My sister is getting married. Should I bring DS all day?

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Hi, my sister is getting married and when she does I'll have 3 DS aged 6,5 and 3. My DH thinks that they should go home before the meal and dancing. I'm on the wedding so he will be more or less responsible for them all while I do different bits and pieces. Any advice from fellow MNers who have taken children to weddings? All advice welcome thanks

Hire a baby babysitter. I wouldn't try to do it yourself. You'll have a shit day.

Take them! It's a family wedding and they'll have lots of people to look out for them. They'll have loads of fun at the disco.
Perhaps they could go home mid evening before they get overtired. Would pil pick them up and babysit?
Sounds like your DH just doesn't want to be in charge of looking after them whilst you're involved in the formal side of the wedding.

Thanks afterschoolworry. MIL was gonna come with us and help with DS then take them home when appropriate. I guess I just wanted to know your thoughts on before or after the meal part?

Gat a babysitter and send them home. Weddings can be a long day for adults (with the benefits of booze!)and an even longer day for dc. I'm sure you would both enjoy it more if the dc come, enjoy the day then go home. Is there someone who would babysit for you?

Wont' you have plenty of family and friends to help out? Your parents, Aunts and Uncles, other siblings.

It depends on your children but I've been to a wedding with our young kids, they managed until about 9:00pm I think and rather enjoyed the dancing and the band in the evening. If it's a nice day, they play outside. Take plenty of things for them to do. Whilst you will be helping out, it's not as if you will be constantly on duty, what are you expected to do?

Thanks Heymacway. I'd love them to be there but three boys are a handful for anyone my poor DH hasn't a hope of keeping them all in check that day that's why we're bringing MIL. So you think after the meal and some dancing say around 8.30-9pm would be a good time?

X posted with you op. Having you MIL come along and taking the dc home whenever they get bored/tired sounds good.

We always get ours babysat for the whole of weddings. Unless they are involved, in which case we book a sitter to collect them just before the speeches.

The only bit of weddings small dc enjoy is the disco and by that point in the day id like a drink

Thanks folks. Ach no I'll not be on duty all day! But there are parts of the day when I'll be tied up with photos and things.

Thank you all. I'm out of my depth it's the first family wedding that all DC have been invited to

At our own wedding our girls were 2 and 4. The plan was our babysitter would collect the youngest after the meal around 7pm and then head home with her and look after her overnight. We were willing for the eldest to stay up and dance but stay the night in her grandparents room at the hotel. As it turns out she was quite poorly on the wedding day and was flaked out by 6pm so our babysitter kindly took them both. It worked fine and we could enjoy the evening without worrying.

At a recent family wedding my sisters DC stayed for the whole thing. The 5yo crashed out on a chair around 9.30pm but the 8yo was up dancing til 11pm! The couple getting married had DC aged 4 and 2 who managed the til 9ish too. We had lots of family to help out though and DSis and BIL weren't in the wedding party. Tbh, the photos and meal were the most boring parts for the kids.

Why can't your husband look after them himself? Do you usually do it? They're his children, he should be able to look after them at a wedding for one evening. Anyway if he really can't cope then get his mum to collect them early so he can enjoy himself and not have to parent his own children

Oooh Shox calm down its okay! He is awesome and it's important to both of us that all our family have a great time, my DH included

One of my favourite memories as a kid was being allowed to stay up late for a family wedding, uncles buying me drinks (non-alcoholic of course, but I thought I was being naughty) dancing, food, seeing family. Quick nap under a table then dancing. It's only one night, and sounds like you've got plenty of support. I would take them.

I had 2 DC when my DB got married aged 2 & 3, they attended the church and were included in photos, in laws then took them for the night. Far easier all round!

depending on the venue, you might be able to give the kids sleeping bags + a DVD in a quiet room after dinner. they will probably fall asleep there too.

I was a flower girl at my auntie's wedding when I was three.

I remember having a great time in my dress, and then sitting on the sofa in the hotel reception with the other two flower girls eating sugar crystals out of a bowl when my dad decided it was time to take me back to the hotel room, and crying, "But I want to go back to the weddiiiiiiiing!" as my dad carried me away, and my dad saying grumpily, "The wedding's over!"

If your sister is happy for your MIL to attend and your MIL is happy to be there and then take them away when they've had enough, that sounds like a great solution.

I would have them go home evening time; we’ve taken DD9 to weddings from age 7 and she’s stayed up and loved it but when any younger it didn’t really work and neither of us could relax