I had so much fun putting this blog together:)
How could I not? I interviewed 13 adorable children to get their opinions of what couples can do to make a wedding better for them. ~Tracey Manailescu of Tracey M Events
What did you think about the CEREMONY?
“Wedding was good. A little fun.” -Julian, 4
“It was kind of boring, because it was just them talking about those people getting married.” -Nicole, 10
“It was boring, but it was nice to see them get married.” -Daniel, 15
“Uncle Greg’s wedding – I liked that it was short and didn’t cut the time for the party and the eating and stuff.” -Joelle, 10
“Lots of people were there, and I couldn’t hear Mommy when lots of people talked so much.” -Audrey, 3 (almost 4)
“I was bored.” -Sierra, 6
“It was pretty cool. Just a little bit boring.” -Brayden, 11
“It was okay, I like the second part better. (The reception)”-Ella, 6
“Ceremony? What’s that? (I explain) Oh, my favorite part was when the prince and the princess kissed.” -Sophia, 4 (almost 5)
“It was good but I didn’t like that we were just sitting around watching.” -Alexandros, 5
“It was fun just watching them get married and the beautiful bride walking down the aisle in a beautiful dress.” -Brooklynn, 7
“It was really wet outside so they stopped talking and we got to take our shoes off.” -Graydon, 5
“It was okay?” -Samara, 7
What is your BEST memory of a wedding that you have attended?
“Dancing with the bride.” -Julian, 4
“Dancing!” -Nicole, 10
“The dancing and the food, especially the broccoli soup.” Daniel, 15
“Dancing with my aunt and uncle at their wedding and seeing all my cousins that I hadn’t seen in ages” -Joelle, 10
“When everyone stopped talking.” -Audrey, 3 (almost 4)
“That like, um, we went to a big thing and it had lots of food. Something that you went in, like a mansion or something. ” -Sierra, 6
“It was probably when the music went on, and everybody started dancing.” -Brayden, 11
“I loved it when they were cutting the cake and feeding it to eachother. I liked the music too, and dancing, and getting dressed up very fancy with my butterfly bracelet.” -Ella, 6
“I remember dancing with daddy on his toes. That was fun. I liked the food too…it keeps coming and coming and coming. And I really liked the cake. Cake is my favorite. I like cake.” -Sophia, 4 (almost 5)
“My favourite part was when we were eating our dinner, and dancing with Theia Liz (the Bride) and I love when we were allowed to run around!” -Alexandros, 5
“Dancing with my cousin Sierra because we could then show off our dance moves.” -Brooklynn, 7
“Dancing! I got to wear tap shoes!” -Graydon, 5
“I got to wear my princess dress.” -Samara, 7
What is your WORST memory of a wedding that you have attended?
“I liked everything.” -Julian, 4
“Ceremony.” -Nicole, 10
“It was all nice.” -Daniel, 15
“Showing up with a pom pom hairstyle that made me look like smaller version of mini mouse!” -Joelle, 10
*Message from mom: “Her hair was straightened the day before and should have just been blow dried and flat ironed on the wedding day but she decided to wash it in the shower about two hours before the wedding and I certainly did not have the time to do it completely over so my sister gave her poufs!“
“When everyone kept running. All the kids were running too fast, but I wasn’t running. I was just walking.” -Audrey, 3 (almost 4)
“We had to sit down and wait for the wedding girl and the wedding man to come out. ” -Sierra, 6
“Probably when we all had to sit down, and everbody had to listen to those really long speeches. It was really boring! ” -Brayden, 11
“Those people who were talking and talking and talking…and talking! I had to be quiet for too long!” (Referring to the speeches) -Ella, 6
“I didn’t want chicken fingers and french fries! Huhhhh! I wanted what the big people had (flaring hands)!” -Sophia, 4 (almost 5)
“Just the sitting around at the church because it was so boring. It made me need to go to the washroom….that’s how long it took…” -Alexandros, 5
“When you don’t like the food or dessert, I was hungry by the end of the night.” -Brooklynn, 7
“The adults dancing. It freaks me out.” -Graydon, 5
“Eating the bad food.” -Samara, 7
What could the couple have done to make it more FUN for you?
“Have a jumping castle.” -Julian, 4
“Nothing.” -Nicole, 10
“There is nothing I can say bad about it!” -Daniel, 15
“They could have played some more kid friendly music at the reception because it was all adult Jamaican music that I didn’t know so much.” -Joelle, 10
“When the grownups didn’t have to tell their kids to not run at ‘meetings’.” -Audrey, 3 (almost 4)
“I would say put ice cream in the wedding. ” -Sierra, 6
“Certain place like a small room where smaller kids go, when speeches start or where we had to sit down for a long time. ” -Brayden, 11
“Remember when I was trying to catch those flowers? Maybe it could be a candy bouquet instead!” -Ella, 6
“Maybe a bouncy castle?” -Sophia, 4 (amost 5)
“Put play things near the dance floor so the kids can play with toys.” -Alexandros, 5
“Add a play place (bouncy castle) so all the kids could have fun together.” -Brooklynn, 7
“Make it a skylanders party with a skylanders cake” -Graydon, 5
“Have another wedding – so I could wear another dress.” -Samara, 7
Did you get in TROUBLE at the wedding?
“No trouble.” -Julian, 4
“No. Ummm…Wait. Yeah, because we went upstairs. The people that worked there told us to come down.” -Nicole, 10
“No! I don’t think so…” -Daniel, 15
“No.” -Joelle, 10
“No. I was a good girl, because I am a big girl. And I didn’t touch stuff, like the cake, but it wasn’t for a birthday.” -Audrey, 3 (almost 4)
“No!” -Sierra, 6
“No. ” -Brayden, 11
” NO! Hmmmm, nope.” -Ella, 6
“Well, just once when I dropped the kneeling thing in the church. It made a loud noise. But it wasn’t my fault.” -Sophia, 4 (almost 5)
“Actually, No!” -Alexandros, 5
“No.” -Brooklynn, 7
“Why did I get in trouble?!!” -Graydon, 5
“No.” -Samara, 7
Would you go to another WEDDING?
“No. I’d rather go to a playground, or toy store.” -Julian, 4
“Yeah!” -Nicole, 10
“Of course. There’s a lot of good food and dancing.” -Daniel 15
“Yes I would, because weddings are very fun, and if I had the chance to go to another one, I would.” -Joelle, 10
“No. Just one. Because my friend Aleta (imaginary friend) doesn’t want to go.” -Audrey, 3 (almost 4)
“Yeah.” -Sierra, 6
“Yeah.” -Brayden, 11
“Yes! Weddings are my favorite!” -Ella, 6
“Yes!! Why are you asking me all these questions? Are we going today?” -Sophia, 4 (almost 5)
“I actually would. Only if it is my wedding….oh…or, if it’s people I know!” -Alexandros, 5
“Yes.” -Brooklynn, 7
“No.” -Graydon, 5
“Yes, are you getting married?!!” -Samara, 7
Couples stress endlessly about how to make their wedding different than anyone else’s and yet, somehow forget the little things…the children they invite 🙂 Children can be your worst critics or your biggest cheering squad, depending on how things are handled. It is really not difficult…
Keep them entertained, keep their hands busy and give them something to look forward to. Really, it is that simple!
Children want a children’s menu. Consider a children’s buffet (pizza, chicken fingers, hamburgers, hot dogs, taco station, build your own nachos, pasta, jello, ice cream sundae station, etc.)
If you want an adults-only reception, why not offer optional childcare for your guests? There are many professional babysitting companies for hire around the world.
*The cost is usually about $25 per hour, per sitter.
Check if your wedding venue has a separate room where the kids can hang out with pizza, movies, popcorn, craft stations, X-Box, etc. Or, set them up in a hotel room where some of the guests are staying.
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