The notion of having a traditional wedding is nice and all, but we are living in different, more modern times where non-traditional or even alternative weddings are more appropriate.
Kids before marriage are becoming the norm, and weddings without little ones are few and far between nowadays. Whether you have kids from a previous marriage or you and your partner already have kids, it would be a nice gesture to include your kids in wedding planning and ceremony.
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Share this special time with them, ask them for their opinions and simply let them be a part of your special day – make the wedding a family affair.
If you don’t know how to make them a part of your wedding planning and ultimately, your wedding day, here are some useful wedding planning tips.
Start by making sure that your wedding venue is all-inclusive. It’s easy to get carried away with the beauty of the venue, but sometimes it should be more about the functionality and flexibility of the place.
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This is particularly important when you want kids to be part of the ceremony and wedding reception. That’s why you should choose the venue location with kids and babies in mind. Something kid-friendly, and that won’t take a lot of your time organizing and decorating.
Choose a space that is already equipped with tables, linens, silverware, and decorations so that you don’t have to waste more time figuring out these things yourself.
Since you’re making your wedding kid-friendly, invite other kids to the wedding as well. And while doing this, you could make sure that the kids are having fun – make all the girls be flower girls and boys ring bearers, and let them all toss rice or confetti once the wedding ceremony is over. Allow kids to dance and have fun at your wedding.
You can go a step further and hire an entertainer to keep the kids busy and happy at the wedding.
It can also be a great idea to hire a babysitter during the wedding planning process and on the wedding day as well. Having someone to help you out and look after your kids – especially if you have a baby or toddler, can be a lifesaver. You’ll accomplish so much more if you have some help, so keep that in mind.
A babysitter on the wedding day can also be brilliant. Someone to keep the kids entertained so that you can enjoy your wedding day, even if it’s just for a little while.
If your wedding is going to be a family affair, it’s only fair that you take your kid to ring and wedding dress picking. If the kids are old enough, you could even consider their opinions as well – let them help you pick out a perfect ring or a wedding gown. This will show them that their opinions matter and that they are an integral part of the wedding too.
And since you’re picking your dress, don’t forget to get cute outfits for the little ones as well. You can find many cute baby clothes to dress your baby for the big day, or you can have a mini wedding dress made for the girls and tuxedos for the boys.
Yet another great way to include your children in the planning of your special day is to take them cake tasting with you. Just like ring and wedding dress picking, this will be another brilliant way to make them know that this wedding is their day as much as it’s yours.
Plus, just imagine how cool of a parent will you be if you allow them to taste tons of cakes before lunch?
Let your kids help you with simple DIY crafts such as guests’ place cards, welcome boards, small gifts for guests, or anything else that comes to mind. This will be a perfect way for you to do something together and also cross a task from your to-do list.
And kids will love feeling useful and they will have something to brag about when the wedding day comes.
We know we said that completely traditional weddings are no longer possible. However, it’s possible to incorporate an old wedding tradition but with a little twist. Instead of your father walking you down the aisle, let your children do so.
You can also have your children be ring bearers or flower girls or if you want you can go a step further and ask your children to be your groomsmen or bridesmaids. All of these are elements of a traditional wedding but with your own modern twists – your children.
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Including your children in your wedding plans can be an amazing and memorable experience. And while they may not remember the wedding day, at least they will have photos and videos that will show them that they were part of that special event.
Author Bio
Jasmine Anderson is a Sydney-based lifestyle blogger and a toddler mom. She loves to spend quality time with her family, go thrifting, and spend just a little bit too much time on the internet. Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndersonJess_AJ