to wonder what you DO with children at weddings?

[LiegeAndLief]

We have been invited as a family to a very good friend's wedding (2 dc aged 4 and 2). It would be lovely for us all to go as we have no one to take the dcs all day, so if we left them behind I would have to go on my own.

However... there will be no other kids there and although it has been a while since I went to a wedding I seem to remember rather a lot of standing around drinking and chatting. And sitting still being quiet in the church. Obviously we can take loads of books and toys etc, and the children are generally pretty well behaved so not likely to run around screaming, but I'm starting to wonder whether it will be more trouble than it's worth and they will get under everyone's feet all day. So if you have taken your kids to a wedding with no one to play with and no entertainment etc laid on, did you regret it?! Any tips for making it easier?

Take the kids - it's a new experience for them and they will love it.

Sorry, bizarro, I didn't know I could choose weddings for their entertainment factor.
Is there a sort of listings paper for weddings?

'Sam and Jill will be having a brilliant live band and a bouncy castle, Anastacia and Humphrey will be having one of those stuffy, stand about for six hours making small talk with toffy nosed strangers whilst you slowly expire from hunger'

Thanks for all the replies! Still very undecided, you were all too conflicting in your opinions

To answer a few questions: it's a pretty informal wedding with a celidh (I have no idea how to spell that, I mean the dance), which I think they'll love, it's just getting to that bit! I do know a few people who will be there but not so many that I will miss talking to loads of old friends whilst looking after dc, iyswim. It's a church wedding. No idea how long the service will be but thankfully CofE not Catholic!

Love the idea of taking a picnic rug and peking duck. Will keep me entertained anyway..

Dh is of the opinion that we should take them as they will probably enjoy most of it and they need to learn how to behave in different situations. If it was just ds I would agree without hesitation, as he understands when it's really important that he behaves himself and would probably be fine (and enjoy himself dancing etc) but dd is just too young to understand.

Neither of them have been to church before and we have a christening to go to the next day, so they'll be in at the deep end somewhat!

Yes... I'm a bit worried about a few weddings we're going to this year. Thankfully in both cases bride and/or groom has one toddler sibling/nephew so hopefully we'll get away with it.

I'm taking the same technique as I did when she was tiny, take her out if she's loud otherwise offer an ever rotating stack of toys... have just realised one of them will probably be a whole catholic 2 hour shebang. AGH! When she was at weddings as the only baby everyone was very keen to have cuddles etc, so hopefully people won't mind having a chat with a toddler at their table either.

I'm not going to try and keep her up either, when it gets to bed time we're going home/dropping her with the hotel babysitter because over tired toddler is just a terrible mix.

On the plus side, they are my friends so DH can be the one taking them in and out.

I think as a parent you're more aware of your child's noise than anyone else. I've been worried a few times when it seems to be only my children making a noise but when I've spoken to other parents I've found out they thought the same. When my children have sat with my parents I've thought they were well behaved!

Interesting about food being disrespectful. As a regular church goer I've taken biscuits/ drinks often and if I don't my eldest sweet talks her aunty into taking her to the shop before the service.

My eldest who's 4 has been to loads of weddings
has never been any trouble and I've been able to relax and enjoy myselfi

Only you know your children enough to know how well they'll manage. I wouldn't do what other posters have done and automatically write them off. They might make you proud and really enjoy themselves!

I agree with Bizarro. I've never been to these massively boring weddings everyone else seems to have.

It sounds like the wedding you're going to, OP, will be a lot of fun and I'd take them! I had a barn dance (I'm mobile so can't spell that word, it's also why I've done two posts) at my first wedding and I loved seeing the children getting involved, everyone enjoyed themselves.