Whether you’ve got your own little ones to worry about or you’ve got a long guest list that includes a lot of friends and family members with kids, it can be important to think about your youngest wedding guests as you plan your special day. You don’t have to set up an entire playground just for the kids to enjoy—weddings are fun events for kids as well as adults, after all—but a little thoughtful detail here and there can make a big difference. 

Thinking About the Adults in Charge

Part of making an event kid friendly is thinking about the parents and guardians first. These grown-ups will probably be concerned with keeping their children quiet, polite and happy, and that effort may make it difficult for the adults to actually enjoy themselves at your wedding. If possible, arrange for childcare of some kind at your wedding so the adults can actually take some time off from wrangling their kids. You can even just hire a local babysitter and arrange for the venue to set up a movie viewing room where you can plop the kids down in front of a TV for an hour or so while your ceremony takes place. The ceremony is really the time when it’s most important for children to be quiet, and if you can anticipate this and provide a welcome source of distraction, you’ll be making a nice gesture not only for the kids and parents but also for the other guests who want to be able to focus and relax during the vows.

You can also give parents a break by setting up kid-friendly areas and activities for the reception. A kids’ table is a great way to give parents and guardians a break for the evening as they enjoy a nice dinner. When dinner is over, though, kids can really get a chance to get all their energy out on the dance floor. This usually doesn’t require any special treatment, though you may want to talk to the DJ about song choice. Risqué language probably won’t make the parents in your group very happy, so ask to save those tracks for later in the night after most of the kids have gone to bed. 

Including Kids in Your Ceremony

Some kids may not be thrilled at the idea of being a ring bearer or flower girl, but others may jump at the chance to have a special role in your wedding. While particularly shy or restless children aren’t the best candidates for a role in the spotlight, little ones with a bit of a performer’s streak or who love feeling tasked with responsibility will relish the opportunity. From younger siblings to the children of your closest friends, including kids in your ceremony can be a special way of letting the special people in your life know how important they are to you, even if they’re still in elementary school. You can make the ring bearer or flower girl experience even more special by providing special pillows or baskets for the kids to carry, which will also make it easier to do their jobs right.