Child’s Play

The Wedding Guru Judy Lewis fields this week’s wedding questions. Today: You don’t have to kick kids out of your ceremony — keep troublesome tots busy with these simple suggestions

Ginger asks: “We’re a close family and will have lots of children attending our wedding. I know that children have very little patience and when they get bored, they get into trouble. Can you make some suggestions about how children can be included in the event and be made to feel important by doing so?”

Dear Ginger: Aside from those children who are singled out as ring bearer, flower girl, and junior bridesmaids, there are any number of important roles that children can play in a wedding. It’s critical that you speak to the parents of the children who are being chosen for those jobs. Make it clear to the parents, as delicately as possible, that they need to keep an eye on their children and ensure that the tasks are completed.

Here are some of the ways in which children can participate in a wedding:

• They can distribute wedding favors and/or programs to the guests
• At the ceremony location, they can distribute directions to the reception
• Children can serve as escorts and greet the guests
• A child with musical abilities can be the page turner for the organist or other soloist
• Children can hand out flowers, as well as rice, birdseed, bubbles, or confetti
• One or more of the older children can take candid pictures of the family and bridal party, and/or serve as the “people pointer” and identify VIP guests to the photographer/videographers
• Children can assist guests in finding seats at the ceremony and at the reception
• After the reception, when the gifts are opened, the children in the family can help opening gifts and/or keeping a list of who gave what

For more kid-friendly ideas, visit HudsonValleyWeddings.com’s Guide article, “Kidding or No Kidding.”

Got a question for the Wedding Guru? E-mail judy@hudsonvallyeweddings.com, or write your comments in the box below.