Childcare during the cermony - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

ljeagle · #1 02-27-2006, 05:46 AM

We don't want kids under the age of 3 in the ceremony. We have a total of 8 babies on the list at this point. With 8 babies you all know when one starts crying they all start. We are making business cards to put in the invites to let the parents with kids know. I would like to know how I should word this. I want it to let them know Kidz @ Hart is providing this services. At the church for the ceremony only and for all kids under 3. But then let them know that the babies will join them for the reception.

SuzyBride · #2 02-27-2006, 06:11 AM

I would say something to the effect of:

For you convienence Kidz @ Hart will be providing childcare services during our wedding ceremony for children under the age of three years. Please pick up your child after the ceremony so that the children can join in on the fun at the reception.

You could also add that if any older children are restless they can also go.

Marrying_the_Good_Husband · #3 02-27-2006, 01:25 PM

That's good, Suzy.

Marge129 · #4 02-27-2006, 02:00 PM

1- Very good idea LJ!
2- I like Suzy's idea!

Keep in mind, though... some parents may not drop their kid off. Hopefully you won't have any problems, though. I think most people are respectful enough that if their child was screaming during the wedding that they'd get up and walk out. I know I would.

Marrying_the_Good_Husband · #5 02-27-2006, 02:05 PM

Good point, Margie. In that case I suppose you can word it more strongly. Start with Suzy's first sentence and then add something like this for the second sentence: Please drop all children under the age of three at (address) and pick them up after the ceremony...(the rest of what Suzy said).

feb-bride · #6 02-27-2006, 03:15 PM

I second Margie's thought. Not all parents will drop their kids off at the daycare service, particularly if you put that it's for THEIR convenience. I would be a little stronger in the wording. Something to the effect of, "We love children, but we ask that children under three years old not attend the ceremony. We are providing daycare service..." This way, you make it clear that the ceremony childcare is not optional if they want to bring their under-three children.

Just be forewarned that there are parents out there who will NOT drop their children off at daycare during the ceremony when they don't personally know the providers, regardless of the ceremony length. And - don't assume that people are considerate enough to take their crying children out of a ceremony. You'd be surprised at how ignorant some people are.

ljeagle · #7 02-27-2006, 04:27 PM

I don't see any problem with the parents not wanting there kids to be in the nursery. They will still be at the church just not in the ceremony. The church has a nursery in a room down stairs just a few room away from the reception hall. Most of the parents already have there children with this day care. I can only think of one that will have that problem and I'm not even sure she will bring the baby. Thanks ladies!

ljeagle · #8 02-27-2006, 04:36 PM

Do you think this sounds ok?

For you convenience Kidz @ Hart will be providing childcare services at the church during our wedding ceremony. For children under the age of three years. After the ceremony the children will join in on the fun at the reception.
There is no charge for this service.

wembley · #9 02-27-2006, 04:38 PM

It sounds good but it does sound optional. Do you want it to be optional or is this a requirement that all children under three in attendance go to the nursery?

cru5h · #10 02-27-2006, 04:38 PM

For you convenience Kidz @ Hart will be providing childcare services at the church during our wedding ceremony for children under the age of three. After the ceremony the children will join in on the fun at the reception.
There is no charge for this service.

No period before "for children". Years not necessary.

ljeagle · #11 02-27-2006, 04:52 PM

Cru5h I thought about that but it keep sounding like a run on to me. I will change it Thanks!

wembley i wondered about that but I only think one will take it as that. When I talk to her I will let her know there is to many babies that will be there to let them in the ceremony. She is a past friend of mine we haven't seen each other in years. I was in her wedding and drove 9 hours to be in it so she has always said she has to be there for mine. He will be about 8 months at that time and she is a stay at home mom so I'm hoping she will look at it as a break. Her and her husband is also invited to the rehearsal dinner and she is taking him to the center for that. So I might be worrying for nothing she might already have plans to take him to the center.

SuzyBride · #12 02-27-2006, 04:52 PM

For your convenience Kidz @ Hart will be providing childcare services at the church during our wedding ceremony for children under the age of three. After the ceremony the children will join in on the fun at the reception.
There is no charge for this service.

syringa · #13 02-27-2006, 05:56 PM

I don't think you need to mention "there is no charge for this service." If I were a guest I would have assumed that there was no charge until it was brought up.

Also, does the church have a cry room? If so, those moms who don't want to leave their babies in the nursery might be told that the cry room is available for their use. That way, they get a second message that the children are not really welcome in the sanctuary during the ceremony. They will then have the choice of sitting in the cry room and watching the ceremony or sitting with their spouse while the child is in the nursery.

ljeagle · #14 02-27-2006, 05:59 PM

The only cry room I know of in the church is where I'm getting ready.

michaelsbride · #15 02-27-2006, 06:42 PM

Just another little suggestion for the reception... set up a table with coloring books, crayons, activities, blank paper, and some of those great "find it jars" that was suggested in another post.

feb-bride · #16 02-27-2006, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelsbride

Just another little suggestion for the reception... set up a table with coloring books, crayons, activities, blank paper, and some of those great "find it jars" that was suggested in another post.

I did this (minus the "find-it jars"). It was a big hit with the kids AND with their parents. I even hired a sitter to watch over the kids at the kids' table, but she sucked wind.

Marge129 · #17 02-27-2006, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelsbride

Just another little suggestion for the reception... set up a table with coloring books, crayons, activities, blank paper, and some of those great "find it jars" that was suggested in another post.

I also did that... minus the "find it" jars. The two babysitters we hired were AWESOME, too!

sparklesweetie · #18 02-27-2006, 11:21 PM

Yes, people can be ignorant. The wedding I went to this weekend had a case of the screaming child....I could hardly hear the music for the processional. Then, the child started again at the reception. She took him to the restroom, (although you could still hear him screaming), and then you could hear her screaming "What's your problem?" over the best man's speech. Nice, huh?
And this would be why even though I love kids, I'm not having any at the ceremony. (Reception is more for censory purposes.)