HELP! Babysitter for wedding.

I feel that if a sitter is provided, the bride and groom should pay for it. Otherwise, people should just find their own sitters. I would imagine most people would not trust a stranger with their kids, and would prefer to find their own sitter anyway.

I've never had a sitter at any of the weddings I've been to. Personally, I would not utilize that service. Fh and I would hire our own sitter and leave the kids at home if I were invited to a wedding with one. We love having nights out away from our monsters lol

@annakay: We will be paying for the sitter.

@Amanda: Fair enough.

We have a lot of kids coming to the ceremony, about 25. My planner says it has been helpful for weddings she's done in the past, parents tend to enjoy themselves more because they are not worrying about their kids.

But I don't know. I don't mind kids having fun at the reception, I'm thinking it would be more useful for the ceremony so they aren't distracting during the ceremony.

I was the sitter at one wedding when I was younger and it was really hard to keep the kids away from the parents.

@LindaBean: That's true, I expect kids would be back and forth between the sitter and parents, but it would be nice for parents to feel like they don't have to worry about where the kids are all night.

As long as you have something fun for the kids to do, it should work just fine, with a few exceptions... the wedding I babysat for was a free for all.. living hell. Haha

I think it's a nice gesture. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my child with a babysitter I didn't know if they were a toddler or younger, but for an older child it would be nice, especially if she has fun activities planned for them. I have never been to a wedding that offered this though. I think the ceremony is the part that's boring for the kids, but the reception is probably where the parents want to cut loose without worrying about what their kids are doing. That being said, I think offering it for the reception is better than nothing...

Um, there is a child care vendor who frequently posts on the pro forums. She provides the service you're referring to. I had no idea, until I read several of her posts, how important screening a sitter was. There are issues of liability, back ground checks, and insurance. I realized that this woman had tapped into a viable market.

Just make sure, if you're providing this service (which is a godsend to parents), that the hosts are offering you a service employed by background checked individuals, and make sure that the company being hired is insured.

If you've got 25 kids, you'll definitely need more than 1 sitter, especially if they're not in any kind of contained area. Having someone there would be better than nothing, but if you want it to be truly helpful, you'd need at least 3 people. Twice I've had sitters provided for me at weddings, because I was traveling from out of town so I couldn't really get my own (plus, I was in the bridal party) -- and both times the brides coordinated with me ahead of time. Some agencies actually require the parents to sign a release saying you won't sue them.

If I were you, I'd contact each family that is bringing kids to ask how much they would really use this service (given that there isn't a separate kids area), so you can figure out how many sitters you'd really need to actually cover all the kids. I agree with others that covering the reception is better than nothing, but the ceremony is what will really bore the kids, especially if it's over 20 minutes; that's when they'll be bugging their parents and whining, etc.

Thanks for the advice guys!

@thecenterpieceflowers: Thanks for the advice, I assume my planner would have checked that they have insurance and so on, but I should probably double check.

@futuremrsT: We would be hiring I think 5? Something like that. That's why the price is so high I agree about the ceremony, mine will probably be around an hour and I don't want kids to get cranky...

We are having a sitter for the reception (the lady does it for living). kids will be in separate room with projector for movies. The kids are having movies, games, a clown, & face painting.

Nannytainment is the vendor Centerpiece mentioned. She has a storefront here on WW.

It's a wonderful idea, especially if the parents are traveling and don't know a sitter in the town where your wedding will be held.

Well look who arrived late to the ball... well maybe just in time for the After Party.

I'm sorry I didn't chime in in time for the OP(I hope things went well for your wedding), but for those weddings in the future I would like to add some insights.

I apologize for missing this discussion sooner, we honestly have had a busy summer of weddings and other events. Which proves yes people do hire and use professional onsite wedding childcare companies and hotel babysitters even though they are strangers.

Although you need to build trust. As mentioned previously about us we are insured to do this. Background checks. Verified. Certifications in CPR and First Aid.

Orientated for event childcare work (we have a very long manual and power point)

We do charge double if ask us to watch the bestman, groomsmen, and ushers. Sorry.

We come with toys, games, activities, crafts, books, and more. As was mentioned as lacking above with some things.

Here are some realities if you have a lot of kids coming to your wedding, you want caregivers or things could go wrong and wreck some things, or a child could get hurt or lost. I have heard so many horror stories from so many vendors.

We also do tablescapes and decor to create events within events for the kids.

Parents do want date night, and locals can find their own sitters, although if the locals have out of town relatives with kids there let them come too so the little cousins can play. If your guests are travelling yes have caregivers. Sometimes it's cheaper and easier for them to bring the kids than coordinate childcare at home.

I get that people want adult only weddings. I really do but at least if you are having one include childcare company information on your website as a nice gesture for parents.

Happy Weddings Everyone.