Tag: kids

There’s many couples I marry who ask me ‘How can we include our children in our wedding?’ After all, it’s a pretty big day for them too. The fact that they are going to be part of the biggest day of their parents life… well, that’s just super-fab.

Below are some ideas to get you thinking about the best way to include your little ones in your ceremony.

WEDDING PARTY-People

Kids are never too young to join in as part of the wedding party. If they can’t walk (or can’t be trusted yet to walk down the aisle in a straight line), they can be carried down the aisle. I’ve had kids walk in escorting the bride/groom, babies replacing bouquets, step-kids as flower-girls, and boys as best men.

Bringing up the Rings

You may have been to weddings where a younger member of the wedding party would act as a ring-bearer. It doesn’t need to be a boy doing this, and nor does it need to be one child. You could have two kids bring up two rings individually, or a group bringing them all up together.

Who knows – you may get an ace kid like this one at Mia and Liam’s wedding, who produced some fake rings just to trick them a bit.

Promises

You can make promises to the child/children, similar to the personalised vows you make to each other. These can either be incorporated into the vows that you share or can be made after you have shared your wedding vows.

This can be such an emotional part of ceremony, as depicted by Jesse and his step-daughter below.

GIFTS

Couples give each other a ring to show their commitment, so what about giving a gift to the kids as well? Gifts can include:

• a piece of jewelry
• a memento from the gift-givers own childhood
• a favourite book
• a photo of you and the child
• a letter of promises which you can read and then give to them

READINGS

If you think your child would like a moment to share some words, you could encourage them to a readings by one or more of the children.

They can choose a reading each, and this might be only a paragraph or two. They can also deliver a reading as a group, or nominate the eldest or most confident child to deliver on behalf of them all. These readings can be an excerpt from one of their favourite books, films, or a song.

SIGNING OF CERTIFICATE

Unfortunately your kids can’t be the official witnesses of your wedding unless they’re over 18. They also can’t put their signature (or their scribble if they’re not yet at that stage) on your Certificate of Marriage as this is a legal document that cannot be defaced in any way.

However, what they can do is sign a non-legal certificate, such as a ‘Commemoration of Marriage’. You can design this any way you want, and children, or anyone else, can sign this as part of the ceremony.

And finally

Kids may not necessarily be into the ‘lovey-dovey’ stuff, like Catherine’s son when she gave Mitch a married kiss below. However, it’s a pretty momentous day for them too, and I’ll always include the importance of this during the ceremony so they are acknowledged.

If you’d like to contact me to discuss this, or any other ideas, please either fill in the contact form, and on get in touch via email at roxy@roxyrocks.com or on 0478041227.