Ceremony
Four Ways To Include Children In Your Wedding Ceremony
While some couples may opt entirely out of having children at their wedding, others find that their innocence and joy adds something special to the ceremony. This is particularly true if the bride or the groom (or both) have children from a previous relationship – what better way is there to make them feel loved and welcomed in a new family than to include them in the celebrations? Here are a few ideas for including children in your wedding ceremony.
Involve them in the pre-wedding preparations
Got kids who like crafting? Take a leaf out of Angelina Jolie’s book – she gave her veil and dress over to her children, who covered them in colourful scribbles. A less extreme version would be helping them create your bouquet, coming up with souvenirs for the guests, or creating special treats for the reception together.
Appoint them as flower girl, ring bearer or bridesmaids
Having the little ones scattering petals before you walk up the aisle or presenting the rings on a cushion will make them feel special and important. A slightly older girl can enjoy the privilege of being a junior bridesmaid, which has all of the fun and none of the fretting that the adult role entails.
Get them to perform or read
If the child in question is gifted, why not ask them to perform at your wedding? They can have a solo performance, play a special piece or read a poem they wrote. If they’re confident and mature enough, they can also do some of the readings that are part of the ceremony.
Write them into your vows
Your vows symbolise your commitment towards each other, and that means a commitment to each other’s children by extension, especially if they’re still young and dependent on you. Mentioning them in your vows will help reassure them that, in a time when the family is undergoing a transformation, nothing about your love for them has changed. You can also present them with a symbolic token, similar to your rings, to seal the deal.