Blended family ideas

How old are your sons?

I'm asking because something that might be "meaningful" to a teenager/young adult might not mean the same to a toddler/younger child.

We are doing the sand ceremony. I'm letting the kids pick everything out. The sand colors, the vase, whatever else

We have 5 boys ranging in ages from 13 down to 5. I love the sand idea but we would like to surprise them.

We will also become a blended family

I am not in the group that thinks “we are marrying each other kids”.

With my daughter being 16 and son 12

And his daughter 19 and his son 13.

That’s too creepy.

Sand ceremonies are not for me because like the 1990s sand things-they get messed up if you move/pack it up or it falls. Seems most people don’t remember that. We plan to have a nice pic of all of us and that will be the extent. We already live together because honestly that was a test to see if our families would blend before we made it 100% legal. My kids have a father, SO is not replacing him. And step kids mom passed away several years ago, however I am not replacing her. If you feel you MUST do something—I say have the kids AS your wedding party and instead of doing bachelorette/bachelor party type things have guys hang with guys and girls hang with girls. As a bonding TIME. But stay away from vows, sand, candles, exchange of jewelry etc. it’s just creepy.

I have 2 kids from a previous relationship and so does he along with our 2 yr old twins. (So 6 total) We are doing a unity painting. Kind of like the sand but on a canvas. We are taking painters tape and doing all their initials, our initials and the date. Then letting them help us paint it in front of everyone. We'll be using their favorite colors and ours. Then attaching it to a canvas we already have that says "Love you to the moon and back"

I love that idea! That's very creative.

We will also do an edited version of the kids favorite song lyrics and ours as one song.

Maybe they can walk down the aisle with your FH and be up there with both of you.

Our oldest 4 are going to be his groomsmen and our youngest is going to be our ring bearer.

My son (12) did a tribute to my husband just before we exchange vows and rings! It was so sweet and touching!

That's is so sweet!!

We're a blended family! I gave his daughter

(my bonus 12 daughter) earrings that says," thank you for being part of our family day" also his son (13) a watch and my children (12, 10, 3) did the frame tribute

We did a sand ceremony we have 4 kids 2 mine and 2 his. We did a saying on the front of the glass block. Also each one of the kids had a vessel with their name and they chose their sand color. During the ceremony we played the sand ceremony song and our officiate read their names and something about what each color would represent in our family. It turned out beautiful Here is a picture of our glass block.

I think we have decided that we are going to have their names engraved into pocket watches... (We are having a 1920s themed wedding)

My parents divorced when I was 4. Mom remarried when I was 6. Dad started dating now-wife when I was 17 and they just got married this year (15 years later). I am so, so glad neither parent tried to do blended family "weddings." I think they are weird and creepy and not well thought through (Because realistically, it you divorce, are you going to want this person staying in your kids' life? Probably not. So why write in a promise of forever to your kid?)

Weddings are not about the kids that you already have together or separately in my view. They are about you and FS.

I've heard of parents doing vows to their new kids.

My cousin said vows to her new step children and he said vows to her children in their ceremony. It was only their blended family in the ceremony as well, nobody else. Just their new sweet big family.

Yes! please incorporate the kids. I always think its odd when they are just left out. My brother kissed both of my nieces cheeks, but little boys dont want kisses.