"Activity bags" for children at weddings

[lunne34]

Hi all

Getting married in 2 months and realised we have quite a few kids attending between age 1 - 12 so I want to put together some sort of activity/ fun bag for them to use during the meal maybe. So they're kept entertained during the speeches etc.

The question is .. what should I put in them 🙈
Any ideas? And would a 10-12 yo be interested in one? Would feel mean to leave them out without a bag 🙈

TIA xxxx

There wasn’t many kids at our wedding so we bought small fake Lego kit for each child, they were only a couple of quid each and they went down really well!

Oh, for the older kids, we also did a "photo list" asking them to take photos of certain things or people (eg groom's parents dancing, getting a cuddle from the bride, a bridesmaid's bouquet, the wedding cake, etc) and they had different lists so we got some great and not so great photos

Best thing we gave was disposable cameras...kept the kids entertained equally from age 2 to age 15!

Our reception was outside so bubbles weren't really an issue but if younare worried about them then maybe glow sticks or those battery powered flashy light things like you get at Disney on Ice. We also had a giant jenga and connect 4 but again it was outside, maybe not so great for limited space.

You could make a wedding eye spy game, give them a disposable camera (for the older ones) and a list of photos to capture or make one of those paper fortune tellers and each answer has a different photo they need to take.

WelshyMaud

Best thing we gave was disposable cameras...kept the kids entertained equally from age 2 to age 15“

What a brilliant idea!

Keepemquiet bags. They are designed for travel but perfect for this situation too.

If you have any older kids coming, we used a Polaroid camera that produces sticky backed photos and a blank photo book and put my DD and DSD (age 10 and 11) in charge of taking photos of people, sticking them in the book and getting them to write a message in it. Kept them entertained all evening and they were very proud of the result! We got some really sweet pictures

We also just laid out a games table with things like a big box of Lego, connect 4, Jenga etc- all games we had so we didn’t spend any extra money!

I made booklets with colouring and puzzles in it covering the story of how we met, got engaged etc, and then a big picture at the back which they could hand in for a colouring competition at the end of the speeches.

Then some quiet snacks, pencils, stickers etc. Tbh their main purpose was to keep the 20+ under 5's attending, quiet during the church service and speeches rather than a party bag as such. It worked really well.

We also had a playroom next to the main room and a pile of cushions and blankets for them to crash out on.

And some outdoor games

Basically we went totally over the top on trying to cater for the kids so they weren't bored and entertained eachother. It meant the adults actually chatted to eachother and relaxed, and we barely noticed the kids!

I did this for both my wedding and my sisters.

I did..

Bubbles
Puzzle games
Colouring/activity books depending on age
Twist up crayons or pencils (saves need for a sharpener)
I had a few bits they could make ie brackets or little construction toys
Picture books or story books depending on age.

For babies I did bath books and toys

Places like pound toy website and poundkand are great.

Hobbycraft do nice paperbacks and craft packs you can split down.

Depending on your venue size and space we also did a toy corner where we had some comfy chairs, giant games like giant snakes and ladders, inflatable skittle alley (I was a brownie leader at the time) etc as well as some blankets and cushions for when they needed to call down or snooze.

I was going to suggest Baker Ross website too. I can't for the life of me remember what we put in ours but we definitely got the things off there

Yes disposable cameras would be great or something like a magazine or origami kit for the older children. Younger children some crackers or bear yoyo and stickers etc will keep them busy.

i had a little pack made up with a little colouring book, some crayons, bubbles, a couple of silly little wind up toys, a little puzzle book..etc

Then at the reception i designated a couple of tables for the kids and put out a couple of games like snakes and ladders, a couple of packs of cards and a couple of bowls with some sweets in.. like starburst, skittles...etc

I gave them to everyone 13 and under, and told them to share anything they didn't want with the older kids ;)

It’s a really lovely idea. Stickers, crayons, a yoyo, little things like that. Please no bubbles. My uncle gave my little cousins bubble guns at his wedding, and they got really overexcited charging about (what you want to avoid) and one tipped the bubble juice all down my gran’s lovely jacket, which she couldn’t wear again.

A xylophone.
Assorted percussion instruments, (tambourine, maracas, a guiro etc)
Trumpets
A drum
Whistles / kazoos / recorders

That should liven up those dull old speeches

@MostlyNormalSometimesOdd

A xylophone. Assorted percussion instruments, (tambourine, maracas, a guiro etc) Trumpets A drum Whistles / kazoos / recorders

That should liven up those dull old speeches

🥁 📯 📣 🔔 📢 🎺 Hehehe.

Thanks again everyone. Brilliant suggestions & thanks for the links too 😃👍 can't wait to hm get the bags put together 🤩 xxx

@moonbedazzled

Aww, *@lunne34*, what a lovely, thoughtful person you are. That's so kind. I hope you have a fab day - you deserve it.

Ah thank you so much ☺️ xx

I would think you want things where not much adult input is necessary.

I might try colouring books for different age groups and pencil crayons/crayons/non-marking felt pens. There are lots cir children and teens. Some very simple ones for little ones.

Some are also more "boy" oriented.

Little kits that make a car/plane/train.

Pre teens love little jewelry making projects.

Stuffed toys or figures that they can do little imagination things with.

Drawing and painting a long piece of roll paper as a mural with a wedding theme. Works for most age groups. Some foam shapes or stickers work here.

Non toxic and staining modeling material.

Decorate a hat or crown. Kids lovely sparkly things they can glue on (watch choking hazards with young ones.)

Rubik's cube

I saw a basket filled with various rhythm instruments online, like tambourines, small hand drums, maracas etc. if you are having lots of dance music the children might love that. But of course it will be noisy.

The big version of Jenga

Have a great wedding OP.

We booked a magician and had a small room set aside for them

I'm having a party in the summer and I am liking these ideas.

Crayola do coloring books with special magic pens that only mark the paper. You can get in a lot of supermarkets. They went down well at my sons christening.

Yes, some of the older kids will be too cool for school, but I'd probably still do them a bag.

If there is an outside space, skipping ropes were very popular.

Mini table football kits were very popular with kids (and Dads). Novelty sunglasses, fairy wings (hang them over the back of children's chairs) and pirate hats and eye patches.