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Best arrangements for children?

16 replies

CCsgirl · 27/05/2012 07:10

I am getting married in July 2013 in a country house setting, we are having a BBQ friday, wedding saturday and brunch sunday. We are paying for 2 nights accomodation for our guests.I don't have any children and there will be 5 families with children aged 1 year to 11 at our wedding. We plan to put all the families on one corridor and offer a listening service on the Friday and Saturday night. Would you be happy with this arrangement? During the reception there will be a children's room which is an annexe off the main room, in full sight of the main room. We intend having children eat in there whilst supervised by someone properly qualified. There will be around 10 children. Would you be happy with these arrangements? The families with children are some of our closest friends and family and we want everyone to enjoy the wedding. Is there anything else we could do? Thanks in advance

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UnCharteredromaeosaur · 27/05/2012 07:18

I think the idea of a children's 'room' is very sweet and kind of you but how will you feel when the children don't eat away from their parents and bring chairs/food/table decorations through? What if any guests have a child before then? Will they be able to feed themselves?

The listening service is very generous, you are putting so much thought into this Smile i'd personally sod them and say no kids

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nextphase · 27/05/2012 07:33

I'd be wary about my 1 and 3 yr olds eating in a room away from me. The rest sounds great, but might be better put as an "if you'd like", not a "we've done this so you must come party" - ie put mechanisms in place to allow all the parents to party, but accept that some parents may want to be with their kids!

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CCsgirl · 27/05/2012 07:36

Thanks for the reply. No issue at all with children wandering about during the reception, of course the little ones Won't be able to feed themselves will they? God help my future kids Blush Would it be better to offer high chairs for the smaller ones and an actual place at their parents table? The bigger ones could then sit in the other room if they preferred? The venue have said they can set up x box/ wii etc for bigger children and we will get stuff to amuse littler ones

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CCsgirl · 27/05/2012 07:39

Just want to try and make sure everyone enjoys themselves and more difficult when not really familiar with children! Will very much be a " this is what you can do if you like" rather than a " this is what you WILL" do

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BobbysBeardOfWonder · 27/05/2012 07:40

Why don't you want the children in the same room as the other guests?

We just returned from a wedding late last night, lots of babies & toddlers, I think it was lovely to see them all sharing in the fun.
I would not be particularly happy leaving my 2 DC somewhere for the night. Maybe you could ask the parents first if they are happy to do that?

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nextphase · 27/05/2012 07:41

What about having everyone in the main room for food (yes, highchairs for little ones - under 2yrs old?), and having the annex as a play room, rather than having a kids dining room?

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alittlebitshy · 27/05/2012 07:41

I think that is a lovely idea - lots of thought put into it:)

If, as you say in your last post you are happy with them coming in and out, i think most families will find it a brilliant concept!

At our wedding - there were quite a lot of children iirc (was 10 years ago and am struggling to remember Blush). They has seats/highchairs at the main tables with their parents but our caterer set up a little room as you describe with (i think) a video, sweets and people there to play with them. it seemed to go down well.

My dc are 9 and 3 and would probably both love the idea of a children's room - though my 3 year old would most certainly be one of the children going i and out in and out to check we were still there /for cuddles/to scavenge etc etc.

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BobbysBeardOfWonder · 27/05/2012 07:42

X post.

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worldgonecrazy · 27/05/2012 07:43

I think you're being extremely thoughtful. The older children will probably want to do their own thing but may want the security of their family for the meal, or may not - depends how gregarious they are. The smaller, under 5s will probably want to be with family for the meal.

You really are a thoughtful bride, I'm sure your guests will have a fabulous time.

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CCsgirl · 27/05/2012 07:45

Bobby, the accommodation is just upstairs from the reception room so children would just be upstairs in their rooms. We thought that parents who wanted to could come downstairs and carry on if they wanted to if the option was there? No issue with having children in the room at all. My SIL to be who had 3 children suggested the children's room. Suppose it just goes to show however much thought you put into it you can't please everyone Confused

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McKayz · 27/05/2012 07:47

I think it's lovely you're providing a playroom for them but I wouldn't want to eat away from my DCs. Especially as my 2 (5 and 3) can start to muck about sometimes if they aren't eating with us.

Maybe give them a choice of sitting in the main reception room or in the side room so the parents can decide how their DCs would cope.

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CCsgirl · 27/05/2012 07:48

Ah Bobby we are at cross purposes, sorry! Ok, so children say at parents tables with side room as children's play room seems to be a better idea? Thank you all for your responses Smile

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confuseddotcomm · 27/05/2012 21:39

I wouldn't want my kids to eat in a separate room, liked the idea if using it as a playroom. I went to a wedding with lots if kids recently and the table arrangements were adults on tables around the outside of the room and the children were on separate tables in the middle of the room, there was a girl table (where they all sat and ate nicely) and a boy table (where they were up and down!) they'd also done a basket for each child with favours in. It worked really well

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meditrina · 27/05/2012 21:51

From my pov as a parent of children at the top of your age range, I think they'd be well capable of joining in nicely where everyone is eating, but might appreciate a playroom. I'd be happy (delighted, in fact!) to have the option of putting them to bed when they crashed and burned with just a baby listening service, but my youngest is 8. I'm not so sure parents of the younger guests would be ready to leave them unattended in a strange room.

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LoopyLoopsCorgiPoops · 27/05/2012 21:54

You sound so lovely. :) Can I come? Grin

You can please 'em all but a playroom option, all kids eating in main room and listening service option sounds great. :)

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LoopyLoopsCorgiPoops · 27/05/2012 21:57

can't

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