5 Ways to Include Your Children In Your Wedding

[myasir360]

Your wedding is a special day, and the only thing that makes it even more special is that your kids are here to witness it. They’re seeing Mummy at her busiest now, choosing the perfect venue, the right style for her wedding dress, and sitting with their soon-to-be new parent in the kitchen, discussing finances so that they can still afford the honeymoon and a loan for a new house post-wedding.

But one of the most important aspects of this wedding is, of course, how you’re going to include your kids in it. You don’t want them just to be there, you want them to be part of the entire ceremony and celebration. Here’s how:

1 Give your kids a special gift on the big day

In addition to giving your partner a gift on this special day, it’ll be meaningful, too, to give your kids a gift, too. It doesn’t have to be anything big or expensive, but it should be special and personal. If your child is a pre-teen or teenager, something like a letter will have the most emotional significance, but if they’re younger, a trinket (such as a special pair of earrings) might be just the right thing. To get inspired, take a look at this article. Remember, though, not to spend too much--after all, the average wedding in the US is $35,329.

2 Include them in the ceremony

Sure, your kids may not be able to get so involved in the wedding that they’ll help save money to afford the lavish honeymoon you’re hoping for--but they can certainly be part of the ceremony, which will not only make them feel included but will also be meaningful for you and delightful to all the guests involved. And there are lots of ways you can include them.

For example, according to Martha Stewart Weddings, “If your kids are old enough to stand through an entire ceremony, ask them to take over traditional best man and maid-of-honor duties, such as handing over the rings or holding the bride’s bouquet.” And don’t forget to rehearse--96 percent of couples getting married admitted that wedding planning is stressful, and you don’t want your kids to feel stressed!

3 Include them in the special photos

Of course, you and your partner are going to be taking plenty of selfies on the big day--and if you’re big on social media, too, then you’ll know the right strategies for getting more likes and shares (e.g., creating your own wedding hashtag because you know that tweets with hashtags get twice as much as engagement as ones without). But there’s another kind of sharing that matters even more: sharing with your kids.

So when it comes to making all the wedding pictures, even the ones you put on your wedding site before the big day to show off, include your kids! There are lots of fun, sweet, beautiful ways you can capture this love--so for inspiration, check out this list of 50 ways to take family pictures at your wedding.

4 Provide them with activities

However special a wedding may be, it is, in the end, the kind of event that caters more to adults than children, whether it’s the champagne being poured over and over into glasses or the music that you and your friends have been listening to since high school. So you’ll want to provide the kids’ table with crayons and fun activities--just remember not to lend them your phone; you don’t want them to end up like the average American who uses their phone 5 hours a day. And don’t forget about later in the night, when they’re feeling sleepy:

According to sheknows.com, “You can keep kids calm throughout the night or give them a place to chill when the festivities are winding down by setting up a quiet area equipped with books and movies. Comfy pillows and beanbags are a great addition to these tranquil wedding activities for children, especially for wrangling kiddos who are prone to wander. Add 3D glasses and a popcorn machine, and kids of all ages will enjoy themselves.”

5 Let them help with the food

Finally, there’s something that every kid loves: and that’s food. Whether you’re trying appetizers with them or sampling the cake you and your partner will share in front of everyone, it’s not only an easy way to get the kids involved in wedding planning--it’s also a fun way to spend an afternoon with them.

The average cost of a wedding cake is $300-$400, so if you’re already going to be spending so much money on it, you might as well get a fun experience with your kids out of it, too.

As you can see, there are some great ways to include your children in your wedding--which, at the end of the day, is one of the most important aspects of your wedding, your chance to spend time with the people you love, celebrating love.

Can you think of other ways to include your children in your wedding?

[user1466690252]

did you get this straight from one of those click-bait posts on fb?

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[yorkshireyummymummy]

Maybe throw caution to the wind and have your children AFTER your wedding day??