Although children generally behave well at weddings it is a god idea to have a plan to help stave off boredom during what can be a long day.

If you are going to have a few littler guests at your upcoming wedding and are worried about keeping them relaxed while also giving them a great day out, the good news is that kids are pretty easily entertained (piece of cardboard anybody?) There are many ways to keep children amused on your wedding day, whether during the speeches, the meal, or even during the first few dances.

During the ceremony, the onus really falls on the parents to keep their children from running riot, so you needn’t worry too much about that part of the day. When it comes to the afters however, it would be nice to provide something the kids will enjoy and that will keep their parents from being on tenterhooks while they try to enjoy their big day out!

Activity Packs

One way that is popular for keeping kids entertained on a budget is to provide little activity packs. Activity packs can be made up of bits and pieces from your local pound store, including colouring books and crayons (which won’t mark your table cloths preferably!), mini pinball-type games, action figures or bracelets and slides. Try to put an even number of equal toys into each bag to avoid any “but he got”s (easier said than done, we know!) These bags can be given out to the tables of children as everyone is seated for the speeches.

Children’s Entertainers

If there will be more than 15/20 children at your wedding, and you have the budget for it, consider hiring a children’s entertainer for an hour or two. Discuss the idea of ‘borrowing’ another small room beside your reception at the hotel where you can provide a little area for the kids, and give the parents some time to chat to other guests or to have a dance. Children’s entertainers range from magicians and caricaturists and face painters to individuals or groups who arrange games or have a sing along to include everyone.

Creative Balloon Modellers

Balloon modelling is another way to entertain children, however the length of performance for this type of entertainer may be less than that of a children’s magician. A balloon performer will sculpt animals, hats and other fun shapes using brightly coloured balloons and some may even teach children how to do it themselves.

Many hotels provide babysitters and a room for kids at weddings, sometimes for free, sometimes at an extra cost. See if your venue provides a free Kids Club for their weddings. Some plan treasure hunts to entertain the kids. When booking your venue, you could request that they provide a room with a TV where you can screen children’s films, or install a Wii, or set out some board games. The kids could enjoy popcorn and soft drinks under the watchful eye of a certified babysitter.