Create A Family Friendly Wedding
By TheWeddingPlanner on Jan 24, 2012 | In Wedding | No Comments »
A lot of weddings are multi-generational celebrations which are fun for the whole family. There are a couple of things you can do to ensure your wedding is good for your whole family. Find out how to make your wedding kid friendly.
First of all, you need to look for family friendly wedding reception venues. A reception location that allows children room to run is vital. You will want to steer clear of formal venues which are full of antiques or valuables. Forget about the five star hotel ballroom, and look at venues like country inns, vineyards, or tented estates. Wedding reception venues that have outdoor space are ideal, as they will give your youngest guests plenty of room to run around without running into anyone.
Another tip for your family style wedding is to create a menu that is appropriate for guests of all ages. Will your five year old cousins want to eat foie gras and caviar? It’s not too likely! It is a safe bet that the children will enjoy dishes like mac and cheese shooters or barbeque, though - and so will your grown up guests. When you are trying to please palettes of all ages, comfort foods will be better than exotic dishes. You will do well to choose a fairly straightforward wedding cake flavor. Opt for a crowd pleasing cake flavor like sponge cake rather than something exotic that the children will not enjoy. Cupcakes are a popular alternative to a formal cake for casual receptions.
Time of day is another consideration when organizing a family style wedding. An early afternoon ceremony is best. It is nice to schedule your reception early enough that the children will be able to attend. Your reception will wind down in the early evening, which can be nice if you are leaving for your honeymoon the next morning. If you want to keep dancing into the wee hours of the morning, have an after-party at a nearby club. The little ones will be able to get home in time for bed, and you and your husband can invite your close friends to join you for an after-party. It is a winning arrangement.
Young people get bored by long fancy receptions, so do put out some kid friendly things to keep them occupied. For those who want to have a special table just for the little ones, it is nice to set out some fun activities. That will keep little hands busy while they wait for dinner to be served. Some couples go even further and create whole gift bags for their young guests. Bubble wands and maze books make nice additions to the gift bags. Be thoughtful about who you seat at the kid’s table. It is no picnic to have surprise table chaperone duties foisted on you, so don’t just put a couple of teens at the kid’s table and expect them to jump in as babysitters. Don’t put your sixteen year old nieces at the kid’s table - they will feel highly insulted!
It is great fun to plan a wedding that includes your whole family. An all ages reception can be very lively, and full of surprises. All it takes is a little advance planning to create a wedding that is warm and family friendly.

