You love kids! You enjoy them so much that you can’t imagine not having them around on your Big Day, right? But how much are they really going to dig being at your wedding? Well, that depends largely on you. With just a little foresight and some thoughtful planning, you can make your wedding reception a fun day for even the littlest wedding guest – and keep the grumpies and meltdowns to a minimum.

Time of Day For Your Wedding Reception

This is a biggie. If you know that kids will play a part in your special day,
then you should most likely forgo the wedding reception that doesn’t even get started until past little Austin or Emma’s bedtime. A happy kid is a fresh kid. Sleep deprivation and the overstimulation that comes from a big party are not a good combo. Hold your wedding in the morning or afternoon to minimize this issue.

Wedding Reception Formality

We’re not saying that you can’t have a white tie, ultra-formal event and invite
children. But we’re not suggesting it. After all, very formal affairs require scratchy, stiff clothes and shoes and fancy hair. And heaven forbid they drop chocolate cake on that $2000 dress!

Tone down the formality, and the kiddoes will likely be more comfortable in cotton and ballet slippers. Their smiles will be sweeter, too.

Consider the Reception Décor.

Keep in mind all of those little hands when you’re preparing décor and centerpieces. Rows and rows of lit candles in crystal holders may seem like a good idea, but, well. You get our point.

Consider faux tea lights in pretty holders to approximate the look of candles. You may want to ask your florist about arrangements that don’t feature toxic flowers as well…just in case.

Foods for Little Hands

If your reception will feature food, be sure that you have a few options
for toddler palates. Pate and brie? Not such popular options with kiddoes. Fresh fruit and vegetables, mild dips for both, finger sandwiches, and crackers will round out the hors oeuvres table nicely for the under-10 set. Ask your caterer to have a child’s option available for a sit-down dinner.

And consider having a special sweets station for children as well – cookie bars, wedding cakepops, and a wedding cupcake tower would all be awesome (and hip!) options for your little guests.

Be Accessible During the Reception

Chances are, if there are children at your wedding, it’s because you really love them, and they really love you. Can you imagine how excited they will be to see you looking so special and pretty? Although it’s tempting not to let sticky fingers and jam-smeared faces within a ten foot radius of your unsurpassed gorgeousness, make time to get down to their level and
spend time with the tykes, sparing a hug, a squeal, and a pat just for them. They will feel super-special as a result, and will likely take the day away as a special memory.

Crafts, please!

“Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.” True enough. So we SUPER suggest
having a craft or activity for children to work on at the reception, or a play area that’s just for them. Keeping them occupied with something special that they can take home and remember the day by will make for happier children, happier parents, and a more radiant you.

This can be something as simple as a coloring sheet, or something more involved, like these nifty special day kits, which feature stickers and a keep sake photo frame. Having a close friend to help with the craft is a good idea, too.

A Place for Quiet Time or to Run Around

Regardless of your best intentions, kids will be kids. We think it’s a really great idea to set aside a couple of areas apart from the reception for parents to take children who might need a little break from the excitement. Mommies especially will appreciate a quiet place that would be private and suitable for napping and/or nursing.

In addition, consider a wide open space where children can run around a bit, without being scolded for unruly behavior. After all, you’re feeding them sugar. They are going to have excess energy
to burn.

With a little thought and attention, you can make your wedding reception a special time for every guest, whether they are three or ninety-three. Thinking ahead and planning just a little will ensure that you (and everyone else) will be all smiles on your special day.

Brooke Fehr manages and contributes to A Wedding Cake Blog, a beautiful corner of the internet devoted to all that is Sweet and Pretty and Wedding.  Author of “Creating a Fabulous Wedding Reception” eCourse, Brooke spent several years working in the culinary arts, before deciding to marry her love of food with her background in writing.  She is a wife and mom to two small children as well.
http://aweddingcakeblog.com

On August 25, 2007, I married my best friend. Our wedding day was simple, elegant and inexpensive. Sure, we could have gone the luxury wedding route, but that isn’t us. We are jeans and tshirt people and we wanted our special day to be a reflection of our personalities.

After some discussion and help from a lot of our creative friends and family, we decided on a 1940s theme and got to work. I did all of the flower arrangements, my brother-in-law created the invitations and my now husband took care of the beverages and music. We even designed our own save the date cards. Sticking to a budget definitely means getting your hands dirty, but it was worth it to not start our life together in debt.

Invitations

We tried to imagine our lives and the resources we might have in the 40s so we started with brown kraft cardstock. We bought it in bulk and when the design was finished we had them printed. We also added a bird stamp that was given to us by a friend (put a bird on it!). The image was perfect and we used it everywhere! In keeping with the simplistic theme, we chose a typewriter font and minimal text. Our invitations turned out exactly as I had hoped and really set the relaxed tone for our big day!

Decorations

I made a lot of the wedding decorations ahead of time including the aisle decorations and ribbon wands for our send off. We chose pink Mini Spider Gerber Daisies for our main flowers and centerpieces. Since we were sticking to a budget and trying to stay within our theme, we simply clustered a few blooms in glass milk jars for each table centerpiece at the reception along with vintage linens and mismatched china. The result was simple, special and pretty!

For the reception decorations, we kept it simple and let the food and cake displays provide the majority of the ambiance. We also had Coca Cola in glass bottles in addition to beer and wine at the bar and of course, some good old fashioned lemonade.

The Ceremony

We were fortunate to have access to an old traditional church. It was small and and full of history. Not only did it fit within our theme, but we were also able to use our own Pastor. We kept our ceremony simple as well and decided on mostly acoustic music. The processional was an acoustic guitar version of Ave Maria and for communion, we had a good friend sing with his guitar. The result was a personal, intimate ceremony.

Entertainment

For the reception, we wanted our friends and family to enjoy each other and the time we spent celebrating so we decided to give them an activity to enjoy while they waited on our photo session. We created personalized “mad libs” and placed them at each table. Guests enjoyed filling them out and laughing at their stories. As they left, they placed them in a basket and we had a blast reading through them when we got home from the honeymoon!

We had ambient music that we chose but wanted to sneak in one final surprise. My husband is a huge fan of Barbershop music, so he and I and two of our friends sang a barbershop song at the reception. No one knew we had planned it and it was so much fun to surprise everyone! It also didn’t hurt that barbershop was extremely popular in the 40s. And don’t worry, if singing isn’t your thing, Barbershop is on the rise and there are quartets for hire in most cities!

We loved our 1940s style wedding and it will forever be one of the highlights of our life together. Working together was a lot of fun and our day was truly personal. Did you plan a 1940s wedding?

Andrea Updyke is the Founder and Author of Lil-Kid-Things (www.lilkidthings.com), a blog discussing the joys and challenges of Motherhood, taking care of a home and staying sane in an ever-changing world. She spent her pre-children years working in a cubicle. These days, she is expecting her 2nd child, taking orders from a two- year-old, and loving (almost) every minute!

I recently asked some of my fellow blogging friends what made their wedding different and special.  I enjoyed talking to them about their big day and truly believe that no matter what is “in style” at the moment…..making the wedding…. “your wedding” is what is important.  Here are someways that you can put a YOU spin on a beautiful day.

image use from weddingwindow.com

Remembering those that we have lost at a Wedding:

Melissa Auman Greiner Our wedding was fairly classic, but we made sure to put our touches on it. I gave my husband cufflinks with his grandfather’s photo in them so that while he had passed, he could still be there.

How to pick Music for your Wedding:

Melissa Auman Greiner Our dinner hour music was Survivor, The Cure, and other faves from our youth.

How to involve your guests:

Kristen Howerton We had our friends and family say vows, that they would support us as a couple, pray for us, and hold us up.

Ways to have a stress less Ceremony:

Savannah Butler We got married before our wedding at the courthouse in June it took the pressure off.  We got to focus on the fun of the wedding planning, not the stressful part. Plus, I got to marry my husband twice!

Lisa Lightner We had a very small wedding, no attendants at all. We also had dinner only with background musician, no dancing. No first dance, no father/daughter dance, throwing the bouquet, all that–none of it!

Liz Muirhead I got married in a beautiful mansion in my husband’s hometown: 3000 miles away from where I grew up. Very few of my friends and family were able to make the trip, but it was worth it to be there with his family, especially his sister, who was not able to travel because of health issues. My 7mo-pregnant sister-in-law made the trip with her 2 little ones – by herself, because my brother couldn’t fly in until the morning of the wedding. She is awesome!

Danielle Graf Guidry We got married at a pavilion in Beach Haven (it’s free to get married on the beach there). Instead of having a reception, we all just hung out on the beach for the day! It was great.

Jessica Rubin Cohen My husband and I met at Penn State. We had an ice sculpture of the Nittany Lion at our cocktail hour. The guests loved it!

Making the wedding Ceremony Special:

Sarah McKenna Pinnix and her husband waited until their wedding day for our first kiss (to each other). There was definitely a reason, and it was so romantic!

Karla Trotman we decided not to have people at our island wedding, so all of witnesses and people in attendance were strangers…it allowed us to focus on one another and make our vows about our true feelings without thought to those who were listening.

Lauren Conlow- Vitelli added special touches everywhere from a memorial table and poem reading to a wish bowl instead of guest book, signature drink, 4 different types of music throughout the night, adding a special dance with my brother and ending with initial cookies on the way-out for a snack on the way home. We also had valet put an envelope in Everyone’s car with the footprints poem and scratch off tickets!

Shana Dieli Oh love this, weddings are so much fun! After my husband & I said our I do’s & the pastor said Mr & Mrs Dieli we walked back down the isle while Quiet Riot Come on feel the noise played in the background. I also made our Dj promise not to play ANY disco. I am not a fan at all. We had all of the music we enjoyed, at one point a Metallica song was on & we were all head banging LOL

Erica Mueller We got to have ours outdoors at a waterfall/state park that was a very special place for us as a couple, so that made it very memorable and gave it that personal touch that a backyard or church wedding wouldn’t have.

Katja Presnal said “We got married on my husband¹s lunch break from army flight school, and all
the guys showed up in their green flight suits (like in Top Gun). I didn¹t really plan anything but my clothes and bought champagne for the night ­ no reception. I was in love and I couldn¹t believe this man wanted to marry me and I couldn¹t have cared less for anything else but just marrying him. I loved that it was a very private moment just for us. I always thought we might renew our wedding vows one day, and maybe have a bigger wedding, but 12 years later we still haven’t done it. If we’d do it now, it would be for us too, to celebrate how much we love each others, not really for the big party. I’m thinking barefoot on the beach or on the mountain top with skis
on our feet. I think the two things I will treasure most are the vows my husband and I wrote together and the wedding gown my mom made for me.”

Denise McNulty Mooney Some of our groomsmen serenaded us with Amazing Love after our last dance…very special!

Tonya Jones Staab said “We got married at an historic mansion by the beach in Australia. We had a red carpet with little white chairs in the garden, I arrived in a horse-drawn carriage and the boys wore their military dress uniforms and arrived in vintage cars. We had our reception at the same venue, it was one giant party. As part of the ceremony we exchanged red roses that we still exchange every year on our anniversary. We had about 10 waiters walking around with bowls and plates of finger foods and pink champagne instead of a formal sit-down dinner, we had a jumping castle for the kids, and a tour of the mansion and gardens. We had figures of Marge & Homer (that is who we most resemble) on top of our wedding cake. I’d even had every roll of toilet paper at the venue removed and replaced with paper with hearts all over it. I’m not kidding. People were taking pieces of toilet paper as souvenirs.”

Alissa Nolan Boyle said  “We were married in Wisconsin (where I grew up). My husband’s from Philly and his entire extended family (about 50 people) were able to travel to our wedding (even grandparents!) And even more special for us was that the rector of his family’s church in Philly (where they’ve attended for decades) even agreed to travel to Wisconsin to marry us there. We were thrilled that everyone we loved was able to celebrate with us, despite the distance.”

Joey Fortman said “I got married on the beach in Key West. We took a big conch train to the beach…my wedding gift to my husband was 2 gorgeous white doves that we released at the end of our vows. And we had our reception on a huge catamaran. It was a dream come true. =) The coolest part about the doves was that he nor the 60 guests we had there had no idea. They were a total surprise. Um. $200 for 2 seconds to see birds fly away??? ha.”

I was recently at a vow renew at the Disney chapel for a promo event. It was a fairytale as one could expect but I am sure it wasn’t budget friendly…..or maybe it was? Do you think we can learn money saving tips from Disney? I learned some things believe it or not.

You know that awkward time between the vows and the reception while the bride and groom are taking pictures? We had some waiting time that was classy. It wasn’t awkward at all. How was this wedding handled?

The staff walked around with champagne and apple cider! Anyone could do this.

Save Money at your wedding Tips: Use white zinfandel and white apple cider as a cheaper option while hiring neighbors or cousins as servers.

Money Saving Wedding Tip: While your guest are waiting offering them a candy “bar” or appetizers of a different sort. Disney served up these sweets. They were a colorful display and would be an alternative to appetizers that need to be served!

If you have the option of having a wedding at Disney, go for it. I had a blast but anyone can party fairytale style. These are a few magical tips that can make your wedding budget NOT disappear and help you save money at your wedding.

-SincerEli

Sometimes, there are some things we need to think about that just don’t come to our mind on our wedding day.  This is, after all, “your” day.  I am a fan of the bride having her day but when it comes to be polite and courteous there is a need for that too.  I have seen weddings not head to the below advice and in return guests get tired and leave early, all because there was an hour of pictures being taken on the beach that were not the best shots after all.

We all have advice for the bride.  Here are just a few more pointers that will let your day be a success with everyone.  It is good to keep everyone in mind.  Its a tough life being a bride but here is some of my advice for keeping your wedding stress free.

image use from weddingwindow.com

I am headed to a wedding. It is not Sat or Sunday. It is Friday. This makes me wonder if Friday is the new Saturday when it comes to weddings. It makes sense. Friday nights are less expensive in most cases and many involved are usually available.

My grandmother got married on a Wednesday. I always thought that was odd but she said that it was normal back then? I wish I could still ask her about that. Since she has passed, I became an event planner and until I sold my business and started Party Planning Professor I would never have weekends off without loosing a considerable amount of money. I am seeing a “date/day” shift in these economic times and in the event planning field. I think I like it.

Going to the wedding today, I had to get my Father-in-law to pick up my son from school but other then that there was not a huge inconvenience in finding childcare and my sitter can still have a life during the weekend. This is an added bonus for the guests.

What do you feel about Friday weddings? Would you find a Friday evening more convenient as a guest? When did you get married? Why did you pick that date?

Sure it may be the most magical memories in your memory bank; but no bride should ever suffer or stress.  Planning a reception is really a happy time.  It should be fun!

Here are the stress factors for any wedding-

• The number of guests, (pick a number and stick to it!) – I promise that half the people you feel guilty or want on your list will probably not be in your life in a couple years.  Don’t fret over the guest list.  Keep it simple or keep it grand.  Just as soon as you make your guest choices stick with it.  Don’t rewish or rethink.  Invite and no turning back.

• The food service doesn’t always have to be about food. – You can have a low key event that is classy and centered around a theme.  I planned a chocolate and candles wedding once and it was beautiful.  Think outside the box or think traditional.  What ever you decide or think, make your decision and no turning back.

• The entertainment needs to be fun for your guests; but ladies/gentleman get a grip. – The day is about you.  Sure you need to be hospitable and make sure your guests have a good time but getting married is more then the wedding it’s about the marriage.  Don’t feel guilty about providing the best DJ intown or the hotest 80′s cover band HAVING to be there.

• The location’s availability is important but no more then your day. – The date should be about your date not about when the space you would kind/of/like to have is available for you.  This is your day, the start of your life together so don’t let some 4 star wedding reception location see when they can pencil you in.  Traveling isn’t that bad-especially when it comes to point A-the guest list.  Only those that love you will travel great lengths to your day.  This is “your” day you know. Claim it and and don’t let the vendors claim you.

picture provided by www.digital-photography-school.com

I grew up in Cape May County. I have lived here my whole entire life. When it came to being married I knew this was the place that I was going to get hitched. Did you know that Cape May is the 3rd most popular place to tie the knot? Right behind Vegas’ “Baby” and Disney’s “fairy tales,” is Cape May’s charm. Cape May County is the place. Avalon is about 15 minutes away from Cape May but still boasts a beautiful beach and enormous houses with oceanfront views. It’s no wonder why people get married here every year.

I never considered the Golden Inn as a wedding reception site eight years ago when I said I do. Over the last couple weeks as I planned an event there, I have wondered that same thing over and over again. So, as a way to urge you not to make the same ignorant mistake I made, (I am still trying to figure this out) I am going to tell you a little bit about the facility.

I was in love with the main dinning Room a couple seconds after I walked in it. After all it does have the ability for the main dining room to holds 225 for wedding receptions, the Sandpiper Room accommodates 125 attendees and Luigi’s comfortably
seats 75 people in it. The main room has a full size bar with marble counter top, and a stage for the band to play, DJ to spin, or head table to be placed. Ideally it is perfect for a girl like me that wanted a beach wedding.

The Golden Inn is in Avalon, and is beachfront with the dunes a few steps away. I am pretty lucky as to where I grew up and I know my guests would appreciate the location even more than I would. I am pretty stoked for all of the brides that have chosen the Golden Inn. It seems to be a very princess place to party after saying “I do.”

The best part about the Golden Inn is that there are actually 3 rooms to choose from when planning a party. The size options are practically limitless and if you wanted to,I am sure you could use one room as an appetizer room, buffet room, or even party out in the sand.  After all this is your wedding and the event section staff at the Golden Inn are there to meet your needs. It seems like a possible dream for a bride to celebrate the union of her Prince Charming at the Golden Inn.

Now, if I asked my husband to marry me do you think I would be able to have another crack at planning my own wedding? This time around I would definitely consider the Golden Inn.

In full disclosure: This post is NOT sponsored. I was NOT paid to do this post however I did work with some Golden Inn staff members and that alone inspired my post. The above pictures were taken by the hotel because I thought it would portray a more accurate view of the room without MY decorations. Congrats on your wedding: May you find the perfect spot.

Monica Brady, owner of www.mommybrainreports.com and mommybrainreports live blog radio show, has given up her once day job as a wedding planner and now is a work at home mom of two twin daughters.  Residing from California, Monica is sure to not be at a loss for words of wisdom for brides for their big day.