Tips to help keep kids safe and entertained at your wedding

Kids often love being part of a wedding and sharing in the excitement of the big day. But let’s face it—weddings can be long, and little ones might start to lose interest. When kids get bored, they can sometimes stir up mischief or even end up with a bump or bruise. That’s definitely not the kind of surprise anyone wants on such a special occasion.

Wedding venues can be dangerous places for kids because many of them include lit candles and expensive décor and furniture. Or, if your wedding is held outdoors, it may be near a swimming pool or busy streets. All the above situations can become hazardous for children without the necessary precautions.

Oftentimes, children at weddings who are around adults get injured because everyone assumes someone else is watching them, when in fact no one is. Keeping them out of harm's way will take proper planning. Here are some tips to keep your young guests occupied and having fun, so everyone can enjoy your special day.

6 tips to help keep kids at weddings safe and entertained

1. Involvement

   Children often love to be helpful and feel included. A fun way to involve them is to create a disposable camera scavenger hunt with photos you would like them to capture of your wedding. Not only will this activity keep children busy, you get to experience your wedding through the eyes of a child.

2. Dancing

   Consult with your band or DJ to play kid-friendly songs to provide hours of dancing fun. Popular wedding songs and activities kids like are the Hokey Pokey, The Chicken Dance, Baby shark Dance, The Cha Cha Slide and the limbo.

3. Healthy kid-friendly food and snacks

   Wedding meals are usually designed with adults in mind, but it’s worth thinking about kid-friendly options too. Offering smaller portions, allergy-friendly choices and healthy snacks can help keep little ones happy and energized without the sugar rush. After all, the last thing you want is kids bouncing off the walls—or worse, getting into accidents.

   Some great options include cheese and crackers, apple slices, yogurt, dried fruit, and even a veggie tray. These treats are sure to keep the kiddos satisfied and the celebration running smoothly. Also consider kid-approved goody bags. These can be packed with coloring/activity books with washable markers and crayons, Legos, puzzles, and wedding games for kids. You can even provide a space where kids can play quietly together with the contents of their goody bags.

4. Supervised kids' corner with entertainment

   Hire a caregiver or someone you trust to babysit the kids. You can make this a fun atmosphere where they can host a tea party, decorate cupcakes, participate in crafts or watch a movie.

   Another fun activity to include is a photo booth with props. Most kids love to pretend dress up and take photos. From feather boas to silly glasses and hats, this activity is sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike.

   If your budget allows, hire a magician, balloon artist or face painter to keep the kids entertained. You can also make this corner in easy viewing distance to parents.

5. Safety first

   Unfortunately, even with the proper planning, accidents can still occur. In those cases, it is best to have a kid-friendly first aid kit on hand that includes such things as band aids, moistened towelettes and an ice pack. Another good idea is to know where the closest urgent care center and hospitals are, and if possible, have a pediatrician on call.

6. Get coverage

   You want to relax and enjoy your big day. That’s why it is important to purchase protection for incidents outside of your control, such as property damage to the venue or if someone gets injured at your event.

   Up to $2 million in wedding liability insurance can be purchased from Markel any time up to one day before your event. Policies start as low as $75. Get a free, no obligation event insurance quote now and learn how you can protect your wedding (and yourself).

You can spend months planning your wedding and the last thing you want to worry about is something going wrong. We hope these tips help you prepare for a smooth and carefree wedding day.