- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
My first thought was the kids should be seated with their parents. Is there any reason you don't want to do this option? Maybe you mother can "host" an adult table, and you could make sure she doesn't have any of the kids' parents (and thus, none of the kids) at her table? Good luck! (And thanks again for the bustle help and pictures!)
style_108_lace_004.JPG (49.5 KB, 101 downloads) 1 year old style_108_lace_005.JPG (89.4 KB, 40 downloads) 1 year old style_108_lace_007.JPG (83.6 KB, 30 downloads) 1 year old style_108_lace_002.JPG (54.2 KB, 40 downloads) 1 year old 
What we're doing is having a kids table, and we're hiring two adults to sit there to monitor them. That way the kids are still part of the party, but their parents can have fun without worrying about them. This might work for you, because since the parents and children would all be together, they wouldn't really be leaving the kids with strangers, there would just be someone else watching them.
I agree in that in my culture kids are just not seated seperately from their parents. Honestly, if the child is old enough to have a seat they are getting their own seat. I imagine even if you sat them seperately eventually they will go back towards their parents anyway. Then you end up with a empty table and parents have older kids sitting on their laps.
Besides the actual dinner portion I'm assuming will be pretty short. Kids after 30 minutes or so will be getting up to mingle and hit the dance floor. Adults will too, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
We're having a kids table. Period. No adult supervision, the older kids have to watch the younger ones. Their table will have a crayon bucket and coloring books, and fun kid stuff. I don't think they need to sit next to their parents, because usually kids only do that so you can make sure they eat. Chicken fingers and mac n cheese? You're golden, you don't have to worry about it!! Plus it lets the adults have "adult" conversations and lets them have a couple hours off. Once the dancing starts the kids are usually on the dance floor anyway, so I don't think it's a big deal.
We will have a good number of children at our wedding and they will be seated with their parents for dinner. We will also have two kid tables with activites for them to go to during the night.
I have been to many weddings that invited kids but wasn't quite kid friendly. My niece had to sit on my Mom's lap for dinner because they did not have a seat for her and she was a flower girl. Both her parents were the Best Man and MOH so you think they would have included her...Nope. Anyway, in my opinion it is best to keep them with their parents unless you do something like what Amandopolis is doing.
cabana.jpg (67.7 KB, 42 downloads) 1 year old 
Personally, based on the age range you mentioned I'd have the kids with their parents - a 7 yr. old in charge of all those little ones... epp, I'd be scared! *lol*
If you aren't ble to hire a sitter, maybe you have a couple of young-teenaged relatives you can ask to monitor the kids during dinner?
Or you could always ask the parents what they prefer - they know their kids best afterall!
I'd seat the kids with their parents. Maybe you can put two or three of the families w/kids at the same table. I'm going to assume that your tables seat 8-10. Even if you mix in some of your mom's family friends with the rest of the adult family, I'm sure it will work out.
Also, for the 1 and 2 year olds, make sure you have high chairs! As RoddyBride mentioned, you don't want to force anyone to hold their kid on their lap while trying to eat.
With children of those ages, I'd want to seat them with their parents. I don't think a 7 year old is old enough to watch the other young ones. I know if I were a parent and I were bringing my young child to a wedding, I'd expect to sit with him at the dinner.
I would also go the "seat them with their parents" route, or else something like Amandopolis mentioned - and have a children's table monitored by a couple adults. But, in that case, I'd ask the parents how they feel about that beforehand - since there are only a few. They might appreciate it, or they might be opposed. If I got to a wedding and was told my children had to sit elsewhere, without knowing ahead of time, I might be a little annoyed.
Also, the issue with kids eating by themselves or other adults is not so much whether they may or may not eat - but the mess they inevitably make during it! You wouldn't want to leave another person less than teen in age in charge of something like that. I'm 23 and can barely handle my 3 year old niece at mealtimes! 
The other thing is I don't know how well behaved/clingy the kids you are inviting are. I know in my list there are kids that are extremely clingy and grandparents that will just say oh so and so can just sit with me. They don't need a whole 'nother table. As soon as one kid is sitting with the adults your kids table is gone. And I'm going to assume on your wedding day you're going to have more to worry/care about than whether all the kids are sitting on a kids table or not.
I'm in the same situation with the kids table. The kids coming range from ages 1 to 9. Obviously, the 1-year-olds will be with their parents and the 9-year-old can sit at the kids table, I just don't know where the cut off is. I think I'm going to ask the parents what they would like to do. I'm also planning to have the parents seated at the tables right next to the kids table so that they can keep an eye on things.
I'm sitting kids with their parents but also having a kids table that is monitored by 17 yr old nice. This way kids can eat with their parents and be supervised during events like first dance, cutting of the cake, but also have a place where they can have fun without making a mess of things!
I'm also seating parents at table right by kids table too. Not having anything bt table cloth at that table so you dont have to worry about broken cups or anyone getting hurt in that way.
Children should always be seated with their parents. Then they usually hit the dance floor after it opens. Only if a child is unable to walk or if they are painfully shy will they cling to their parents after dinner and most are so busy having fun on the dance floor that they don't have any interest in a kids' table with various activities.
The kids we are inviting will all be older for the most part. By the time our big day rolls around next October, the kids in attendance will range from 6-14 (with only one kid being under 10). They will all be seated at one table in close proximity to their parents. For us, seating the kids with their parents will totally throw off the whole flow of the reception. Though, if I had more younger kids in attendance we would have to seat them with their parents.
I am having a large set of rectangular tables for them with coloring books. Our venue is one large room and we aren't having dancing so they should be fine.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| MissBoPeep | 89 |
| beargoose | 54 |
| hisgoosiegirl | 51 |
| ndreighton | 51 |
| Mrs.KMM | 46 |
| BetterSherm | 42 |
| akp0702 | 41 |
| stardustintheeyes | 36 |
| Beckster329 | 36 |
| MrsPom | 35 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| stardustintheeyes | 20 |
| Beckster329 | 10 |
| BetterSherm | 10 |
| beargoose | 9 |
| Mrsgurzakovic | 8 |
| PookyShoes | 8 |
| Mrs.KMM | 7 |
| hisgoosiegirl | 7 |
| GroovyHippieChick | 7 |
| CaliHoya | 7 |
Hi Hive,
I never had a problem with inviting children to our wedding and reception. My question is now that I know they will be present, how do I go about "seating" them at the reception? The older kids range in age from about 7 to 4 years old. I will be providing them children's meals (chicken fingers, mac and cheese, fruit cup). Do they need to sit with their parents at the regular tables? If so, how do I go about seating the following:
Cousin 1: has three kids, ages 7,5, and 2.
Cousin 2: flying in from out of town with her three kids - ages 5, 4, and 2.
SIL: kids ages 3 and 1.
The infants who are 1 or 2 years old, i am not worried about. It's the children who are old enough to have a seat. If I include them in the regular tables, then that cuts down on the # of adults who can sit at that table. Since my mother's side of the family is small, I want her to have as many adult family members to sit next to as possible...not 3 adults and 5 kids!
I am not going the babysitter route, since I know that my relatives don't want to leave their babies with strangers. That's just not done in our culture. The kids would probably be upset as well.
Anyone have any ideas?