Sometimes life doesn’t always follow the order you want it to. There are many brides these days that give birth to children before they get married. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, as the marriage still has many chances to be successful and last for a lifetime. Many couples have the opportunity to walk the isle with a toddler in tow. Although this is exciting, planning the wedding with kids can bring an added challenge!
Follow along for some tips on how to navigate wedding planning with a child so your wedding planning process will be easy as can be!
Accommodations for children
Ensuring that your kid is aware that you are going to have a wedding and they need to be on their best behavior is ideal. Keep children in mind as you plan the wedding reception. It is a great idea to include kid-friendly food and drinks. Additionally, items for entertainment like a coloring book or their favorite hand-held video game. With children in mind, plan out the flow of your day. Kids tend to get tired and overwhelmed sooner than adults. You know the most about your kid’s routine, and when they typically get tired. You may want to look into hiring child care to watch over the children so you can enjoy your big day and relax. Remember that this is your time to shine and you don’t want the looming thought of having to babysit a child.
Hire a Babysitter
If you would rather not include your toddler in the wedding or you have a small baby, consider hiring a babysitter. You could arrange for a meeting beforehand, so your child is comfortable with the sitter before they stay with them for the night. Whatever the case may be, it is best that you have the arrangements figured out beforehand so you don’t have to stress.
Hire an experienced wedding planner
With a child taking up a lot of your time, you should hire an experienced wedding planner to help you with all the arrangements. Time spent perfecting the venue and decor is limited; therefore, designating tasks to the wedding planner and their team can be extremely valuable to you.
The best part is, wedding planners already have connections made in different industries to give you the complete experience you desire!
Couple’s time before the wedding day
Having children can be a lot of work, and often it is easy to put your relationship needs on the back-burner. However, this is an exciting time in your life– for both you and your partner. When your child is asleep, or maybe at school, try to set-aside 20-30 minutes a day for couples time. You can decide whether you’d like to add more time to discuss wedding planning. But, to keep the relationship strong, you should invest quality time each day. Connecting with your soon to be spouse will guarantee a happy wedding and smooth sailing in the future.
If you give her/him a role on the big day
Perhaps your daughter will be the flower girl or your son will be the rinf-bearer. Either way, set aside some time to help them understand their big role! Get them excited for this and make them feel important. Take some time to practice with your child so they don’t get confused on the day of. Most importantly, don’t be upset if they mess up on your wedding day– as I’m sure it will bring laughter and smiles to your audience.
Budget for the wedding
Because you have to financially support a family, this may leave you with less room for spending on a wedding. Did your husband spend a lot of money looking for engagement rings or does your child attend private school? Before you make any decisions, create a realistic budget for your wedding. Are there some things you can compromise on? Like spending less money on wedding attire? By doing so, you ensure your experience is still one for the books but you are not going in over your head!
Relax and have fun!
As a mom, you spend a lot of your time caring for your child. Remember that this day is for you and not your child. Try to include them in your wedding in a way that feels natural to you. Try to be open-minded and flexible about anything that goes wrong on your wedding day and remind yourself not to stress. After all, it only happens once, so keep that smile on your face!