Childrens entertainment at weddings

[Caspianberg]

Our wedding will be later next year.
Will have 8 children there. Divided into:

X2 babies under 1
X2 2-3 year olds ( one ours)
X4 9-12 year olds

It’s mainly the meal and a bit of evening that’s sit down and probably boring for them. I was thinking of doing an activity pack or bag each, but various ages so different needed

Would 9-12 year olds like top trump cards still? Or adult style colouring books.

Toddlers I can probably cover easy enough

Babies? Both will be 9/10 months so moving around probably. Snacks?

Everyone will be flying in for the weekend ( or longer), so I’m aware of luggage restrictions. Happy to spend about £20-30 each as they can use the next few days and travelling as well.

Any ideas or what you many have done would be great.

Modelling balloons for older kids?

Puzzle books?

Had the hotel a room they use for kids clubs? During our wedding meal they put on a film. The children could go in& out during the day playing in there also.
Other then that coloring and maybe connect 4 should be fine

Think the 9-12yo will want to be with 'grown ups'

I made up gift bags for each child with small toys and activities in them like colouring books, pencils/crayons. The small toys I bought were the Fisher Price family ones. Bags of sweets.

Disposable cameras.

Unfortunately the hotel is actually an ‘adult only’ usually. So no kids stuff on site. There is a pool for the days before and after wedding, and will have basically exclusive use so they are happy for the children to be there.

I can take basket or two of toys with us from our house, which would suit toddlers/ babies I guess.

I did assume the older ones will be happy to be more ‘adult’ but maybe that’s asking too much?
I like the balloon model idea.

Disposable cameras? Can you still get those developed easily?

Face painter?

Not sure why this is necessary at the table? After the meal set up a corner for activities.

Cards games, connect 4, Dobble, etc are easy to find and set out. Plus coloring books.

If it’s nice maybe a few balls and skipping ropes, frizziest and bubbles.

Are little Lego sets worth it?

@Caspianberg the scratch art things always go down well with our 10 year old, they take a while too?

For the 9-12 year olds a tin of pencils, more adult colouring book, and a reading book suitable for 9+ is a nice touch, top trumps too, get ones to each of their interests. I would also suggest a little bottle of the super concentrated squash (Robinson's do it) to add to water (to reduce the pestering for fizzy drinks, parents will thank you!) little bags of haribo. But mostly they should be able to cope with that but. For the toddlers snacks are key, basic colouring pack or magic markers and maybe toys suitable for the table eg cars

@BluebellsGreenbells - well it’s not strictly necessary, I’m happy they go off. But it’s only very small wedding, so they make up a good 1/4 of guests.

I’m just thinking of something small that might help their parents eat own food without having to get down ( younger 4 really). Or that they can use in hotel room the next morning as well.

The afternoon is out and about so pretty covered.

It’s only a small hotel.

We had a room just off the main room that wasn't being used and the hotel let us put a hired soft play set up in it. Even the older kids loved it (they were upto age 14) and we made it clear they could go in at anytime. Never saw the kids, parents had a great time. Best £170 we spent!

Travel games too are an idea eg guess who, connect 4

The Crayola Colour Wonder sets are great for toddlers. They come with special pens that only colour their pages, so there's no chance of them drawing on tables, chairs or walls with them!

Maybe small craft kit type things for the older kids? So something to do but will feel/seem grown up maybe? Could you give the older ones a little job to do ? Not an actual task but maybe give them Nice notebooks/fancy gel pens alongside adult colouring books and tell them please make notes on what the food was like for a review later? Or give them a disposable camera and ask them to help take pictures.or maybe ask them to be in charge of asking people to sign a guest book.or something? Might make them feel involved but also special and grown up ? X

A soft drink snack sweets station/cart? Activity table?

Oh yes I used to love those scratch pictures. Thanks

Babies? Ds is only 1.5 at the moment but I honestly can’t remember what he liked toy wise at 9 months that’s small ish. I think he just toddled around causing chaos.

I saw Amazon do those 20 postcard type adult adult style colouring. All early teens like Harry Potter/ marvel I assume.

Uni cards for the older ones? We introduced my 16 yo neice to it recently and she loved it.

My 3 year old can play it too, with help.

Would it be possible to take/borrow a PlayStation or X box etc for the older ones?

Thank you, we have some card games at home we can take.

I don’t think a games console would work as no separate room, and we do want them with us joining in in general.