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5 Ways to Make Your Children Feel Special During Wedding Planning

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5 Ways to Make Your Children Feel Special During Wedding Planning

Sandra is planning an Escape wedding at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel at the Wedding Garden and Brisa Courtyard.

After James and I moved our families together under one roof and started the process of cohabiting, I knew it was going to be important to include the kids in our wedding. A wedding, especially for a blended family, is two families coming together as one and including your children in your wedding is one of the most important things you can do for your wedding day. It allows your children to feel like they are a part of the big day, too. When you’re joining two families together, the children are just as important as the couple getting married! Just like your wedding day is important to you, to them it is a day they will never forget. We wanted our children to know that it wasn’t just us getting married, but it was all of us starting a new family together. Since that time, I went on a Pinterest rampage, finding ideas on how to include children in the wedding planning and here are a few of the ideas I found. I have even adopted a few of these for our own wedding!

5 Ways to Make Your Children Feel Special During Wedding Planning

 

Bridal Party

Having your children and step-children be a part of the wedding party is a no brainer idea. Your child playing the role of Best Man, Ringer Bearer, Flower Girl, or Maid Of Honor can be exciting for them. These roles are all very vital parts of a wedding, and letting them know how important they are will have them looking forward to the wedding. When I told my step-son he will be his dad’s Best Man, he told me he had no idea what the role included. After I explained to him the details of the duties the Best Man holds, which included standing next to his dad at the alter and walking down the aisle with one of my bridesmaids, and possibly giving a speech at the wedding reception, he was more intrigued and excited with being in the role. If your daughter or step-daughter is going to be a part of the wedding, let her pick out the dress style she wants to wear, or help her decide how everyone should wear their hair. Even better, let her tag along with the wedding dress shopping. Keep in mind, if you’re having anyone under the age of 18 play the role of Best Man and Maid of Honor, to keep all bridal party festivities age appropriate.

Sand Ceremony

It has become a recent tradition for wedding ceremonies to include some kind of unity display. These most commonly include a sand ceremony, which is a great way to include your children in the actual ceremony. The purpose of the sand ceremony to use a different color sand and have them all come together by pouring each individual color into a larger jar. Let your children pick out their own color sand for this special moment. You can take this a step further to create an even better memento for the kids and let them recreate the original sand jar in a clear Christmas ornament or a smaller version of the jar, so they can have their very own to keep. It will become something they will end up cherishing through out the years to come.

Engagement Pictures

If you and your fiancé decide to do engagement pictures, include your children in them, too! This is a fun way to solidify yourself as a family and be creative with little-to-no pressure at all. Let your children pick the location, or go to a location meaningful for your family. You can find cute ideas to recreate from Pinterest or come up with your own ideas. Take this opportunity to express your new family’s personalities. The more natural the better! You can include these pictures in your engagement announcements or your Save The Date invitations. If you don’t end up taking engagement pictures (don’t stress, I didn’t do this either) you can always use a one of your most recent family pictures instead.

Wedding Decisions

Something as simple as picking out the wedding colors, flowers or theme is still an important job, so consider letting your children and step-children help! If you and your spouse are going to a planning session at your venue, bring your kids along. Let them taste the food, or at least the cake, and let them help you decide what flavors they would like. Wedding favors are also another decision that the kids would love to make! If you’re having a Photo Booth let them pick the backdrop or add a few of their favorite props. When you receive compliments for their decisions, be sure to give them that credit. They will feel like they did something good and contributed something to the wedding.

DIY Wedding Crafts = Quality Family Time

If you are anything like me and plan to DIY a vast majority of your wedding, include your children and step-children in the crafty fun. My 6 year old son is always asking to help me with the craft project I am working on, so take advantage of the extra help. Take them to the craft store with you and have them help pick out needed supplies. Have them help put together the centerpieces or cut out programs. You don’t have to give the a really huge task, but a task they are able to do. You will be able to knock out your projects in a some what timely manner and you will always spend quality time together as a family. Win-win!

In the mix of wedding planning and brain storming, these are just a few ideas to make your children feel special during wedding planning. Do not limit yourself to just these options; there are many more ways to include your children, such as letting them help plan the bridal shower or giving a speech at the reception or rehearsal dinner. You can ditch the traditional honeymoon and opt for a Familymoon, where you take a family vacation instead (we are!). I know planning a wedding in itself can be stressful and when you add children to the mix it can sometimes become a little more difficult. Do not forget to let your child(ren) feel included and part of your big day. It is their big day, too, and you want them to feel their own kind of special!

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