Blended family ceremony concerns

My fiance's daughter is 12 (will be 13 shortly) and is going to be a junior bridesmaid and stand on her dad's side. She's getting the same BM gifts as the other girls and will have her own father/daughter dance with FH. I'm not sure what you want them to do or what they are interested in. How many kids are there? Could they be ushers?

I have a 12 year old daughter that will be my bridesmaid only and my son will walk me down the aisle and my fiancee's sons are 19 and 22 and they will stand by their dad during the ceremony. We want one of the boys to do a reading and speech at the reception. I want to involve them all in some way during the ceremony.

Any ideas for gifts?

I am kinda having the same issue....my FH has 4 kids ages 11, 9, 7, and 5. My kids are 24 and 21. My daughter is going to be my MOH and my son is walking me down the aisle. My FH 2 oldest daughters are junior BM's and his youngest daughter is FG and his only son is RB. But I want to also to involve them in the actual ceremony and give them something. I don't think that is trying to buy them. The girls are easier. I was thinking matching bracelets for all the girls but I am stuck on the boys, especially because they are so far apart in age, 21 and 7......I would love to hear ideas as well!!!!!

Maybe instead of buying something, include everyone in a family sand ceremony. I've seen that done.

What about having everyone water a tree that you'll plant in the yard? Family tree, new branches, etc.

Yes, a family sand ceremony is a nice way for your children to feel included in the union. There are some family sand ceremony kits you can get with your selected color motif.

We have the issue of having 8 kids between us that we will be blending together. We are actually having them say vows as well after Chad and I are pronounced man and wife, then will be giving them each a necklace with a family unity pendant on it. Here is a link to an article I read, it has links to vows for the kids and ways to incorporate them into your wedding.

http://www.idotaketwo.com/child_wedding.html

Our children our standing for us. My son is 18 and his daughter is 11.

My two children were our two attendants. I would be a bit concerned about having the children say vows. They don't actually have a choice about whether to accept him, and making them say vows implies that they do. You really don't want them next year deciding they want to "divorce" him, or conversely, the marriage breaking up but the children thinking they continue to have an obligation toward him.

My stepsons, ages 7 and 9 at the time, were the best men. We didn't do any type of ceremony though. I wouldn't worry about giving them anything, though, since most of them are grown adults. Seriously, if either of my parents were remarried I wouldn't care about being involved in the wedding or given anything. I have my own life.

Our children were our bridal party. I wouldn't give them something at the ceremony. Our officiant had a certificate, like the marriage license for all of us to sign- including the kids. Maybe they can do something like that...

But if you give them something, do it privately.

You can give them rolls like bridesmaids, or ask them to seat the family or make decorations for the wedding etc, but please be careful! My mom told me that I needed to be a bridesmaid in her wedding, I didn't want to b/c I'm not a fan of her husband, but she pretty much told me that I had to if I wanted to live with them, because of this I felt terrible the entire wedding and a friend of the families later said that I "looked like I was walked to my death" on stage. So if your kids are hesitant about your wedding, I would highly recommend giving them more of an option then my mom did, they will remember the wedding much more fondly if they were in the crowd then on center stage, not wanting to be there.

P.S., as gifts, my sister and I got the same things as the other members of the wedding parties, you don't have to go all out and buy them anything extra nice.

My FStepdaughters are 11 and 9 We picked four prayers to be read and my oldest and his oldest will read them to us. While his youngest will be a flower girl.

There was this awesome united family type of thing that had all the kids name and bride and groom on it. and then you have all yoru guests sign it. And it said we may not have it all but together we have everything we need or something like that. An dit has the design in the middle almost like what Brandi posted