Kids in the Wedding: Crawling Down the Aisle
Face it: sometimes the most gush-worthy members of a wedding party, come in the smallest sizes.
No, I don’t mean that bridesmaid of yours who has always had a truly enviable figure – don’t worry, she won’t be stealing your thunder. But I can’t necessarily say the same for your littlest wedding party members. The flower-girl and ring-bearer toddling their way down the aisle might just produce more ooooh’s and awe’s than even you in your gorgeous white dress. After all, who can resist a pint-sized tux or a little girl basking in all her princess glory?
The good news is that most brides don’t mind sharing the limelight for just a moment with their smallest party-goers. In fact, most of us have a niece, nephew, or child who we love so ferociously – we welcome the opportunity to show everyone else in our lives just how adorable they truly are. Often it is picking these tiny wedding party members that brides and grooms get the most enjoyment out of, and why not? Who doesn’t want to see a little one’s eyes light up when they realize they get to be in an actual wedding?
Still… with children, come complications. Particularly depending on how little we are talking about. While a 5- or 6-year old might be easy enough to direct and send down the aisle, a 2-year old can be a bit more unpredictable and harder to prepare. Then there are the potential meltdowns and illnesses which you just can’t plan for, not to mention the possibility of stage fright, which can hit even the most extroverted of kids once they step out into the crowd and realize just how many eyes are upon them.
So, how do you combat all the unknowns that accompany including your littlest loves in your wedding?
Well, the first thing you have to do is accept that even with the most diligent of planning and practicing – kids are unpredictable, and things still may not go as planned. Prepare for it, and don’t hesitate to be the first to burst into laughter if your flower girl decides to veer off course at the first sighting of someone she knows. To some extent, you just have to accept that you have no control. Particularly when it comes to herding children. That said though, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances
- For younger kids, plant mom or dad up towards the front of the wedding venue, off to the side where they can be seen but aren’t necessarily in the middle of things.
- During rehearsals, practice having your little ones seek out their patient parent – going over again and again where they will be standing, so that your flower-girl and ring-bearer can immediately locate them and begin walking in that direction.
- Prior to the ceremony, plan on having some kid-friendly snacks available. While the rest of your wedding party can probably survive off the excitement of the day and whatever small bites they can grab up until the reception, kids are a bit more finicky and definitely need more in the way of fuel. Stick to food items that won’t likely destroy their clothes if spilled, but will still satiate any random bouts of hunger which may crop up before the big event. Apples, raisins, and granola bars are all great choices to keep on hand.
- Whenever possible, you also want to plan any photos around naptimes. Now is not the day to risk skipping sleep – you will only increase your chances of having a sobbing toddler cradled down the aisle when the time comes. Stick to schedules, as much as you can, and try to find a quiet location at the venue where little ones can rest up away from the chaos if they need.
Most of all though, have fun with it.
Kids are unpredictable, but that is at least half the reason people love seeing them in wedding parties. And when your favorite tiny dancer is tearing up the dance floor later at your reception, you will remember exactly why you wanted them to be such an integral part of your big day.
After all, some of the best wedding stories start first with a funny kid…