Attending wedding with toddler

[BaffledMum22]

Any tips and tricks? It’ll be the first “event” that we attend with our toddler. He’ll be 20 months.

It’s a 4 hour drive from home with the ceremony starting at 2pm so I’ve booked us a hotel 10 mins from the venue (no accommodation at the venue) for the night before and the night of the wedding in the hope that will make things less stressful for all!

Current plan is just to drive from our hotel to our venue then we don’t need to mess with taxis/car seats etc and that will allow us to keep a pushchair in the car where he might nap later on, if not, DH will return to hotel with toddler and get him to bed and Mummy gets to stay for the evening.

I’m assuming just pack some snacks/toys and hope for the best? 🤞🏼🤣

At that age when I took my lo, I did similarly re a hotel etc. I also moved heaven and earth to get them napping beforehand!

Snacks are you friend! I also wrapped up little presents - cheap things that would hold their attention for a time, so think books, colouring, puzzles, little toy cars.

Enjoy.

@ChoiceMummy Great idea wrapping the little presents!! I’ve got a couple of months yet so I’ll gather up some little bits that he’ll like!
That was my thinking with having a hotel the night before. Might be easier to get him to have a nap if we’re already set up in a hotel 🤞🏼 I’ve booked a mini suite type room with a small lounge so hopefully DH and I can finish getting ready while DS naps 😬🤞🏼
Really looking forward to it but it’s definitely occasions like this that make you realise how much planning goes into full day outings with children 🤣

During the ceremony make sure to sit at the back so you can make a swift exit if toddler starts to cause any disturbance. Ditto during speeches if possible.

At 20 months he'll probably be napping after lunch? For a 2pm ceremony I think I'd try to arrive early at the venue, give toddler a packed lunch then get him off to sleep in the buggy, hopefully he would then nap through the ceremony.

I would take quiet toys, colouring book and crayons, snacks and drink, pyjamas and a blanket but also a laid back attitude to food, drink and sleep - let them try new things, have fun, and crash out when they are tired, mine generally fell asleep under the table at some point

Wear shoes you can dash around in!
Though my ds is older at 3 we went to a wedding a few months ago. I didn't finish a single drink nor a single conversation as I'd see him running towards the cake, balloon display, present stand or just randomly and I or dh would literally have to run after him 🤣

We went to a wedding in the summer with (my then) 21 month old. It was lovely, but hard work and I didn't really get to enjoy much of the wedding. Much of what happens at weddings is pretty boring for toddlers and I spent a lot of time running around after him. I'd definitely say to wear comfy shoes!
Also really small, simple toys worked best for us - a couple of cars and one of those build your own styrofoam aeroplanes were big hits with all the kids there.
We're going to another wedding this year and will be leaving our toddler with relatives 🤣

@Anotherunimaginativeusername Was definitely planning this during the ceremony - never even thought of speeches! Great tip! Wedding is still a couple of months away but he currently naps 12.30-2 but could definitely push that a bit either way currently! We’ll see what he’s doing at the time 😅 these things don’t seem to stay the same for long! Haha!

@gogohm Thanks 😊 it’s a very child friendly wedding so I’m hoping that will make me feel a bit more relaxed about it all 😊 there will be quite a few there around his age so no doubt they’ll all influence each other when it comes to snacks/naps etc - whether that’s a good or bad thing, I’m not sure 🤣

@Annon12345 @Albgo I’m already stressing over the shoe choice 🤣 fully anticipating feeling like I haven’t had the chance to relax all day but that’s fine 🤣 it’ll actually be the first time a big group of my friends who live further away will get to meet DS and I’ll get to meet some of theirs as we’ve not had the chance to get together since the start of covid so I’m sure it’ll be a lovely time 😊