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Original poster

I'm taking my 2.5 year old to an all day wedding next week... help!!

76 replies

dancygnik · 29/07/2021 21:32

Any tips?? I just can't even imagine how I'm going to get him to sit still and be quiet for the ceremony and meal 🙈🙈🙈🙈

OP posts:
Biancadelrioisback · 29/07/2021 21:37

As a one off....I'd say Kindle or iPad or similar. Colouring in stuff for the table after the ceremony, little games or puzzles he can do, but during the ceremony, either have someone outside with him, keep him at the very back and accept you'll not see/hear much or a tablet with headphones.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 29/07/2021 21:38

Get a babysitter. Why are you even doing this?

sar302 · 29/07/2021 21:39

Where's the wedding being held? There's usually a chunk of time after the ceremony while the couple and families go off and do photos, could you take him (and a change of clothes!) to a local playground for an hour to burn off steam?

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CrouchEndTiger12 · 29/07/2021 21:41

This is why I don't understand why people get angry at child free weddings. Why would you do this ?

babbi · 29/07/2021 21:43

Good luck 🤞
It might not be as bad as you think !!

If it helps the best weddings 👰 I’ve been to and really enjoyed are when the kids get up to mischief 😊

LizzieBet14 · 29/07/2021 21:47

How about some cheap toys that they haven't seen before? May hold their interest for a while & you could bring them out at different intervals throughout the day?

GettingItOutThere · 29/07/2021 21:47

are you fucking mental?

Thoughts and prayers Grin

Lots of colours! ipad, dancing, do not expect too much and have a great time

parietal · 29/07/2021 21:48

ceremony - talk through with him how it is special & quiet etc. have a silent phone game he likes. be ready to take him out easily

afternoon - run around as much as possible

meal - if you aren't on top table, you can be flexible - eat what you can, phone games, chat, the usual stuff. be ready to take him out during the speeches.

WaterIsBest · 29/07/2021 21:48

Ipad with a good solid case , pre loaded with all his favourites, and over the head ear phones. Cant think what they are called, but they sell childrens ones.
Afew of his favourite toys, non sound ones, like little cars etc, ideally some new ones so his a little more interested. Colouring book and pencils.

Change of clothes, Snacks but not suggery ones, as you dont want to send him more hyper , His buggy. If he still hs one, if not, can you hire / borrow one?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/07/2021 21:50

Yeh it would be a no from me- pop into the reception maybe- you’ll need so many bribes it’s not worth it

Fedinbed · 29/07/2021 21:50

Mine were not the easiest children by a long stretch but have always been manageable at weddings at any age.
Colouring/stickers progressing to phone or tablet for when they need to be quiet. Sweets for bribery and also for keeping quiet.
There’s usually quite a few people for whom toddlers are a novelty and who will entertain them for a while.
Walk in a buggy if they need a nap but at that age mine would have powered through and been revolting the next day!
It will be fine. Possibly even fun.

BadgertheBodger · 29/07/2021 21:50

SNACKS lots of snacks but really he won’t be the only kid there will he? I took mine to a family wedding at a similar age and the kids basically just rioted but it was lots of fun

FogHornInTheAttic · 29/07/2021 21:51

Our ds was 2.5 yrs at our wedding.
I wish we'd waited until he was 4 let's put it that way.

girlmom21 · 29/07/2021 21:53

Why's everyone acting like they're impossible to manage at 2.5? They're old enough to understand when they need to sit down and be quiet...

If they do get restless take them outside. Nobody will bat an eyelid.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/07/2021 21:56

@girlmom21

Why's everyone acting like they're impossible to manage at 2.5? They're old enough to understand when they need to sit down and be quiet...

If they do get restless take them outside. Nobody will bat an eyelid.

Yes they are for the odd hour- a whole day of managing them in a social environment with expectations to be quiet etc- sounds like a headache I wouldn’t put myself through.
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 29/07/2021 21:57

A toddler stole the show at a wedding reception I went to once (not the ceremony!). They were announcing that the free bar would be opening shortly and this clear little voice came across the room with perfect timing "oh dear". (He had actually dropped something).

Actual tips...
Sit at the aisle in ceremony so you can make a quick exit if necessary.
Exercise them before hand and whenever you get the chance.
If going with a partner... tag team.

MadeForThis · 29/07/2021 22:06

I went to my dsis wedding abroad with dd 2.5 and dd 3 months. Baby was a breeze. 2 yo had a great time dancing and running around with her cousin, also 2.

There was a room full of family who took her on little walks, they coloured in. Had a great time.

Metallicalover · 29/07/2021 22:06

Where is the wedding? Is it at a church or venue?
I've taken my 2 year old to church a few times, she likes to watch people (tried to rip my mask off and when she did she said 'that's better!' 🤣)
We made sure we were at the back and had a clear exit, She enjoyed looking at the church building, she liked the hymns. I just whispered throughout telling her what was going on. Took some bath toy animals that didn't make noises and some soft books and tried to have a small Pugh just for us so she could have a little wander.

If it's in a wedding venue the seats are pretty compact, the services are normally shorter so you might get away with it but may have to skip it. In between let them have some freedom.
Otherwise colouring in, activity books, IPAD is all I can suggest x

DennisTMenace · 29/07/2021 22:07

Definitely expect to need to go for a walk through the ceremony. Sit at the back so you can sneak out quietly. I have been to weddings where kids screamed through the whole thing and I really don't understand why the parents didn't just take them out to the reception area. Or graveyard if a church.

Ds age 1.5 kindly shouted out random nonsense just as the vicar asked if there were any objections at one wedding. Luckily we were at the back, so they didn't hear where it mattered.

BackforGood · 29/07/2021 22:28

This is why I don't understand why people get angry at child free weddings. Why would you do this ?

This ^

Only tips I can think of, if you have to are to sit near the exit so you can slip out straightaway if you need to during the ceremony.
Try to get a good run around away from everyone whilst the photos are happening
Take a big bag of little activities and snacks that might distract them - even if that goes against your usual parenting
Take change of clothes - for your dc, but, maybe also for you? At least some more practical shoes than you might wear for the wedding ?

ahoyshipmates · 29/07/2021 22:34

Will you be with other family members who can help with the toddler-wrangling?

tothelakes · 29/07/2021 22:40

@CrouchEndTiger12

This is why I don't understand why people get angry at child free weddings. Why would you do this ?
Exactly! All those cries of 'he won't be any trouble' etc when we all know little Theo is going to holler the fucking place down. 😄
knowsmorethansnow · 29/07/2021 23:06

Snacks, stickers books and bribery are your best bet.

MerryMarigold · 29/07/2021 23:13

I took 21 month old twins to a wedding (ds1 was page boy at 4 going on 5 years old!). It was fine. They had a few quiet toys. We sat near back and church had some toys/ play area at the back. Took snacks. Reception was great... Had a room at the venue so they slept at some point and I had a rest with them (between lunch and evening do). Totally do able and everyone ooed and ahhhd over them (especially cute dancing!) and was delighted we'd brought them!

bathorshower · 29/07/2021 23:15

DD went to a lot of weddings as a toddler, mostly long ones. We always sat somewhere where we could get out easily - she went through a long phase where I could keep her either quiet or still, and realistically a wedding requires both. I missed the vows at most of them, but that's better than DD screaming through them.

Realistic expectations are your friend - if you expect to miss bits you won't be too sad if you do. It's worth scoping out the venue for where you might escape to if (when) necessary.

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