Planning a wedding is a big task. Planning a wedding while raising children is an Olympic sport. Whether you have babies, toddlers, teens, or a whole blended tribe, this guide will help you create a day that feels joyful, calm, and totally reflective of your family.
Below are practical ideas to help you plan a beautiful wedding day that works for everyone.
1. Your Family Wedding
When you’re a parent, the wedding day isn’t just about two people saying “I do.” It’s a whole family stepping into a new chapter. Once you embrace that, everything becomes easier.
Children add energy, excitement, unpredictability, and real-life emotion. Lean into it rather than working against it.
2. Create a Wedding Day Schedule That Works for Children
Children thrive on structure, even on magical days. Think about nap times, normal mealtimes, and any routines that help them feel grounded.
A few tips:
- Plan the ceremony at a time when children are usually alert
- Keep travel between locations simple
- Build in pockets of downtime
- Have a quiet space ready for naps or wobbles
This reduces stress for everyone, including you.
3. Think About Childcare Early in the Planning Process
You don’t have to entertain children every moment of the day. Childcare support can make the celebration run more smoothly.
Ideas include:
- Hiring two nannies for a few hours
- Setting up a chill-out room with films, books, and beanbags
- Giving older children a helper role
- Asking a trusted friend to be the “kid wrangler” for key moments
Good childcare means you can be present, knowing everyone is safe and happy.
For more ideas on managing the little ones, you may enjoy:
A MUST READ IF YOU ARE HAVING CHILDREN AT YOUR WEDDING
4. Include Your Children in the Ceremony (only if they want to)
Children love being part of the moment, but only when it feels safe for them.
Here are gentle ways to include them:
- Walking down the aisle together
- Holding the rings
- Joining the signing moment
- Standing beside you for the vows
- Reading a short line or helping choose a song
And if they decide on the day they’d rather sit with Nana? Perfectly fine. Flexibility keeps everything calm.
5. Plan the Morning With Children in Mind
Wedding mornings can get chaotic. A few simple tweaks can make everything run smoothly:
- Lay out outfits the night before
- Prepare snacks your children actually eat
- Ask someone else to manage the kids’ clothes and hair
- Give yourself extra time for cuddles, spills, and last-minute dramas
You want calm, not chaos.
6. Think About How You Want to Capture Your Family in Photos
Your children are part of your story, so include them in the photographs in a way that feels natural.
A few thoughts:
- Don’t plan long posed sessions
- Keep it playful and short
- Bring snacks and spare outfits
- Let me photograph the real moments too — the cuddles, the giggles, the beautifully messy bits
Your family dynamic is part of what makes your wedding unique.
7. Prepare for Emotions… Yours and Theirs
Children feel big things on wedding days — excitement, tiredness, confusion, pride. And you’ll feel big things too.
Slow down. Take breaths. Notice the tiny moments. This is a day your children will talk about for years.
8. Remember: This Is Your Family Wedding
There’s no right or wrong way to plan a wedding when you already have children. You can have a relaxed garden party, a joyful city celebration, a simple ceremony in the woods, or a vibrant party in a barn.
The best weddings reflect the people in them.
Further Reading
Check out this blog post on RocknRoll Bride