Image: Sigrid Petersen
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It is your special day, and who you invite is your decision. On our wedding day, we wanted it to be a family event. We wanted our wedding to be relaxed and fun for everyone. Seeing the children happy and enjoying themselves brought us joy, but this is not everyone’s fairytale.
Things to consider when inviting children to your wedding…
Is your venue child friendly?
There are some venues I’ve attended that are not suitable for children. Open fires, bodies of water, and lots of stairs. This meant nannies needed to be hired for the entirety of the wedding to keep the children safe.
Parents might leave the wedding earlier
Young children often will need to go to bed, forcing parents to take them home before the end of the night. Having a children’s corner, with nannies to supervise play or rest, can mean parents will stay longer.
Image: Long Way Home
If you don’t invite children, will all your guests be able to make it to your wedding?
Sometimes babysitters are hard to find – especially if all of your family are attending the wedding. If you decide not to invite children you might need to help parents find local babysitters, especially if they are travelling or staying close to your wedding venue.
Children get bored
If your ceremony is long or there are a lot of formalities they will need something to keep them occupied.
Images: Amanda Kilbourn
Ultimately it is your special day, and how you envision that day is important. There is no right or wrong. I have had couples with children who have decided not to even have their own children at their wedding. But if you do decide to have children attend, make it fun for them too. Have a children’s corner and hire a couple of nannies to engage the young ones. Your family and friends will thank you for it!
About Melissa Dowden: Melissa is a mummy to two boys and a career nanny. Four years ago, after the birth of her first child, she saw the lack of childcare options for people attending weddings and events. She is now the owner of Event Nannies. Event Nannies offers a range of childcare options including wedding nannies, activity zones and babysitting.
Join the conversation