Tell me about going to weddings with little ones - how long did you stay for and did you drive?

[SunshineAndFizz]

Going to a wedding soon and our DCs (4 and 1) are invited too. No accommodation at the venue and we live about 20 minutes drive away.

Trying to plan our logistics - how late did you stay? And did one of you just drive, or brave a taxi?

Lots of weddings when ours were that age! Generally drove if no accommodation, then you’re completely in control.

Thanks - that's what I'm leaning towards. Can leave whenever kids have had enough. Plus not keen on taxis with no car seat etc.

Take their nighttime things and get them ready for bed before you leave, then if they fall asleep in the car you don't have to wake them!

@JC89 nice tip!

And take food for them - you can't control when wedding food will be served and the kids won't want to wait for long (at least my DS wouldn't!) - they can still try the wedding food when it comes but it might not be something they would go for anyway. Taking some small toys/ books is also handy if they need entertaining (if you end up not needing them it doesn't matter). If there is likely to be loud music you may want to consider getting them ear defenders.

Take jammies, little one might sleep in a pushchair.

The 4yo will probably out party everyone else.
Little kids at weddings are fab. We had 10 under 5s at ours.
We would taxi home for a short trip so we could both have a couple of drinks with the meal, but if one is happy to drive, that's the easiest option

I'd get someone to pick them up at 6.30pm and then enjoy your night. My friendship group always has child free weddings even though we all have kids and I'm so glad!

Expect a shitshow and hope for better. Drive, so you can leave if needed.

Haha thanks for the realistic viewpoint. I always think these things sounds like a good time but in reality very hard work.

This would be the ideal scenario but everyone we'd ask is at the wedding.

Yeah I was thinking this - we generally don't go anywhere without food/snacks just in case.

This.

Although, if at all possible, I'd go without them.

Top tips about taking food / snacks (I do this for myself these days with more and more people expecting you to go for hours without food), and put them into PJs before driving home.

I'd definitely drive - you can have stuff with you then (seats, reins, pushchair, change of clothes, things to occupy them with, food, and so forth) and esy to leave when you need to.

We went to a wedding when DD was just 3. It was in a different part of the country and we had mutual friends who lived a 30 minute drive from the venue in the opposite direction. We stayed in a self catering holiday cottage about 10 mins drive from the venue and made a trip of it, staying a few nights, visiting our mutual friends etc. The wedding day itself we left around 6.45pm. They were overunning and still doing speeches at this time. Our DD hadn't had a nap that day (she usually still did) and by that time was messing about during the speeches and then started crying and asking to go to bed! She was usually asleep by about 7.30 in those days even when she'd had a nap so she was exhausted! So we left then. It was a nice day though. I don't drive but DH could have drove back again after dropping us off tbf which I did suggest, but he chose not to. We weren't close to the bride and groom tbh and we're actually just very surprised to be invited at all, at least to the full daytime event.

@UsingChangeofName yes lots of people say weddings with little ones are great, but I can't imagine they're great for the parents 😂

Good to hear about your experience - thanks - sounds like driving for you guys was the best choice so you could leave when you needed to.