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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:
3womeninaboat · 31/07/2021 22:30

2.5 is about the age where both mine suddenly started surprisingly me with incredibly reasonable behaviour so you might get lucky. Lots of novel things to look at and a lot of people for a child who won’t remember the pre-pandemic world will work in your favour. A few small new things to play with and perhaps working out in advance which relatives would like to help out?

MinesAPintOfTea · 31/07/2021 22:39

DS went to something like 9 weddings between 2-3.5. It really wasn’t a big deal.

Exercise beforehand if at all possible. Big fuss going into venue/church about how he was going to be such a big boy and sit still and nicely through the ceremony. Run about outside during the dull photo part. Quiet toys, non-sticky snacks and favourite blanket in my bag. Meals are usually fine because there was food. Sometimes had to go out during speeches, but tbh that was a relief. Dancing part was the great fun or he would fall asleep on chairs.

underneaththeash · 31/07/2021 22:45

You’ve answered your own question - how do I get him to sit still /be quiet? You don’t he’s 2. He won’t understand/enjoy/remember the event.
Get a babysitter and enjoy if abs don’t have him spoil it.

Interested in this thread?

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Behaviour & development Families Weddings
MistySkiesAfterRain · 31/07/2021 23:16

Fuzzy felt! I kept a toddler engaged on a hard pew with this!

MistySkiesAfterRain · 31/07/2021 23:18

Oh also make up a pencil case full of items that he can't normally have e.g. old bank cards, broken mobile, type thing.

Amused for hours (ok minutes).

Nicolastuffedone · 02/08/2021 15:54

Thing is, no matter what you give them to play with, they want to show you/tell you what they’re doing/drop things…

Scottishskifun · 02/08/2021 15:58

We are taking ours in a week. We have a bag with a load of little new things in to hold his interest a colouring pad, some cars and a book for the church. Will obviously take him outside if he gets noisy but generally he's not too bad

gogohm · 02/08/2021 16:08

Take a bag of new to him quiet toys (local charity shop is a good option to source) crayons, puzzle book/colouring in, kids headphones if you have them and iPad or phone with a couple of emergency programmes preloaded. Honestly it will be fine, mine went to some weddings when young and loved the attention from all the relatives

gogohm · 02/08/2021 16:10

Ps if mid afternoon, lots of exercise and a nap in the buggy the whole ceremony works really well!

Amaterasux · 02/08/2021 16:12

Not sure who all these people are who have been to all-day weddings that were quiet.

OP- just try and keep him quiet in the ceremony - but otherwise I doubt there will be expectations that he will need to be quiet.

Take a pram, spare clothes, and PJs etc for the evening. Some new toys, ipad and headphones.

feb2022 · 02/08/2021 16:18

@gogohm

"Ps if mid afternoon, lots of exercise and a nap in the buggy the whole ceremony works really well!"
Do 2.5 year olds nap?? 😂😂 mine doesn't thats for sure

Peppapigforlife · 02/08/2021 16:19

Why don't you get a babysitter for the ceremony part and then have him come to the evening part where he can dance and run around with the other kids. That way he isn't missing out and at the same time won't get fed up. I took my 2.25 year old daughter to an evening reception and she loved it!

TheOnlyKoiInAPondOfGoldfish · 02/08/2021 16:21

I'm in my 60's and have been to a LOT of weddings.... only once been to a child free one, which was a posh colleague of ExH getting married in the middle of London with champagne reception in his dad's club afterwards. It was pretty dull.

My own wedding was full of kids, we had an area at the back of the church set up for colouring and drawing to keep them distracted when needed. I took my own to friend's weddings when they were toddlers. Just take plenty of pencils and paper (NOT felt tips or crayons!) maybe a sticker book, and have a lovely time.

feb2022 · 02/08/2021 16:22

@dancygnik I think you will be fine!
If he starts getting loud during the ceremony just take him out with a book or a few cars or just let him have a run about outside
I think the rest of the day your just gonna have to wing it and just go with the flow!
Toddlers are bloody unpredictable at the best of times but I bet he will have lots of fun and have family & friends fussing over him ☺️
I hope you have a lovely time
... and yes! Take the IPad! Blippi is my saviour 😂

Timetoreflect · 02/08/2021 16:56

I thought most of the fun was having youngsters around though, that's what part of a family is! It makes me quite sad to read that a lot of you think children are just annoying

But other than immediate family, most people will never find your kids fun in the way you do. Hyped up kids are even less fun.

OhForGoodnessSake1 · 02/08/2021 17:12

Agree with you children are part of the fun of big family gatherings - even though it might not feel that way for parents!

Mine were used to going to church at that age - suss out where there is space to walk/sit on the floor/find something interesting to look at etc. Jigsaws kept DS1 occupied (just need a bit of space on the floor), DS2 was better with cars. And going outside at every opportunity between courses at the meal.

We had children from 6 weeks to 15 at our wedding - for most of our family weddings the best people at keeping the young ones entertained have been the tweens and teens :).

Doubledoorsontogarden · 02/08/2021 17:30

Stay at the venue, keep his nap time. New toys to distract. We went to a wedding at similar age, did service, then back to room for nap then reception, then back to room then evening. Plenty of spare clothes, you included, as my toddler spilled drink on me! Then lie in the next day, room service breakfast if you can

Notavegan · 02/08/2021 17:34

My kids loved weddings at that age (and sat nicely for ceremony and the meal). Depends on the kid I guess. Take a pram and lots of snacks and small toys.

FoxgloveSummers · 02/08/2021 17:51

We had loads of little kids at our wedding, there was some noise during the ceremony - we expected it to be honest! Maybe ask one of the organisers (family of the couple or best man?) if there'll be space kids can run around/things laid on for kids at all? We had a designated toy zone organised by family, plus comfy room in case little ones conked out and needed to be somewhere quiet for a bit.

Ozanj · 02/08/2021 17:57

Just sit all the family kids together with a few adults supervising - they’ll entertain themselves. No need to bring an Ipad unless you think you’ll be there late into the night

Onlinedilema · 02/08/2021 17:59

Dd has been to t so weddings before the age of 2.5 years, both church weddings. She was fine. Talk to him and explain that he must not talk at the relevant parts.
Sit at the back near the exit during the service.

HappyMummy82 · 02/08/2021 18:04

I took my son to a wedding at 1.5 years old. Never again!! It was just like too much hard work. We didn't get to relax and then had an argument at the end of the day. I would get a babysitter. It gives the child a chance to do something he would like to do with the babysitter and you and your OH can have some quality couple time together.

Wearywithteens · 02/08/2021 18:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Flittingaboutagain · 02/08/2021 18:15

A toddler wasn't supervised for just 20 seconds and managed to run over to my cake table and bang into it with enough force that the cake collapsed off its board and the flutes on the next table smashed. I had to foot the bill for the damage as my friend couldn't afford that and the hotel. I really wish her husband would have had their toddler for the day and stayed at the hotel with them.

DelurkingAJ · 02/08/2021 18:20

There were many small children at our wedding and they were delightful. My DM had made up activity packs (charity shop books and colouring things) for them at the meal and I remember no misbehaviour at all (there was one wild 8 year old but the tinies were all fab). When we took DSs at that age we took lots of snacks and activities and they were fine. Nap in the buggy and a fairly early end to the celebrations.