Of weddings and kiddie guests... :)

Aside from having budget constraints, couples are sometimes wary of inviting children because let's face it, children are unpredictable. I've had my share of "kiddie moments"; thus, I thought of the following reminders: 

Look at how well-behaved these children were during the event.
They stayed seated outside the perimeter of the dance floor until
the time I ended the programme. Love them!

The Invitation: 

a) Brides and Grooms usually state the names of the invitees on the envelope. If they didn't write all names, but they took time to indicate the number of seats equal to that of the number of family members you have, then it is safe to assume that your children are invited as well. 

b) However, if the bride and groom wrote 2 on the slot for number of seats, it is safe to assume that the seats are really just for you and your partner. 

c) Before you ask if you can take your child along, do check if there is a notation similar to this: "an adult affair". 

d) If you asked the bride/groom prior to seeing the "adult affair" notation, do dress your child according to the attire request printed on the invitation. It's another way of showing respect to the couple who painstakingly thought of the theme as well as the motif of their wedding. 

e) If your child is a member of the entourage, he/she is automatically included in the invitation.  

The Meal: 

Usually kiddie meals are provided to both the kids and their yayas. Thus, it can be safely assumed that the buffet takes into consideration only the adult guest count sans kids and yayas. 

The Ceremony and Programme: 

Some couples provide toys, coloring materials, and the like so that children will be busy during the ceremony and the programme. However, in case they aren't kept busy by these things or they have grown tired of the games in your tablet or phone, do take note of the following moments: 

a) the vows - I'm sure you've heard of priests requesting that children be taken to the back of the church or to the garden when they start crying or arguing loudly as soon as the vows have started. 

b) the first kiss - It's really the couple's moment, let's give it to them.

c) the march down the aisle - Children running around the aisle should be brought to another area of the church so that they will have room to move without affecting the march.

d) the grand entrance - Usually couples take time to plan this; thus, they may be terribly disappointed if they are distracted by children playing tag or hollering at the top of their lungs.

e) the first dance - Again, some take time to choreograph their dances with their videos and pictures in mind; thus, responsible parents usually take their children to other areas in the pavilion so that the couple can have their moment.

f) the cake-cutting ceremony - Some children like cake and yes, it might be very difficult to take them away from the area. However, parents have shown much understanding and they do take their kids away before the kids start poking the cake while the cake cutting ceremony is underway. 

g) the speeches - It's distracting for speakers to have kids weaving between them and the couple while they are delivery their lines. 

h) the showing of the on-site photo slideshow and the same day edit - Kids like to stand between the projector and the screen because they like seeing their heads bob up and down or they have their own version of shadow puppets. Since most brides and grooms look forward to these two AVPs, the most polite response would be to avoid having kids near the said equipment when the emcee starts introducing the said AVPs. 

Brides and Grooms understand that children are children and they will always have their own ways of sharing the limelight. It's up to the parents though to ensure that children take their piece of the spotlight only during appropriate moments. :)