if you were to take your child to a wedding, how would you like to be treated?

[nickelbabe]

it's not an AIBU? by the way....

at some point, i expect a marriage proposal, so i'm trying to "plan" the big day in my head [sad little girl with pink dress and pillowcase on head emoticon]

I have a lot of friends with children (and family too, of course) and i want them all to feel like they're really important, not just invited cos the parents are.

when i was a child i always wanted to sit at the front of the church and watch the wedding right in the action.

so, i'm thinking of extending this to the children I know.

my question is how to put it to the parents?
do i put in the invitations that i want the children up the front (there's space for cushions on the floor as well as room for parents to sit close by) or do i just get the ushers to tell them on the day/or put it in the order of service.

basically, i envisage all the children up front on cushions or the close-by pews.

please tell me what you think!
ta!

Hmmm well we went to a wedding recently with ds (3y2m) and we sat right at the back. If we'd sat at the front Id ahve been terrified he'd ahve caused a scene and we'd have interrupted everything!

One thing we did at our wedding (and they did at wedding just been to) was have a wee gift bag for the kids - at this wedding ds had stickers, £1 land cars, sweets etc. He loved that and it kept him quiet!

do u have any children?

no, 2andcounting, not yet.

i just don't want anyone to feel left out.

thanks waiting, i thought about the party pack thing too. they could probably have those with them when they're sitting (or at least colouring stuff)

the best thing about where i was thinking is that there is an aisle that goes up to the back of the church where there is a room for kids to use, so if any kids wanted to go somewhere else then they could without disturbing anyone.

the kids are such varying age groups that it's prob not as simple as just giving them a bag of activity stuff: most of them (i think) are old enough to sit and watch and want to feel part of it.

Sorry I meant the party bag was given in place of a favour with the meal. Speeches are boring for kids!

A wedding service is soooooo boring to kids. It's a lovely romantic notion to have rows of beautifully dressed children all enraptures by your wedding service.

The reality could be very different. If no parents to give to knowing glare then racing up the aisles, kicking the person in front, pulling out the ribbons of the pretty girl in front who cries, dropping a few hymn books, staged whispers of funny rude words, oh and the charging off for a wee.

Some parents may feel more relaxed knowing their little monkey is in arms reach.

I think it is lovely that you are putting so much thought into the children who will be guests at your wedding, nickelbabe.

I agree that the ushers should just tell parents with children about the arrangements for them in the church, and I am sure that most, if not all of the children will love being at the front.

My mum told me about her friend's little boy who was at mum and dad's wedding, and was so excited because the bride smiled at him specially on the way in.

that's exactly what i was worried about pancake !

your 2nd paragraph is why i wanted the parents in the pews down the side of the "kids' bit". most of the kids on my side are used to church services, too.
can't speak for OH's family though.

oh, forgot to say: we're not having a sit down meal, so we don't need to worry about them getting bored during speeches! og, i think I would be bored during speeches!!

That is very sweet. I don't think you have to put it on the invitation but I would say to the parents in advance. Maybe they could have white paper bags filled with a few sweets (nothing that might stain).

Some other things might be:

An entertainer for the children in a seperate room during the speeches.

Special gift bags or a stuffed animal

Maybe the kids could get a seperate inviitation

you could always hire either a creche company or a play area for during the reception. The one in our area runs mini childrens parties so the children really enjoy the day and they sort out the party bags so you dont need to worry

I love children at weddings and my wedding was very, very child friendly however they really were not interested in the church bit at all - and I wish one of them (that shrieked through our vows and can be heard on our wedding dvd) had been taken outside at that point

They did enjoy pony rides, gift bags, buns and face painting though. I think the parents enjoyed the presence of childminders and a nap room

I put polystyrene planes in the gift bags and all the kids went out in the garden with them whilst the speeches were on.

sounds good, CKK.

i figured some of them would get bored with church. my little niece who is 3 loves going to church - we went with them to their church (very traditional lots of bells and smells and thees and thous) and she sat through the whole thing without a moan!
i know it would be an ideal world for all the child guests to be like that!!

thankfully our church has got a big box of toys in the Tower room!