Children at a wedding

A Wedding Celebrant will embrace involving children who are important to you in your ceremony

Having children at a wedding is not for everyone. Some couples see them as a potential distraction & annoyance, especially during the wedding ceremony. It’s the couple’s choice, clearly.

However, as a dad of three & ex-teacher, I love it when there are children at a wedding. For me it’s all about expectations, both for the children & the adults.

If children are going to be given roles & responsibilities, they clearly have to be age appropriate. They also need to feel happy & safe. If there are young children with roles at ceremonies I deliver I will make a point of introducing myself to them on the day as soon as possible, so that they know who I am, what is going to be happening in the ceremony & what I would like them to do for me.

Children love to please & so even the most normally unruly child will “step-up” to perform if asked to do something they are able to do & asked in the right way. Children like it when adults are in charge of a fun situation & that would be me!

Managing adult expectations is as equally important. I will always chat with parents of young children before the ceremony, whether they babies or toddlers. If the parents are stressed & worried that their child will ruin the ceremony, they’ll transmit this to their youngling, & it will happen.

Instead, I will try to put them at ease, I will tell them not to worry if things don’t go according to plan. As the adults, we all need to behave like it was the plan along, regardless.

Either way, we need to let children be children, to enjoy the occasion & 9 times out of 10, they’ll be amazing… just like Jo & Star’s grandchildren pictured here. They were the most perfect bridesmaids & page boys (all 8 of them).

Feel free to get in touch if you want to speak with me about involving children in your wedding ceremony.

Venue: @sheffieldtigersrufc