There are very few things in life that aren’t more fun with babies involved, and weddings are definitely not one of them. Planning a wedding with a baby does present its pitfall, but there is nothing better than having your baby present for that picture perfect moment at the end of the day.
Of course there is always the chance that your baby might decide to throw a fuss in the middle of the reception. But this isn’t much different to that uncle of yours who always gets drunk at weddings and makes inappropriate jokes. You take the good with the bad.
Here are a few tips to help you plan a wedding with a baby:
Involve Your Baby During Planning
If you involve your baby in the preparation process, she is more likely to behave well during the wedding itself. Your baby will become your partner and view the occasion as a place where she belongs. The worst thing for a baby at this point would be to feel left out, so keep her involved. A baby who feels like she isn’t getting the attention she deserves is a baby you don’t ever want to mess with.
Involving a baby during wedding planning may seem harder than it sounds but it can actually be quite easy and a lot of fun. There are plenty of planning activities that you and your baby can do together. Ask for her advice when picking flowers, table linen, colour combinations, etc. Make every activity into a group activity. If you are sending out invitations, give your baby the simple task of licking the flaps. Involve her in craft activities.
Keep Your Baby Busy On The Wedding Day
Keep your baby busy during the wedding day. Give her a role in the celebrations to help her stay engaged. Can she sing a poem or a song on stage? Maybe she would like to be a part of the reception. Or just maybe she wants the ‘secret’ task of being the ring bearer. Make her feel important and she is less likely to want to throw a tantrum.
Then there is the simple matter of entertainment to consider? The wedding entertainment is singing songs that you love, the party favours are for your friends, and the expensive champagne is to impress your relatives, but what about your baby? What entertainment have you arranged for your special one?
The wedding is likely to be the most mind-numbingly boring affair for a toddler. So you must take special steps to ensure that there is something to keep her entertained. Maybe have a separate kids table with crayons, colouring books, toys etc. If you have the budget, you could hire a professional magician or clown just to make sure that the kids have a good time. Make arrangements for the kids.
Make Sure That Your Baby Is Looked After
There will be so much going on during the wedding day, you will have guests to meet, vendors to deal with, so much to do, that it would be inhuman to ask yourself to take care of your baby too. Don’t worry about how it makes you look. No one will think that you love your baby any less. In fact, on the wedding day, you really don’t want to worry about anything else except yourself.
Talk to a friend, a relative or even a group of them. These should be people that your baby trusts, so that she has no trouble eating with them, going to the bathroom with one of them or falling to sleep around them. Ask them to specifically look after your baby on the wedding day. Make it clear that this is not just about them keeping an eye on her either. But actually taking care of her like a nanny would.
You must also consider hiring a professional. This would free you and your guests to enjoy your wedding, and still give your baby the individual attention she requires.
Be Mentally Prepared
The most important thing when planning a wedding with a baby is to be prepared for the worst. A baby is a baby, and at the end of the day there is always the chance of you ending up with your fine crystal on the floor.
Go into your wedding day mentally prepared to deal with anything. Don’t panic, take it in stride and laugh it off. If you feel relaxed, this will come across in everything you do. So what if your baby throws a tantrum, there is no need to feel embarrassed. Keep smiling and it will pass like it always does.
I like these tips. Thanks for sharing
These are really good tips. I will have to share these with my niece.