There’s often a lot of focus on making sure adults have a fantastic time at weddings, but if there will be children involved, it’s equally important to have children’s entertainment at your wedding. Children can quickly become restless during the ceremony and reception, so it’s essential to have a plan in place to keep them engaged so there are no teary tantrums or storm-offs.
At Encore Musicians, we help thousands of couples each year plan their wedding entertainment and have curated this list below of fun ideas to ensure that the little ones have a blast at your wedding.
Children’s Entertainment Ideas for Weddings
- Create a Kids’ Corner
Designate a specific area at your venue as a kids’ corner, filled with fun activities and games to keep children entertained. Set up a table with colouring books, crayons, puzzles, and craft supplies where kids can unleash their creativity. Consider including board games, building blocks, and soft toys to cater to different age groups and interests.
- Outdoor Games
If your wedding venue has outdoor space, take advantage of it by arranging outdoor activities for children to enjoy. Set up lawn games like giant Jenga or bean bag toss to keep the kids busy. If you have someone who could supervise or feel the venue is secure enough, you could also organise a scavenger hunt.
- Provide a Sweet Treat Station
Kids love sweet treats, so why not set up a dedicated sweet treat station at your wedding? Create a confectionary buffet with jars filled with a variety of sweets and chocolates for kids to help themselves to throughout the day.
For a more creative approach, offer kids a make-your-own dessert station with cupcakes, cookies, and ice cream to decorate.
- Provide Activity Packs
Prepare activity packs or goody bags for each child attending your wedding, filled with small toys, puzzles, stickers, and other goodies to keep them occupied during quiet moments.
Remember to Include a mix of activities that cater to different ages and interests, ensuring that every child has something fun to enjoy throughout the day.
- Create a Kids’ Menu
Offer a kid-friendly menu that caters to children’s tastes and preferences. Keep it simple with classic favourites like chicken nuggets, mini pizzas, pasta, and finger sandwiches, accompanied by child-sized portions of fruit, vegetables, and snacks.
Providing a dedicated kids’ menu ensures that children have something delicious to eat and helps to prevent fussy eating or mealtime tantrums.
- Set Up a Movie Corner
If the wedding reception venue allows, create a cosy movie corner with bean bags, cushions, and blankets where children can relax and watch their favourite films. Set up a screen and projector or use a large TV to play a selection of children’s movies and cartoons throughout the day. This provides a quiet and relaxing space for children to unwind and enjoy some screen time while the party is in full swing.
- Involve Kids in Special Moments
Make children feel included in the wedding celebrations by involving them in special moments, such as the ceremony or speeches. Consider giving them roles as flower girls, ring bearers, or junior bridesmaids/groomsmen, or invite them to join in the first dance with the newlyweds. Involving kids in special moments creates lasting memories and helps them feel like an integral part of the wedding day.
- Provide Comfortable Seating
Ensure that there is plenty of comfortable seating available for children throughout the venue. Consider hiring or arranging child-sized tables and chairs where kids can sit comfortably during meals and activities. Providing designated seating areas for children encourages them to stay seated and engaged, reducing the likelihood of restlessness or disruptive behaviour.
Professional Children’s Wedding Entertainer Ideas
For extra peace of mind, you might want to consider hiring a professional children’s entertainer for your wedding. We compiled this list below of popular wedding entertainers who are guaranteed to keep the little ones happy:
- Magician: Hiring a magician to perform close-up magic tricks or stage illusions can captivate children’s imaginations and provide endless entertainment. Magicians often incorporate interactive elements and audience participation, making it a fun and engaging experience for kids of all ages.
- Clown or Mime: A clown or mime can bring laughter and joy to your wedding with their comedic antics and playful performances. From balloon twisting and juggling to face painting and interactive games, clowns and mimes can entertain children with their colourful costumes and entertaining antics.
- Face Painter: Face painting is always a great idea for kid’s wedding entertainment, allowing them to transform into their favourite characters or animals with colourful designs and patterns. Hire a professional face painter to set up a face painting station where children can choose from a variety of designs and have their faces adorned with vibrant colours.
- Balloon Twister: A balloon twister can create intricate balloon sculptures and designs that will delight children and add a touch of whimsy to your wedding. From animals and characters to hats and swords, children will love watching as balloon twisters work their magic and create custom creations for each guest.
- Circus Performer: Bring the excitement of the circus to your wedding with circus performers such as jugglers, acrobats, and stilt walkers. Children will be thrilled to watch as performers showcase their skills and entertain with daring feats and mesmerising tricks.
- Cartoon Character Mascots: Hire cartoon character mascots to make special appearances and interact with children at your wedding. Whether it’s beloved characters from children’s movies, TV shows, or storybooks, mascots can pose for photos, lead dance parties, and engage in playful interactions with young guests.
- Bubble Artist: A bubble artist can create mesmerising bubble displays and performances that will enchant children and adults alike. From giant bubbles and bubble sculptures to bubble shows and interactive bubble play, bubble artists are great children’s entertainment for weddings.
Ideas for live music at weddings that keep kids entertained as well
To save on costs, you can consider hiring live musicians who are also great at entertaining kids. At Encore, we have a wide range of wedding entertainers who are very popular among both children and adults. Here are some of our top recommendations:
- Singing Guitarist: A singing guitarist can serenade children with acoustic renditions of popular children’s songs and nursery rhymes. Their soothing melodies and catchy tunes will create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for children to sing along and dance to.
- A Cappella Group: An a cappella group can impress children with their vocal harmonies and lively performances. Whether it’s classic children’s songs or contemporary hits, an a cappella group can entertain young guests with their dynamic arrangements and infectious energy.
- Roaming Bands: Hire a roaming band to wander around the venue and serenade children with upbeat tunes and interactive performances. Children will love dancing and singing along as the band moves from table to table, creating a festive and engaging atmosphere throughout the reception.
- Singing Waiters: Surprise children with a performance by singing waiters who suddenly break into song and dance during the meal service. Singing waiters can entertain children with their dynamic performances and encourage them to join in the fun with sing-alongs and audience participation.
- Swing & Jive Bands: Get children swinging and jiving with a swing & jive band that specialises in lively and upbeat music. With their infectious rhythms and catchy melodies, a swing & jive band can create a fun and festive atmosphere that will have children tapping their feet and dancing along.
- Ceilidh Bands: Invite children to experience the joy of traditional Scottish dancing with a ceilidh band that plays lively Celtic music and leads interactive dance sessions. Children will love learning simple ceilidh dances like the Dashing White Sergeant and the Gay Gordons, and they’ll have a blast twirling and skipping around the dance floor.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this guide has given you enough ideas for children’s entertainment for your wedding. Remember, happy kids make for happy wedding guests, so make sure to plan ahead and create a memorable experience for the little ones attending your special day.
If you like to look through more ideas for children’s entertainment for weddings, explore our collection of wedding entertainers.