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Original poster

Wedding with 2 YO

19 replies

MrsB25 · 27/12/2022 20:23

Starting to think about this and wondering if anyone had any experience/tips for this situation..

Brother gets married in Spring , DD will be 2y3m. The wedding is not local to where we live, we will be staying in a hotel but not at the venue.

I know by this point DD will probably be ok without a nap/a short nap as she sometimes does this now. But she then crashes by 7pm! Ideally we want her to be able to stay as late as possible in the evening so DH doesn’t have to miss too much of the party (he would take her back to the hotel to put her to bed when needed).

Does anyone have any experience with a similar aged child? We can take the buggy which she may sleep in but I’m just thinking it would be far too noisy!

Thanks!

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VivaVivaa · 27/12/2022 20:33

Would your inlaws be able to come along? DH and I took my parents when DBil was getting married. DS was 2y2mo at the time. We all got an air bnb together. My parents pottered around the town/countryside during the day, then picked DS up at bedtime. DS has never been a reliable pram sleeper though. If yours is you might get away with it.

gogohmm · 27/12/2022 20:37

Buggy or blanket under the table - mine slept through many a live wedding band

MajorCarolDanvers · 27/12/2022 20:40

A sleep in the buggy won't do any harm

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Cornelious · 27/12/2022 20:52

Mine slept in a buggy with ear defenders on.

Original poster
MrsB25 · 27/12/2022 22:29

Sadly not, it’s too far and too expensive for them to come- that would have been an ideal solution! She isn’t a reliable pram sleeper at all, loves her cot! But I think if tired enough she would at least have a little sleep there to take the edge off.

@Cornelious I was thinking about ear defenders but wasn’t sure if they made them small enough. Thanks I will look into it!

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Ohchristmastree311 · 28/12/2022 05:22

@MrsB25 what time is the wedding at? I was at one a few months ago when DS had just turned 2. I managed to get him to nap for half an hour before the ceremony which was ideal.
Definitely take the buggy. I also took pyjamas for DS and got him changed when it was his usual bedtime and he started looking tired. He played for another wee while after that then i popped him in his buggy. He’s not a reliable pram sleeper at all but fell asleep in the buggy without too much hassle. I took him out for a wee walk round the hotel then took him back into the party when he was asleep.
Being already in pjs made it much easier when we got back to the hotel as I could just put him straight in to bed

Simonjt · 28/12/2022 05:25

At a very similar age my son would only sleep with me or nap on a certain sofa at home, at a party we went to he slept on the floor under some chairs.

Where does she sleep at nursery/childminders?

Original poster
MrsB25 · 28/12/2022 05:53

The ceremony is at 1pm, I think we would be leaving the hotel around 12 so I could probably squeeze in a short nap before which would be great (especially if she’s still having these early starts!). Good idea about taking the pyjamas! Did he sleep ok through the noise when you brought him back from the walk?

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Original poster
MrsB25 · 28/12/2022 05:53

MrsB25 · 28/12/2022 05:53

The ceremony is at 1pm, I think we would be leaving the hotel around 12 so I could probably squeeze in a short nap before which would be great (especially if she’s still having these early starts!). Good idea about taking the pyjamas! Did he sleep ok through the noise when you brought him back from the walk?

Sorry that was to @Ohchristmastree311

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Original poster
MrsB25 · 28/12/2022 05:55

Simonjt · 28/12/2022 05:25

At a very similar age my son would only sleep with me or nap on a certain sofa at home, at a party we went to he slept on the floor under some chairs.

Where does she sleep at nursery/childminders?

Ahhh that’s good to hear, he must have been tired! She sleeps in a travel cot at her childminders but will magically also sleep in the buggy there, so she can do a buggy sleep!

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Ohchristmastree311 · 28/12/2022 06:12

MrsB25 · 28/12/2022 05:53

The ceremony is at 1pm, I think we would be leaving the hotel around 12 so I could probably squeeze in a short nap before which would be great (especially if she’s still having these early starts!). Good idea about taking the pyjamas! Did he sleep ok through the noise when you brought him back from the walk?

@MrsB25 Ours was at the same time 😊 I’d definitely try and squeeze in a nap before if she manages it 😊 or if you’re driving and she sleeps in the car well you could leave the hotel a little earlier and try for a car nap 🤷🏻‍♀️

DS woke up for a few minutes when we went back into the noise but he was so shattered that he soon fell back asleep. Yeah, I’d definitely be doing the pyjamas again 👍🏻 Just makes life easier! Also lots of Snacks as their meal timings are likely to be a bit thrown off 😊 and a few small toys to keep them entertained. The time during speeches was the hardest bit for DS - he was starting to get hungry and was expecting his dinner as we all sat at the tables but it was about 1h 15mons between sitting and the meal being served as there were lots of speeches and things going on. DH just ended up taking him out to play in the hotel garden as he was getting very restless.

CatSeany · 28/12/2022 06:39

We've sadly always had to leave weddings or parties early with our little ones. We usually manage to get them to 8.30 if they've had naps in the car (which they do on long journeys), otherwise it's 7ish.

Original poster
MrsB25 · 28/12/2022 08:20

Ohchristmastree311 · 28/12/2022 06:12

@MrsB25 Ours was at the same time 😊 I’d definitely try and squeeze in a nap before if she manages it 😊 or if you’re driving and she sleeps in the car well you could leave the hotel a little earlier and try for a car nap 🤷🏻‍♀️

DS woke up for a few minutes when we went back into the noise but he was so shattered that he soon fell back asleep. Yeah, I’d definitely be doing the pyjamas again 👍🏻 Just makes life easier! Also lots of Snacks as their meal timings are likely to be a bit thrown off 😊 and a few small toys to keep them entertained. The time during speeches was the hardest bit for DS - he was starting to get hungry and was expecting his dinner as we all sat at the tables but it was about 1h 15mons between sitting and the meal being served as there were lots of speeches and things going on. DH just ended up taking him out to play in the hotel garden as he was getting very restless.

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She does sleep well in the car but the wedding is in Central London so we are getting a bus from the hotel to the ceremony, she might still snooze though on my knee or something! Definitely taking ALL the snacks 😂 I often get hungry myself at weddings so I bet for them it’s really hard! Thanks so much for the tips 🙂

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Original poster
MrsB25 · 28/12/2022 08:21

CatSeany · 28/12/2022 06:39

We've sadly always had to leave weddings or parties early with our little ones. We usually manage to get them to 8.30 if they've had naps in the car (which they do on long journeys), otherwise it's 7ish.

I can imagine, we’ve only taken her to one before but we had a room at the venue which was much easier as DH and I put her to bed at normal time then just took turns staying in the room with her. I wouldn’t normally mind leaving early at all but as it’s my brother I am hoping we can all stay as long as possible! DH will definitely just leave with her though if it’s going horribly wrong in the evening!

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blueflagflyhigh · 28/12/2022 09:39

Mine was a bit younger she was 13 months. It was a siblings wedding. She was usually a happy baby and very chilled but on that day she didn't want to go to anyone but mum and dad. By the evening she was just exhausted and we tried to get her to sleep in her pram so we cld remain out for the evening. She did eventually fall asleep but about 2-3 hours later than usual with me wondering round the hotel grounds at night.

The whole day was hard work. My mum offered to come to venue and take her in the evening and I don't know why I said no. In my head she was usually very easy so thought it would be fine 🙈

At 2 they might be able to last a little bit longer in the evening but it will still be hard work! I didn't not enjoy that wedding one bit!

20viona · 28/12/2022 09:44

If she's tired she will sleep in the buggy. I don't take my kids to weddings it ruins the fun for us 😂😂

Original poster
MrsB25 · 28/12/2022 10:28

Yes in an ideal world I wouldn’t take her either but she is flower girl for my brother and with the wedding being so far away we have no family close by to look after her for the night as all of my family will be at the wedding. So having to try and make the best of a less than ideal situation!

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Original poster
MrsB25 · 28/12/2022 10:29

blueflagflyhigh · 28/12/2022 09:39

Mine was a bit younger she was 13 months. It was a siblings wedding. She was usually a happy baby and very chilled but on that day she didn't want to go to anyone but mum and dad. By the evening she was just exhausted and we tried to get her to sleep in her pram so we cld remain out for the evening. She did eventually fall asleep but about 2-3 hours later than usual with me wondering round the hotel grounds at night.

The whole day was hard work. My mum offered to come to venue and take her in the evening and I don't know why I said no. In my head she was usually very easy so thought it would be fine 🙈

At 2 they might be able to last a little bit longer in the evening but it will still be hard work! I didn't not enjoy that wedding one bit!

Haha yes I’m not imagining I will enjoy it loads either! 🙈

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July70 · 28/12/2022 10:30

It's hard work and often music is too loud for the child.

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