Hi, there! Welcome back. If you haven’t seen it, be sure to check out the first half of this post. And now — a few more tips for helping flower girls and ring bearers shine during their Big Important Moment in The Spotlight (it’s not really about the bride, is it? Not to them anyway.)
If you have young ones, let them run and play before the big event — get all that energy out so they are able to stand still (as still as possible) at the wedding and for photos. Definitely do a mock walk through at home the week before so they know what to expect — and pack non-messy snacks!! (for example, the guys pulled out a cooler at photos, there was beer but no water for my 5 year old and he was so thirsty waiting for pics to get over. ) — Jacquie Fisher, KC Edventures
3.) Have plenty of snacks and drinks. As Jacquie noted, plan on bringing your own. There may not be kid-friendly drinks available. Also, if the food is new or different from what your children are used to, this isn’t the time to expect them to experiment. Have some things you know they’ll eat, to prevent meltdowns.
My son has been a ring bearer twice now. He is such a laid back easy going personality I knew he would do great but…I did make a point to be sure he was fed and had gone potty before hand…Make it fun and remind them how special they are being chosen to be in the wedding. — Bonnie Privett-Mink
4.) Include other children. Depending on their ages and the size of the wedding party (and the size of your family! Hah!), not all of your kids may be in the wedding. If the bride is okay with it, it’s fun to get the other children outfits that match or coordinate with those in the wedding party. Either try to include them in the preparations, or plan a special time with you or another family member while the bridal party is primping. Maybe have a special gift for them that day (a photo album or scrapbook so they can keep mementos, or a book they can read while waiting).
5.) Consider bringing along your own sitter. I know. This only works in certain situations. But we did it once and it was the best thing ever. It only works if you’re somewhat local (we lived an hour away, so we picked her up on the way) and if there’s a room at the venue you can use. Both my two-year old and I were in the wedding that time, so the sitter was able to watch and entertain him while I took pictures with the bride. After the ceremony, he came to the reception for a little bit, and then he went to the room we had set up where he could play and go to sleep. We even saved a little by splitting the cost with the bride’s sister, who was also in the wedding and had a little one. If you do this, you’ll need to work out a room ahead of time (and see if it’s extra — you don’t get to incur costs for the bride!) Make sure you bring along things to entertain kids in the room. And don’t forget to arrange for food for the sitter and for your children if they won’t be at the reception.
I’d say the most important tip I can give you is simply this: Relax. Have fun. Chill out. A good tip for weddings and a good tip for everyday.
How about you? Do you have any secrets to helping little kids through The Big Day? I’d love to hear them in the comments or on facebook!
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