Keeping Kids Busy at the Reception?

Actually, if you invited them to your wedding. It is your job to cater to them. Just like you're catering to your adult guests.

You are able to not have kids at your wedding. You've made the choice to have them, for whatever reason that may be (family pressure, other guests not attending).

What ever reason, if they're there... they are still your invited guests. And should still be considered, just like any other.

Thanks everyone who actually answered the question and gave some ideas! While I am VERY aware I don't HAVE to invite kids, the 4 kids we have coming are actually our OWN kids. I know they are all dancers and will probably dance more than any adults, but I wanted to get insight and ideas to provide them with a little variation for the reception.

I gave the kids at my wedding coloring books and crayons and I don't think they even opened them until the next day. They literally spent the entire night dancing around in circles. They had an unlimited supply of cake and food so they never got tired!

Had about 12 kids at mine and they either danced their butts off which was really cute or they raided the candy buffet and hung out with each other. I thought about planning something like games for them but then decided nerp.

'To the people that say a wedding is no place for kids...I hope you have kids one day so you can understand that yes kids should be welcomed.'

Oh yes because all those who want adults only weddings must be childless monsters and will surely change their mind when blessed with babies *insert eye role*

I have coloring kits with wedding themed coloring sheets and activity pages, small favors (toys and craft kits), and snacks.. I'm a nanny and FH has a million kids in his family. Lol

My SIL's sister had a photobooth that the kids pretty much were in the entire night! Oh and Smores!

Our wedding was 21 and up and we wouldn't have changed a thing. We have a 2 year old now and we'd never consider taking her to the weddings we're invited to (almost all are formal and in the evening). She tends to come unglued after 8:00 PM, when she gets tired.

If guests at our wedding left at 8:00 PM, they would have missed 3.5 hours of our reception, and only have eaten the soup course (missing 3 other courses, the dessert bar, top-shelf open bar, and dancing to a fabulous band).

All the kids at my wedding danced their little hearts out. They actually were quite entertaining and cute.

I made up activity books for them and provided coloured pencils. Took me about twenty minutes and kept them occupied all night, when they weren't dancing.

'FOH with that bs' .. gymRat, I love you.

Oh my gosh everything GymRat said is amazing.

I have kids. I still don't think they deserve to be included in everything. I love them, but not everything is an event that is suitable for children. I would never expect the hosts of a wedding of all things to provide entertainment for my children. Call me crazy but I figure that's usually my job unless it's like, a kids birthday party.

Did you manage to get something for the kids’ entertainment? I had the same problem before when I was organising my niece’s birthday party. Luckily, my best friends told me about this bouncy castle hire Newcastle provider and what inflatables can I get. We ended up hiring a bouncy castle for the party, and it’s so worth the money. The kids really enjoyed playing and jumping around the castle, and they don’t want to get off of it. It sure kept them busy.