Kids at a wedding: ideas to keep them entertained
A wedding is a day full of love, reunions and celebration. If families with children are among your guests, you'll soon face an important question: how do you keep the youngest guests from getting bored? Children have short attention spans, and without meaningful entertainment they quickly get tired and cranky.
Číst česky →A well-planned program for kids is the best gift you can give their parents. Thanks to it, they can enjoy the ceremony without guilt, take part in the whole day and hit the dance floor in the evening. So how do you turn the wedding into an unforgettable experience for the little ones, too? Get inspired by these ideas that are guaranteed to keep them busy!
A stylish kids' corner and craft station
Children need a space they can call their own. Forget a plain table with a few crayons, though. Create a cozy little "wedding village" for them: set up fabric teepees, scatter comfy bean bags and prepare a zone full of things to discover. Giant coloring posters spread out on the floor work great, because children can work on them together, and so does a simple craft corner where they can make cards for the newlyweds, string beads or decorate paper wedding cakes. This idea works best for younger children, though.
Special missions
Kids love feeling grown-up and useful. Let them know they are an important part of the day. You can turn them into little photographers: hand out disposable cameras or old phones along with a list of things to capture (for example "take a picture of someone in a hat", "take a picture of the nicest smile" or "take a picture of the bride dancing").
A wedding treasure hunt
A wedding treasure hunt is an even bigger adventure. Prepare a simple trail with clues around the venue, where they complete small tasks and find the "wedding treasure" at the end. It can be made up of bubble wands, glow bracelets and small sweets.
Outdoor games and tournaments
If your wedding takes place outdoors, in a garden or by a barn, it would be a shame not to use the open space. Kids have endless energy they need to burn off. Set up giant versions of favorite games, such as a lawn Jenga tower, pétanque, croquet or giant bubble wands. Big bubbles delight every age group without exception, and they look fantastic in wedding photos.
Our tip: You don't have to buy wooden lawn games. You can easily rent them. In the Czech Republic, they are offered for example by Nethia.
Besides these games, classic sports such as badminton or the ever more popular table football also work brilliantly. A great idea for the couple is to prepare a simple schedule for an informal wedding tournament (written on a chalkboard, for example) and a prize for the winning team. Kids and adults can play together. It's an ideal way to break the ice naturally and bring together family and friends who don't know each other yet.
An evening movie nook and a quiet zone
As the evening goes on, the grown-up party starts to build, while the youngest guests run out of steam. To prevent tired tears, set up a makeshift evening cinema in a quieter part of the venue (for example in a side room or a large enough tent). All you need is a projector, a screen, soft blankets, pillows and some fairy tales or children's films picked in advance. The kids will calm down, snuggle up and gradually drift off, while their parents can keep celebrating on the dance floor undisturbed.
Professional entertainers
If you have more than five children at the wedding and your budget allows it, hiring a kids' entertainer will save you a lot of worry. Professionals bring their own equipment, organize face painting, balloon twisting and active games, and above all they keep an eye on safety. Parents can then chat with friends in peace without constantly scanning the room.
Wedding planning is all about the details, and happy young guests are an essential part of them. When you give children their own entertainment, a sense of importance and a place to rest, you create a relaxed atmosphere that every guest, young and old, will remember with a smile.