Wedding boxes

[Foxysoxy01]

My friend and I are having a slight disagreement and we need the MN jury to help us find an answer please.

It's your wedding day, you have invited friends and family which include 10 ish children that are from ages 3 to 14.

Would you supply a Children's wedding box? something along the lines of this, www.etsy.com/uk/listing/233278795/childrens-personalised-wedding-boxes?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_e-weddings-gifts_and_mementos-wedding_favors&utm_custom1=a61b7819-bdb5-4f81-a84a-227beb347e5f&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyLKpke2D1QIVIrHtCh0zYg2GEAQYDCABEgIT0fD_BwE

Or are you of an opinion that children would rather use their phones/DS etc and would bring their own entertainment?

Do you think it just a bit useless and over the top?

WIBU to suggest that it may be a slight waste of money as I don't think children will actually use most of the stuff if they have the choice of their iPad etc
Or am I being UR and actually your kids would have lived it and used the contents?

We did do something similar and I'm really glad we did, kept the kids entertained at the meal table and in general! We had about 20 kids and it really did not work out very expensive if you shop around for some bargains!

We're getting married soon and we'll be doing kid boxes. Some may bring iPads but TBH I know a few of our friends think it's a little antisocial and it's nice to provide something to keep kids distracted so parents can enjoy a bit of the meal. Also good for during speeches when I definitely don't want iPads clanging or kids bored!

Plus in any event kids are much cheaper than adults - don't need to provide booze on the table for them for starters

I think they're a great idea. If you think it's over the top, perhaps you could help her make some rather than buying them? They'd cost bugger all from the pound shop.

I did them for ours.
Very well received and inexpensive.

I think they are great. They encourage something different other than IPads that can be done with other guests/parents. Making some is a pretty good idea.

What about something instead that brings the kids together. I used to love charging around at weddings with distant cousins I'd not met before!

Thanks for the replies!

What did you put in the boxes that appeal to the different age groups?

I thought the ready made ones looked ok but they have different age groups and what if you don't know all the children's ages?

We had a photo scavenger hunt at our wedding for the older children (best dress/best shoes/bride and groom kissing etc) which went down well. Younger kids we had activity boxes for.

Colouring books and pencils
Stickers
Rubber toads
Those discs that you turn inside out then flip up
Balloons
Bubbles
Dominos
Playing cards
Parachute man

We did children's bags for our wedding and included craft things and bubbles, which made for some beautiful photos!
I double checked ages with all the parents, as this also affected meal choices.

We also included disposable cameras for a couple of the older children, in the hope they might get some candid wedding snaps.
Have a wonderful day!

I bought activity packs for the children at my wedding, they were aged between 4 and 8. They enjoyed them as they were wedding themed. It also helped that there was a decent playground just outside for them to run around after (I also had a go on the swings haha)

I think it's a lovely idea, the DC will love them. I wouldn't worry if you decide not to do it though, people would be very grateful but not expect it. I always bring a bag full of entertainment with me to weddings and I think most parents would too.

Have not RTFT.

Very cute but tbh wouldn't keep mine entertained for long (3 year olds)
Nice and thoughtful idea though if you can afford it.
Maybe you could hire a children's entertainer instead? Some great deals to be had! 😊

A wedding I went to, the Bride really thought outside the box. The venue had a side room, where there food was laid on for the smaller children (party food style) and a childrens entertainer - marvellous, the adults could sit down to dinner and speeches without disruption.

We did this, didn't cost much and kept (some ) of the kids amused for while.
To be honest though, the older kids were more interested in the disposable cameras we had on the tables and the younger ones were obsessed with the balloons :)

We gave the kids at our wedding a colouring book and pens/pencils, they all used them then took them home. It was a good quality Smurfs themed one from the pound shop. Best cheapy thing we spent for the wedding!

My kids aren't allowed tech at weddings. They've all enjoyed similar boxes though.

I did this for the toddlers going, it had a colouring book, a board book, wax crayons, I cant remember the other things and it worked really well. Thinking back I wish I had done it for the older kids too, and the adults actually as I remember BM's speech going on for about 3 weeks........

I wouldnt allow the kids to use ipads/phones etc at the table at a formal wedidng meal, so if the B&G provided something then that would be helpful to keep them amused without looking ignorant and rude by having phones out.

If you are making them up Baker Ross/ Yellow Moon are good for activities. You can then always bulk up with pound shop stuff. Just no felt tips/ paints for the tinies if in best clothes. I did some for a christening and the most favoured thing was the stretchy men. Baker Ross do several variants on this idea. Also yes to bubbles. I'd avoid parachute men - they need to be dropped/ thrown. Same as gliders as you wouldn't want them being thrown in the speeches.

Oh and......

We gave a donation to the kids primary school in exchange for borrowing their giant connect four game which went down really well with the adults and the kids.

I made my own boxes too. I ordered them from a party site, cant remember which one but it was very reasonable (Celebrations? something like that) in the wedding colours and filled them myself. Much more cost effective than buying them ready done.

Have you got a Tiger store near you? They are fabulous for colouring / non-messy crafty stuff but also games, puzzles and other things that will keep older children interested too.

Places like Primark have surprisingly useful things like naice shopping bags for £1, as well as little tubes of sweets, bubbles, hair clips etc.

Word of warning re: bubbles. Our venue banned them inside as they had had an incident with kids using them near/on the dance floor and someone had had a tumble and ended up in hospital for a hip replacement, so check with the venue first. Personally I wouldnt have them if you have a proper dance floor.

Great idea - my 3 year old loved his and it really helped kill time during the interminable speeches! I hadn't seen them before but they are a great idea!

I got big gift bags and filled them with a load of pound shop tat for my wedding - stickers, balloons, etc. I also did a 'tattoo' station, which all the adults loved as well. A load of transfers, bowl of water, sponge and a couple of towels. It was great fun!