Getting married is your big day, so the first thing to say about inviting children is that you should only do so if you—and your partner, of course—agree that you would like youngsters there. If you don't, then you should not feel bad or guilty about this in any way. The choice is yours to make, and you should remember that there is no standard etiquette. If you prefer that children not attend, then it is only fair that you make this clear on the invitations that you send out so that your guests are not put in the difficult situation of having to ask whether their offspring can come, too. On the other hand, if you are inviting kids to your big day, then there are some matters that you ought to consider.
Bridesmaids
Many young girls dream of being a bridesmaid, but the job is quite a lot for very little ones to pull off. If you have your best friend or a close family member as your maid-of-honour, then you will have someone to help keep the little ones in check. Don't feel pressured into having lots of young bridesmaids, which can create a headache for you, especially if you are likely to feel nervous. If in doubt, keep the number of youngsters down.
Consider the Travelling Practicalities
Many Australian weddings take place in one location, but if you are planning on a church ceremony and then moving to a venue for your reception, you may need to organise child-appropriate wedding transport. Most parents will have their own booster seats and child restraints already, but if you expect children to hop into wedding hire cars with you, then you may need to consider their safety in advance. If you hire a coach to move all of your guests from A to B, then opt for a newer one, which should be more geared up for the needs of child passengers.
Seating Plans
During long speeches and the wedding breakfast formalities, younger children can get bored. Place any children that you invite close to their parents within the seating plan, if possible. Ideally, there will be enough time between the service and your reception ceremonies for kids to run around and burn off some steam. Don't be tempted to place all of the children you have invited at their own table because, even for very well-behaved kids, this can expect to much of them. Additionally, why not consider providing kids meals to help everything go smoothly during your formal meal?
