Collaborative Post¦ Whether you are becoming a stepparent, or you have had children before you decided to get married, having your children involved in the pre-wedding excitement is something that can do a lot to cement the bond between everyone. What does it really take to ensure that you can get your children involved in wedding planning in an effective way?
Letting Them Make Small Decisions
It’s you and your partner’s big day, so while you may have your heart set on a castle wedding venue, you have to remember that your children want to feel like they are part of the decision-making process. Therefore, speaking to your children about the things that they want out of the day is always a good way to keep them involved. Ultimately, you have the final say but this is where you need to manage their expectations. You can always let them decide on small things. For example, picking out certain ribbons or little decorations. The smaller decisions may not have a big impact in terms of the day itself, but it’s going to make a big difference on the child because they have had some sense of responsibility.
Let Them Try the Cake
One of the most exciting parts of preparing for a wedding is when you are sampling the delights! And what child doesn’t love cake? As a family, you can try the different types of food and you can all compare notes. The great thing about having a child along when you are tasting the cake is that you’re going to get an instant reaction. If they say they don’t like the cake, it means that it’s probably not sweet enough, and while this may mean a blushing baker, you can’t help but admire the honesty of a child!
They Can Help With the Music
It’s one of the most fun parts of wedding planning. When it all gets a bit too much and you are feeling overwhelmed by budgets and things falling through, taking the opportunity as a family to go through a playlist is going to ensure that everybody gets their favourite songs and you can all have a dance to them! Your children may want things that are only for them but this is when you reiterate the point that there will be some boring Mummy and Daddy songs, but there will be stuff for them, and also something for the great auntie to dance to!
Getting Them To Make a Calendar
One of the greatest things about weddings from a child’s perspective is that they may very well see long-lost cousins and family members they don’t get to see regularly. Having a countdown calendar is an amazing way to get them more excited.
The fact is that all the planning can be a very frustrating part of the wedding process. And you may want to keep your children away from wedding planning, but if you do get them involved, you can get the balance right, and ensure that there are things that will get them excited for the big day.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.