Kids at the wedding/ hire babysitter?

That's totally your call. Do you have an area at the venue where the sitter could corral the kids? It's entirely possible for parents to have fun with their children, or to hire their own sitter if they don't want to bring them, but if you want to hire someone I'm sure it'll be appreciated. I will say that I wouldn't make it mandatory for the parents to leave their kids with the sitter as most people won't be comfortable leaving their kids with a stranger.

View Quoted Comment I was figured because we were all there that It wouldn’t be uncomfortable cause we aren’t leaving the kids with a stranger it’s just to have someone to play with them and keep them kind of all together. My venue is a big barn and we have use of the inside and outside where there’s a fire pit. So they have plenty of places to run around. I was just thinking someone to keep them entertained while the parents maybe have a drink and eat in peace.

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So the kids wouldn't eat dinner with their parents and there's not an area for the sitter to keep the kids together? I would pass on this. It's almost impossible to keep an eye on a bunch of toddlers in a giant barn with possibly hundreds of other guests.

View Quoted Comment These kids are already an energetic all over the place bunch. I can’t imagine them sitting down and eating when everyone else eats. I’m doing a buffet so it’s a little more relaxed than a buffet. I didn’t even want kids at the wedding BUT I couldn’t not have my son there 😂

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Then I would find somewhere that's easier for the sitter to watch the kids. Is there a bridal suite on site?

View Quoted Comment Yes there is! Maybe during a certain time before the dancing they can kind of hang out in there and play during the speeches and boring stuff then come for when it’s time to eat or save a plate for them after everyone’s done eating , have them rejoin for the dancing and cake..?

I know my friend's venue had a bridal suite/extra room area where you could pay a little extra where the kids could hang out and they gave them popcorn and a movie. Ask these questions to your venue you'd be surprised what they may have or recommend!

I feel like the parents are gonna wanna check up on them here and there anyway

We are a kid-free wedding for this reason, it’s a lot to consider. But my sister had a babysitter keep an eye on the kids in a playroom at their church for the ceremony, and rejoined during reception. It went over really well.

View Quoted Comment I was thinking of doing something like that so at least the adults can do the speeches and toasts and they aren’t bored and act crazy

View Quoted Comment I would def have been a kid free wedding had I not had my son 9 months ago 😂😂

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You can totally have a kid-free wedding but still have you own son there! Your own son would definitely be an exception to an adult-only wedding. People do this all the time

We also had a bunch of sub-4 year olds at our wedding. We hired a babysitter (actually, we hired the nanny of two of the kids), so that the parents could worry less. Most of the time, the kiddos stayed with the parents, but having the babysitter there made it easier for the ceremony and also when the parents wanted to dance or the kids needed to run around and be loud for a bit.

My friend had a kid free wedding and only had her son there.