It’s All About Bedtime:  How to Plan a Kid-Friendly Wedding Reception

By State College wedding musician Rick Hirsch of Rick Hirsch Music and Quintessence

If you’re planning to have families with children at your reception, consider the following:

Timing
Considerations
1. Typical bedtimes are between 7:30 and 9:00 for kids ten and under. 
2. When kids go to bed later than usual, their bodies still wake up at their normal time, and they’re pretty tired the next day, which can make for a long day for Mom and Dad.  Older kids weather the lack of sleep better.

What to do
Make sure dinner is served by 6:00.  This way kids and their parents will get to enjoy the nice meal you’ve arranged for them.  And, if you’re having dancing, they’ll get to partake in that as well.  They may not last the entire evening, but they will have enjoyed several hours of a wonderful reception.

Food
Considerations
1.  Kids’ taste buds are still developing, especially those under 10
2.  Kids may or may not decide to eat much of their meal
3.  They may tank up on pigs-in-blankets, cheese, and Shirley Temples during cocktail hour anyhow
4.  Some kids seem to be allergic to everything.

What to do
Order kids’ meals:  chicken fingers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, PB&J are generally fail-safe.  Spaghetti with sauce is a no-no — remember that these kids are wearing fancy clothes! If you have a chance, ask Mom & Dad if there are food allergies.

Idle Hands…
Considerations
1.  The kids will need things to do
2.  A fresh pack of Crayola washable markers is a great party favor!

What to do
1.  Provide coloring or activity books (age-appropriate), pens, colored pencils
2.  Dime-store hand-held games can be fun — remember those infuriating get-the-marble-thru-the-maze-and-into-the-little-hole things?  It’s payback time!

Kids Table
Recommended for kids aged 8-12.  Kids as young as 5 could do well here, as long there is a critical mass of older kids.  Best advice is to check with the parents — they know their kids best.

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Rick Hirsch is a musician in State College whose bands have played for all kinds of kid-friendly and kid–unfriendly weddings.  He has three daughters of his own, and he has been there!
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Phone: (814) 867-9935
Email:  JazzItUp@mac.com
Web:  JazzUpYourParty.com

To read more about State College wedding receptions, visit the Articles page.