Celebrating your wedding day with kids around can create a special atmosphere of family love and joy. Inviting kids to your wedding is an opportunity to make the event more memorable for everyone involved, as well as provide unique and colourful entertainment for all of your guests.
Children add a fun and unique element to the wedding.
As a photographer, I’ve been fortunate enough to capture some incredible moments at weddings and, without a doubt, the times when the couple’s kids are involved always bring a special kind of magic to the event. Whether they’re serving as flower girls, ring bearers, or simply running around and being adorable, kids have the power to add a playful, carefree energy to any event. Often, it’s the moments when they go slightly off-script that end up being the most memorable – like the time a young ring bearer started randomly high-fiving guests on his way down the aisle. It’s those spontaneous, unexpected bits which not only make great photographs but also having kids involved as part of the celebration is a guaranteed way to keep things interesting.
A good excuse to get a bouncy castle
Getting a bouncy castle for my wedding was one of the best investments I made for my own big day! It wasn’t only the children who had fun using it but also the big kids (a.k.a. the adults)!
Family Inclusion
For most couples, weddings are a family event and it’s important to include the little ones.
Allowing kids to be a part of your wedding day is an invaluable opportunity to create a sense of unity and togetherness. Your wedding will be a very meaningful experience for the kids – especially if you’re able to include them in special duties like being a flower girl/ring bearer.
Avoid a logistical nightmare for your guests.
I’ve been in that position before when a friend of mine wanted a child-free wedding but my little one was only a year old and we didn’t have anyone we could leave him with for a full day and night. Asking your guests to leave the kids behind might not be an option for them for various reasons and may force them to reluctantly decline your wedding invitation.
Meet the rest of the family
Weddings are a chance to meet up with distant family. If you’re lucky, it might be the first time you’ve ever been able to see your cousins and aunties who live far away! It’s always fun for little children to make new connections, so it’s definitely an unforgettable experience.
A great addition to the photos
Children are usually the first ones to let loose and go crazy during the day. As a natural wedding photographer, I love capturing the real moments and the unexpected ones too. When I talk to couples I’ve photographed they tend to remember the little details that went off-script. This is often something the kids did or said.
All in all, the decision of whether or not to invite children to your wedding is a personal one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. You must consider all elements before making your decision: your budget, the size of your venue and how easily the venue will be able to accommodate children’s needs (food, high chair, play corner). In the end, it’s about making sure everyone at your wedding feels included and celebrated. Ultimately, whatever choice you make is sure to result in a beautiful day shared with the people you love most!
