Deciding whether to have an adult-only reception or a reception that welcomes all ages doesn’t have to be the tough decision its been tagged to be! Some view kids at the reception a daunting idea (insert screams, fits, and horseplay happening all night long). Take it from us who’ve coordinated tons of weddings – it doesn’t have to be like that! If you’re wanting to invite the kiddos to your reception, your attention should then turn to what to do with them – how to occupy them and make sure they are having a good time! Here are four tips to keeping the kids (and their parents for that matter) enjoying themselves during your wedding reception!

 

Kid-Friendly Meals

Kids will be more content if they are able to eat food they are used to, rather than the fancier meals typically served at weddings. This is one of the many reasons we love working with caterer, CK Catering! They are always willing to make a special dinner menu just for the kids, often including chicken fingers, mac n cheese, and a veggie. It will be much appreciated by the parents and they’ll be happy to see their kids eating dinner and not filling their tummies at the sweets table the whole night. Talking to your caterer about providing kids meals for those under a certain age is not only a great idea for the kids’ sake, but it’s usually easier on the pocket as well. Having young kids at your reception doesn’t need to be a challenge. Simplifying their menu will help to easily accommodate the young-ins. More often than not, the adults actually want to eat the kids food too because it brings them back to being kids themselves!

 

Creating a Kid’s Table

If having more than a small handful of kids at your reception, make sure you seat the kids with other kids. Both the adults and the children will have more fun this way. We tell our couples that children 7 years and older is a great starting point for a kids table. Just make sure they can be at a table without a parent – and definitely don’t seat one parent with a bunch of kids. Make sure that their parents are seated close enough to keep an eye out but still participate in adult conversation at their own table. If you decide to have kids at your reception, having a kid’s table will give them a place to stay and play. There’s no shame in admitting that it also allows you to have fun with their centerpiece arrangements and the entertainment found at their table. One of our 2012 brides said this was one of her favorite parts in the entire planning process!

 

Kid Entertainment

As we all know, it doesn’t take much to keep kids entertained. Having the kids table filled with art supplies and craft projects, crayons with coloring books, glow sticks, puzzles, you name it, will allow them to have fun with people their own age. A unique kid activity we read up on from Love and Lavendar was providing an I-Spy game for the kids to complete throughout the night. Give them a list of things to find and a disposable camera and they’ll have a blast with each other and on this friendly competition.

An idea for a reception with more than a handful of kids is to do like one of our awesome Veranda couples did. They decided to rent out a separate, supervised room at The Whitcomb where they had a Wii set up, boardgames, and a kid-friendly dance party. It gave the kids their own play area as well as a safe place for them to stay rather than running around the venue.

 

Kid Favors

Giving kids at your reception unique, kid-friendly favors will make them feel special and will get put to better use than an adult-focused favor. Providing them with goodie bags that have their name on them will not only make them feel special but also keep the young ones entertained during the reception.

 

Hope this post makes you wanna be a kid again – I know it does for me!

 

If you’re in need of a few more tips and guidance with keeping the kids occupied, contact us!

 

 

Happy planning everyone!

 

❀ Danielle