Children at your wedding, make a choice or compromise?
There are many reasons why you and your significant other might want to debate whether or not to include children at your wedding. However, there is room for compromise.
In this article, we discuss factors that tend to cause concern when making decisions:
- A wedding formula that is not child-friendly;
- Fears about how the day will unfold;
- Additional costs;
- Invited parents… are they really enjoying the day?
A wedding formula for adults versus a child-friendly formula
As a general rule, couples who organize their wedding day to include a bevy of young people of all ages have a well-developed family instinct. We think about activities and logistics for the children, freeing up the parents, and how the day will unfold. It’s more complex.
On the contrary, the “adult” formula is more zen and hassle-free, and you can be very creative. Here are a few examples to give you some ideas:
- Games of chance or casino – book a room with a casino atmosphere for your wedding theme, complete with tables and games of chance.
- Mixology workshop – a fast-paced, highly entertaining class to learn how to prepare new cocktails.
- Tasting stations – candy bar, poutine de luxe, fajitas, mini-burger, La Distinction offers a multitude of tasty evening stations that are best kept away from the greedy little fingers of children.
- Salsa crash course – if you’re a Latin dance enthusiast, start the evening with a short Salsa crash course. Thirty (30) minutes and everyone can dance with their partner.
A few concerns about the day's activities with children
Whether you’re a parent or not. Even if you love being surrounded by children in your life and family events. You may have some fears about your wedding day.
Distraction during the ceremony
Distraction during the ceremony is one of the concerns. Will the youngsters become noisy, restless or start crying endlessly? This concern may determine the minimum age of the children on your list.
Behavior during mealtime
Mealtime behavior can also be an obstacle. This may involve additional dietary restrictions, but also difficulties for parents in managing their children’s downtime. If you organize the table layout well, perhaps some of the youngsters will be able to enjoy themselves together.
General atmosphere and complex logistics
Otherwise, the fear that the general atmosphere during the evening will be less festive and that the logistics will be more complex are other concerns. However, parents bringing their children are free to leave early.
As for logistics, rely on our consultants to guide you to the right resources. Specialized animators can help you during the day.
Alternatively, call on your family. Together, you can find appropriate activities to keep the kids busy. Perhaps you can work out a budget so that the older ones can look after the younger ones and get paid for it.
Wedding costs are largely calculated according to the number of guests. This is one of the couple’s first questions. Will it be more intimate, or more grand?
Inviting children is part of this exchange. If you’re inviting your friends’ children, do you absolutely have to invite those of your family? And from what age? At the end of the day, you’re adding 20 guests to the bill, plus a few little ones.
Your choice of venue may have to be changed, your budget may have to be reallocated, and you may have to pass on some of the cost to your guests.
An advice from La Distinction
In the midst of this tumult of questions, the only thing we can remind you of is this:
- If the screaming, the crying and those short legs running around make you smile, don’t hesitate and invite these little rascals along.
- Do you prefer to enjoy every moment with your friends and loved ones, just as adults? Would you like them to have a good time too? Choose a formula without children.
By choosing to get married in the off-season, you can :
- savings of up to several thousand dollars ;
- a wide choice of dates and suppliers;
- simplified, less stressful planning.
Remember, this is your day. Make the choices that bring you the most happiness and well-being. Maybe not everyone will like it, whether you invite children or not. But it’s your decision. Your marriage. Your happiness.
Good thinking,
