Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/307716
20 real weddings spring/summer 2014 realadvice Will kids be a part of your Wedding day? It's a dilemma for many couples. For some, the joyous occasion would feel incomplete without the bright smiles and energy of the smaller set, while for others, the poten- tial for noise, disruption and drama can add a layer of stress. We turned to the experts for advice on the delicate matter of children at weddings, and we learned that it's easily possible to keep kids content at a wedding. And if the little ones are happy, you can be sure their parents will be, too. plan for help "I'm a huge fan of hiring a nanny," says Alicia Keats of Vancouver wedding planning company Alicia Keats Weddings + Events. "I work with a fantastic one who used to be a preschool teacher, and depending on the number of kids at the wedding, she'll sometimes bring an assistant." Keats sets her nanny up in a separate room at the wedding venue, where she unpacks toys and games and prepares to entertain the children over the course of the day. "To me, that's hands-down the best way to handle the situation, because parents have the reassurance that their child is at the venue with them and can check in on them when they want to." Stephanie Reitsma, principal planner with Sweetheart Events, agrees that hiring a nanny is unequivocally the way to go. She works closely with the company Nannies on Call in Vancouver. "ey come equipped with fun games and all the nannies are fun, hands-on and experienced — you won't find them texting on their phones," she says. "Sure, you can hire your neighbourhood babysitter to do the job, but hiring a nanny puts parents' minds at ease." bags of fun Both local planners advise putting together age-appropriate activity bags for the kids, including items like puzzles, markers and Lego kits. In one wedding horror story, a bride purchased Play-Doh and markers for her younger guests, not anticipating they would be used to decorate the rented table linens — which later required replacement at the couple's expense. "at situation could have been prevented by using Color Wonder mark- ers," says Reitsma. "With these markers, you can colour everywhere, but it won't show up unless you use the specific paper required for this craft." One of Keats' favourite weddings with kids occurred a few years ago. e bride and groom created separate invitations for their kiddie guests, mailed to them in a separate envelope. e invitations, which stated "no adults allowed," asked kids to bring a sleeping bag to the event, building excitement from the get-go. "We included little wristbands for the children, and when they arrived they were taken to a room set up as a kids' slumber party, with movies, a kid-friendly buffet, a popcorn bar, crafts and little takeaways at the end," she recalls. "e sleeping bags were a great idea because some of the kids got tired, so they snuggled into their sleeping bags and were completely comfortable." For Reitsma, the DIY hot-chocolate station she helped create at a wedding was especially memorable. "e kids had so much fun with the whipped cream and sprinkles," she recalls. "I love creating those little spaces where kids can have special activities included for them." ose special experiences could be as small as requesting that servers bring out a non- alcoholic fruit punch for kids, served in fancy glasses, during the adults' cocktail hour. feed 'em first One crucial step in keeping kids happy is to have the children's menu planned in advance and delivered early, preferably at the same time that the adults receive their first course. Chicken fingers, fries and macaroni-and-cheese are Kids or No Kids? Whether or not to include children at your wedding is a personal decision — and a sensitive one By Lauren Kramer Illustration by Mandy Lau p20-21_RealAdvice-Kids.indd 20 14-04-17 11:09 AM