PLAY TIME
play time
From excitable entrances to raucous receptions, weddings aren’t always child-friendly, so here are our favourite ways to keep younger guests happily entertained from dawn until dusk Tipi Cornwall Childcare
words Elizabeth Chester
Photography Steven Prebble
If you’ve decided to welcome guests’ children at your wedding, chances
scatter cushions and the all-important crafting box where little ones can make and
are you’re imagining them to be full of fun and oh-so cute. But with guests
do in the comfort of their own space. If you choose tents that are a blank canvas,
wanting to party, and children wanting to play, it’s a good idea to have a few
your littlest ones could always decorate them using washable pens, felt shapes, pom-
ideas up your sleeve to keep everyone happy…
poms, and bunting. Perhaps you could set a challenge for the best-dressed tent?
Scavenger hunts
“Choose magic painting books, too,” says Elsie. “They are mess-free!” Sticker books
Who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? Organise a trail for your littlest guests and let
may also capture their imagination. “You can get some great wedding or themed
them run around the grounds of your venue looking for their treasure. Themes
sticker books,” she says. You could even suggest they all decorate a felt bucket for
such as Peter Rabbit, Superheroes, Nature, or Love (it is a wedding, after all!) can
the scavenger hunt?
make lovely scavenger hunt themes. If you happen to be getting married around Easter, you have a ready-made theme, and your little folk will no doubt be delighted
Older children could be given the role of official reportage photographer and
to look for Easter eggs. Crafty types could fashion wooden signs or clues to match
could set up their studio in a yurt or tent and invite guests, young and old, to be
your theme and help your little ones along the trail. Hunts and trails could also
photographed. It may be best to stick with an official photographer, too, though!
incorporate the happy couple. “Ask the children to find things beginning with the couple’s initials,” suggests Elsie Preddy from Cornwall Childcare (cornwallchildcare.
Fancy dress
com), which offers wedding crèches and wedding nannies, as well as babysitting and
Fancy dress boxes rock for any age. From dinosaurs to princesses, doctors to
overnight care services.
wizards and plenty of pirates, pile all your favourite dressing-up costumes into an old trunk and watch your little guests’ imaginations run wild. Make sure your reportage
Ask children to collect their treasure for a prize at the end – we love personalised felt
photographers – and official one – are on hand to capture some of the amazing
buckets. And while collecting treasures along the way may work well for a small do, if
characters that are sure to make their way through your reception!
there are hordes of children, it might be easier to ask them to tick the things they find off a list “or get them to take photos of the treasures they are looking for,” suggests
Traditional garden games may come in handy here, too. Once everyone has
Elsie. Polaroid cameras will mean they can show off their finds instantly and they will
dressed as their alter ego of choice, how about a princess versus prince sack race, a
love the instant appeal of the images popping out of the camera. “You’ll have the
superhero egg and spoon challenge, or maybe dinosaur croquet?
memories forever and some lovely photos from a child’s point of view,” adds Elsie.
Themed tents
Bouncy castle For entertainment of the let-them-get-on-with-it kind, bouncy castles can provide
Decorated tents, yurts, or wigwams for children to run between, hide inside, and
hours of fun. This will allow grown-up guests to watch their little people enjoying
craft in, make beautiful focal points at outside areas, too. Fill each tent with a rug,
themselves while they enjoy the liquid refreshments on offer!
103
