Not Sure If You Want Kids at Your Wedding? Here's What to Consider.

While T-Rise Ranch is a family friendly venue welcoming children of all ages, we know that including children is not for everyone. This is an important choice that needs to be well thought out as it can significantly impact the atmosphere, logistics, and overall experience of your big day.

While the growing and more popular trend is offering a kid-free atmosphere, here are some thoughts to help you navigate this important decision, along with tips on how to handle either scenario.

Pros of Including Kids

1. Family Atmosphere

Including kids can enhance the familial feel of your wedding, creating a warm and inclusive environment.

2. Memorable Moments

Children can add charming and spontaneous moments to your ceremony and reception. We've all seen enough adorable flower girls and ring bearers meandering down the aisle to recognize this obvious truth.

3. Guest Convenience

Allowing kids can be more convenient for guests who might struggle to find childcare, ensuring they can attend without worry.

Cons of Including Kids

1. Noise and Disruption

Children can be unpredictable, and of course there's a chance for unruly behavior or a disruption during at exactly the wrong moment. This is why it's important to offer plenty of engaging children's wedding activities — more on this later.

2. Extra Planning

Accommodating kids requires some additional planning, especially if including a kids table or tables, entertainment, and supervision. Including children also means considering what is and isn't appropriate: Are you still OK with an open bar or cocktail hour? Are your music choices child-friendly?

3. Budget Impact

Just because they're small doesn't mean children don't factor into the cost of your guest list! In fact, any kid-specific arrangement is likely going to impact your budget. Fortunately, there are budget-friendly options that should keep your little guests happy without breaking the bank.

Leaning toward a kid-free wedding but don't know how to tell your guests? Let this blog be your guide!

Tips for Including Kids at Your Wedding

1. Create a Kid-Friendly Zone

Designate a special area at your venue where kids can play and be entertained. Equip it with soft mats, toys, games, and craft supplies.

2. Hire Professional Childcare 

While not a must, the addition of professional babysitters can be a game-changer for any family friendly wedding. Giving moms and dads in attendance the ability to celebrate you while their children are being looked after is a classy touch, and one that can lower stress for you and your adult guests.

3. Offer Kid-Friendly Meals

Include a menu with kid-friendly options like mini sliders, chicken nuggets, fruit skewers, and veggie sticks. Offer snacks at various intervals during the reception to keep the children happy.

4. Organize Activities

This is a big one — provide an array of kids wedding activities and you'll notice the difference! Think of it as an opportunity to be creative and fun.

6 Great Wedding Activities for Kids

1. A scavenger hunt: a well-placed scavenger hunt can be a wholesome inclusion to a family friendly reception

2. A bubble station: a great way to capture younger childrens' attention. Also great for photos!

3. A movie corner: designate a quiet room with bean bags, snacks, and a projector showing family-friendly movies. Think Encanto, Moana, or Toy Story—films that keep kids calm and content while giving parents a breather.

4. Lawn games: include a few lawn games like Giant Jenga and ring toss in your wedding reception for some focused fun for the youngsters in attendance.

5. An arts & crafts table: set up a station with coloring books, crayons, stickers, washable markers, and simple crafts like DIY crowns or wedding-themed cutouts. This gives kids a creative outlet and keeps them busy during downtime like speeches or dinner. Bonus recommendation: Include this free wedding activity book for kids!

6. A bounce house: what kid doesn't love a bounce house?

   
   

Entertainment Options for Kids at T-Rise Ranch

At T-Rise Ranch, we have multiple buildings and spaces designed for couples to use in a variety of ways to help their vision come to reality. Our Farmhouse is a quiet location for hired babysitters to entertain little ones when the days activity gets to be too tiring. It can also serve as a designated area or separate area for kids to relax or nap during the night.

Our large outdoor spaces can more than adequately handle bounce houses, lawn games and other outdoor activities.

We also offer a pool and a pond for boating and fishing! Of course, supervision is required for the safety and fun for all involved.

When making your final decision, consider the following:

Guest list composition: Think about how many of your wedding guests have children and how this will impact their ability to attend. Even if there are only a few kids, providing activity packs or a little something for them can make a big difference.

Venue suitability: Assess whether your chosen venue is kid-friendly and has the space and facilities to accommodate children.

Personal preference: Reflect on your vision for your wedding day. If you dream of a sophisticated, adult-centric celebration, a kid-free wedding might be the way to go. Conversely, if family inclusiveness is a priority, embracing a kid-friendly event will align with your values.

Deciding whether to include children at your wedding is a personal choice that depends, ultimately, on what you and your partner want for your special day. By considering the pros and cons and planning accordingly, you can create a wedding experience that is enjoyable for everyone involved.

For more personalized advice and tips on planning your wedding, feel free to reach out to us. We're here to help you create the perfect celebration!

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