Well hello, friends!!! And HAPPY NEW YEAR! This is our first Wedding Wednesday post of 2016, and this one comes straight from one of our RAD brides! She asked:

“We’re having some kids at the wedding (nieces, nephews and a couple close friends’ kiddos), and we’d really like to make sure they have a good time as well. Any ideas for us??”

As parents, we know what will keep kids occupied and happy and as photographers, we know what will look super cute! So here are our …

Top 7 Tips for Making Your Wedding Kid Friendly

1.) Consider having an earlier wedding.

Most kids go to bed pretty early – ours are typically in bed by 9 (except our teenager, of course). Remember: tired kids = cranky kids = no fun for anyone. Having an earlier reception has other benefits: after party at the hotel!

2.) Don’t make them wear something itchy, hot and uncomfortable.

Sure, those adorable tulle dresses photograph beautifully but sometimes they can be super itchy. These adorable dresses were super cute, and soft and the girls LOVED their crowns!

3.) Let the parents know it’s okay to leave the ceremony.

If their kiddo is just not feelin’ the wedding ceremony, it’s absolutely okay for them to quietly get up and take their kid outside to calm them down. The last thing anyone wants is for a little person to start screaming during holy vows!

4.) Give them something to do at the reception.

Depending on the ages, this could be coloring pages with crayons, puzzles, even board games like checkers or Connect4. Kids can either sit at their own table, or with their parents for dinner itself, but definitely have a set-aside kids table/area so they have somewhere to be, with something to do.

5.) Consider hiring someone to hang with the kids at the reception.

Hiring someone to watch the kids will provide peace of mind for the parents so they can relax a bit at the wedding, while also knowing their kids are still participating and are close by. We love Desert Supersitters for weddings here in the Palm Springs area!

6.) Be sure to let your DJ know it’s a kid friendly wedding.

Because this could effect not only the playlist, but also the volume of the music.

7.) Talk to your caterer about kid friendly meals (and portion sizes).

Believe it or not, not all kids absolutely love salmon and asparagus spears as much as us grown-ups do, so talk to the venue (or caterer) about having a couple kid friendly options. Remember: hungry kids = cranky kids = no fun for anyone.

If you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and don’t want kids at your wedding, be sure to check out our advice blog about telling guests the wedding is kid-free!

Planning a wedding? Have questions? Shoot us an email at randyandashleystudios@gmail.com and you might just see it featured here!