Kids at the wedding.

[Trillian]

How do you feel about people bringing their children to the wedding?

For me, it's going to be a kid-friendly zone. I've got a five year old, I'm inviting several other parents I'm friends with that will be bringing their kids, and I have 3 expectant mothers on my guest list that will be delivering before the day and will of course, be bringing the babies.

[gennymac]

My opinion has sort of shifted over the years. Why my daughter was a little baby, we were really lucky. She was so very well behaved that we could go almost anywhere, and never had a problem. She never threw a fit, was raised with lots of cousins and knew how to behave. But we were very good at raising our children to meet expectations on behavior in public. We also made sure they had regular naps, snacks, and things to keep them busy. But now, I see so many parents who show up with small children completely empty handed and expect these little people to behave without any thought to helping them learn how to behave. They dont feed them on a regular basis, they don't get regular naps, and they do not carry healthy snacks for thier kids.

I don't think I want to deal with someone elses lack of parenting on my big day, to be honest with you. I was a responsible mother and when anything came up that was a disruption for others, I was outta there, baby in hand, and not just outside the door where everyone could hear a frantic mom threatening a tired, hungry little one. If mine threw a fit, something was up and I knew to take care of it - away from the crowd.

So, again, my opinion has changed. Or maybe parenting is taking another shift?

[Becca13]

Yeah, i'm thinking of letting people bring their kids, mine will be two at the time and he'll be there, and i'm not really fussed I think if people bring theirs along.

We're not having a formal wedding, so I don't really mind, it may be different if the type of wedding we were having was different though.

[ladymelissa]

We didn't want kids at ours, except for our FG and RB.

[mj512]

We had all different ages at our wedding. I didn't notice any noise at all from them, and they were a blast at the reception!

[Danielle9608]

We didn't want kids at ours, except for our FG and RB.

We are doing the same thing, for two main reasons. 1. All the kids in our family are under 2, that could make for a lot of crying. 2. We are getting married on a beach a few yards from the ocean, I could just see all the kids want to go run towards the ocean while we are exchanging our vows.

[Trillian]

But now, I see so many parents who show up with small children completely empty handed and expect these little people to behave without any thought to helping them learn how to behave. They dont feed them on a regular basis, they don't get regular naps, and they do not carry healthy snacks for thier kids.

I don't think I want to deal with someone elses lack of parenting on my big day, to be honest with you.

Your post got me thinking. I think I'll make up some little goody-bags for the youngsters during the ceremony. Fruit and graham crackers or something to keep them busy, and nothing seems to keep kids happier or quieter than food!

[bichonlvr]

heck...the more the merrier!

I have to pay the same price for a BABY even a newborn as an adult! BOOOO huh?!?!

[EarlyBird]

my fg (my niece) will be 5 and she will be the youngest. she knows that if she is perfect angel he gets a present- oh yes, im not above bribing. we also told her she gets to be a princess that day :)

RG will be 7 and then the only other kids under 18yo will be my 1st cousins who will be 15 or 16

[gennymac]

When my neice was married recently, we actually did a kids table at the reception. It had all kinds of games they could play, big sunglasses they could wear, boa's for the girls, just alot of different stuff that we wanted them to enjoy and take home with them - we had about 10 different coloring books and I made up 5 huge baskets of crayons they could share. It worked well, but again, these kids grow up learning how to behave and typically don't have the throwdown temper tantrums I see so often in public.

Your idea of the goodie bags is great ! Check with the mom's on allergies to chocolate or cinnamon.

Good idea !

[sjk1431]

I don't really want little ones there. There will be nothing for them to do but I'm not going to tell people no they can't bring them but the parents will be warned that it's not very kid friendly.

[LVBride2Be]

I've come to realize that kids are coming to the wedding whether I like it or not. lol Most of our relatives having kids so in order for them to come the kids have to come. So........I will do something to entertain the little monsters at the reception. lol :)