at home and the moms will be downstairs with not a care in the world about where their kids are. They’re happy that someone is entertaining their kids. They’ll periodically check in on them - but moms and dads love to be free to socialize without worrying about their kids.
What about playing a kid friendly movie like Cars or Toy Story in the other room?
Edit, just read the same suggestion in the post above.
Re: Young children at weddings
Hm. I'll see about the movie.
I've seen more accommodations at non-desi weddings but it's because they don't actually want the kids at the ceremony, and so they feel they have to provide another space.
Re: Young children at weddings
By the way, I'm asking as a parent of a toddler and as the sister of a groom hosting a valima :D
Re: Young children at weddings
ahhh.. pls dont get me started on this..
recently went to two weddings. one in particular in which BP level was high.. kids were running up down left right on the stage, behind the stage you name it.. parents weren't controlling their kids either.. so much so the poor hosts had to pay extra to the venue for the amt of damage the kids done..
theyd be screaming when important things like bride groom entrance/cake cutting etc was happening..
true, its a good idea to occupy kids elsewhere like sep room but you'd be surprised because at another wedding where the organisers did do this, the kids ended up still roaming around reception area and parents not wanting to leave their kids there..
i wanted to cry at that wedding.. if this happened at mine.. omg :(
dont u think its unfair? parents should keep hold of their children na!
Re: Young children at weddings
I would look into sitters, Sahar! You can find them on Craigslist for very reasonable prices and you can ask that they have prior training in handling x amount of kids and know CPR, etc. That, combined with your activity packs, should lead to a very happy, stress-free event for adults and a non-boring, fun one for the kids. Yours, would, of course be with you but she's a superstar :)
My sil to be and her family thought parents wouldn't want their kids off with strangers either but at my bro's valima, you couldn't see or hear the kids because they were off having so much fun in supervised play in the hotel's garden's and in a separate room that the hotel opened up for us free of charge. We didn't even bother decorating that room- the kids were so busy playing games, that's all they were interested in anyway. Parents checked up on them occasionally, I think, but the sitters were two marvellous daycare teachers and they did such an excellent job. We paid them $140 (their asking rate) IN TOTAL for the 5 hours they were there!
Oh, and the kids re-joined their parents during dinner.
Re: Young children at weddings
Maybe have the kids in the same venue room as the normal guests and seat them all on one table, and then give them goodie bags which will keep them occupied? Like colouring..stickers..puzzle books or something?
Re: Young children at weddings
coloring books are a great idea...wish i had thought of that!
Re: Young children at weddings
At my wedding most of the kids were occupied with the photobooth I had in the lobby, so that took care of them there. but at my mayoun....oh GOD!!!! People let their kids run free, and act crazy. While I was sitting on the stage, right at my feet one kid literally attacked another and they were rolling around fighting and screaming right at my feet while their mothers sat right beside the stage watching them and did not even get up to stop them. My blood was boiling!
Re: Young children at weddings
Did you think the photobooth was worth it? I'm hearing mixed things.
Re: Young children at weddings
^ who would supervise the kids at the photobooth? i can see it turning ugly if they're left on their own.
what are the ages of your kid-guests?