We’ve all been to THAT wedding. You know the one; where the kids spend the first half of the ceremony running around making only the kind of noise that children can, and the other half crying because their parents attempts to keep them quiet, involve a smacked bottom.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em children are part and parcel of most weddings. You may not invite them personally but your invites normally translate as your friends, families and their plus ones PLUS their kids.

Now before you decide that you’re one rattle away from turning into the Cruella De Ville of the of the baby world, just take into consideration that the little darlings are not deliberately trying to stop your priest from conducting the ceremony, they’re just bored!

If adults find themselves struggling with a three-hour ceremony, think of the impact it’s going to have on a young, curious and restless mind. The best way to deal with the situation is just let children be children, by creating a lovely fun distraction…

TIP 1 – GOODY BAGS

The easiest way to keep them occupied is to create little goody bags full of toys and treats - you may want to go easy on the E numbers, as the last thing you want to do is make them hyperactive!

Just fill some party bags with some crayons and little colouring in books and games that you can pick up in your local high street shops such as Woolworths. If your budget is tight then you will be able to find some great bargains at the Pound Shop. Just bear in mind the age of the child, as some toys may not be safe for some of the younger ones.

If all of that sounds like too much hassle then check out companies such as www.busybags.biz who do all the hard work for you, providing you with a range of bags for various ages.

TIP 2 – BRING IN THE PRO’S

If your budget can stretch to it, then hire a professional children’s entertainer that can keep them busy during the reception. Be it old-fashioned clowns or magicians, they will be a welcome distraction for the kids and the adults, who’ll actually get a chance to enjoy the reception.

TIP 3 – CREATE A PLAY AREA

If you’re lucky enough to have an adjoining room to your main reception area, make the most of it by turning it into a play area. Make sure you have some one responsible supervising at all times.  With that many children in one room, leaving your 14 year old niece in charge may not be the best idea.

You don’t need to buy or hire toys and games, just ask friends and family to lend their kids toys for the day.

If your reception is outside, think about erecting a bouncy castle, again get permission from the venue and make sure that health and safety rules will be adhered to. If you’ve got children of different ages, make sure that the teenagers are not jumping around with the little ones.

TIP 4 – ICE CREAM ANYONE?

It’s not just the reception room that can be made kiddie friendly, you can also add child like fun to your menu. Children can also get bored of food, so as gorgeous as your beautifully chosen and created dessert might be, it may not appeal to the toddlers and teens. Ask your caterer if they can also add a scoop of ice cream to the dessert option, just for the kids. It should keep them occupied long enough for their parents to appreciate your dessert instead.

So if you’ve got the toys, treats and ice cream sorted, you and the little ones should have a more peaceful and fun day.