Wed Recap: The little ones...

One thing we knew for sure was that there would be lots of kids at our wedding.  Out of a guest list of about 190 people in attendance, at least 15 to 20 of those were kids ranging from 6 months to 16 years in age. 

Our 2 little nephew ring bearers hanging out pre-ceremony

By Grant Sharp

Now everyone knows how hard it is to keep kids entertained at a wedding, at least during the ceremony portion.  So I had lots of ideas to keep them busy and active.  And it had to start with our four ring bearers (3 of which were Mr Fix It's nephews and 1 was my nephew) and our flower girl (my little cousin). 

Our Junior Groomsmen (nephew) keeping some of the ring bearers entertained

Besides the favor boxes that were specific to the younger aged children that I blogged about here, and the little kids corner area that we set up with portable DVD players, lollipops, craft kits, coloring books and two paid babysitters, we had a few things that I didn't share previously.  Oh, and that kids corner with the babysitters?   Yeah, there were at least a couple kids in that room the entire night!  So it was definitely a good idea and money well spent!

Of course, the kids had fun with the ribbon wands that we left on the ceremony chairs for all the guests to wave as we walked back down the aisle:

By Kathleen Wolsfeld

And they loved the flashing sunglasses and mouthguards that we gave them for the reception (though the flashing didn't really show up well in these pictures)

By Kathleen Wolsfeld

By Chad Beever

A big hit were the table top bowling pin sets.  And the older ones danced the night away.

You can imagine how many fun shots the younger ones took in the photobooth (there were at least SIXTY photo strips of my flower girl, junior groomsmen and younger cousins alone in the booth!).

They adored the chocolate fountain...Yum!

By Heather Hughes

And these two would not stop bothering our magician...he was so great with them!

My sister said my little 3 year old nephew is still playing with his favor box toys even today four months later!  But probably the best investment I made for the ring bearers was for the ceremony portion of our day.  When they made their way to the end of the aisle as seen here:

A little bribery goes a long way:

I told their mothers that they could just gather them in the front row to sit down so they didn't have to stand on the altar for a good 45 minutes to an hour.  And waiting on their chairs in the front row, I had these little goodies:

Silent and yummy and entertaining!

I got these little mini travel sized magna doodles at Target for like $10 each and they kept the boys busy during the ceremony.  And you can't go wrong with a sucker!  Especially the ones that last for hours.

By Grant Sharp

But for some reason, my sister's in-laws felt the need to also have a bag of Reese's Pieces waiting for my little nephew.  That was something we had not planned on and right at the beginning of the ceremony he dropped the bag and the little candies spilled everywhere in the front and into the aisle.   Now I did not see them as they tried to quickly pick them up but apparently several of the wedding party and family members at the front of the altar saw all this go down and started laughing thinking it was just hilarious.  Good thing I had the sucker there for him so that he wasn't in tears about losing all of his candies!

And for added convenience for the guests with the youngest kids...these precious babies:

I even had our rental company swap out 4 of the chivari chairs for highchairs....which my family profusely thanked us for!  And as a special treat for these super young ones who can't really play with toys, we gifted them these fun little personalized bibs:

By Heather Hughes

By Chad Beever

Share time:  Did you do anything different or special for the younger guests you invited or included in your wedding?

TODAY'S WEDDING TIP:  Read the above information.  I think it speaks for itself.  Be sure to have little things throughout your day available for little ones to be entertained and kept busy so they don't get bored - or loud!

Unless otherwise noted, all photos by Robert Mullins Photography
All raw video footage provided courtesty Video Keepsakes of Beverly Hills

I want to sit at the kids table at your wedding!

One of my favorite things I have planned for the wedding details:  the kids favors.  So fun!  I almost wish I could give these favors to all of the wedding guests.  But that would actually be a bit expensive.  For the kids, you go a little more over the top...why?  Partly because children are the life of a party in my opinion.  Even when my little cousin came screaming as she crossed the dance floor during my sister's grand entrance, we all loved that the moment was remembered because, let's face it...kids are unpredictable!  And they are so sweet, too.

But the kids at a wedding may tend to get a bit bored and mom and dad won't have much fun if they are trying to keep them entertained all night.  I am still not sure if we are going to have an actual kids table or not at the reception...we will probably just have the kids seated at their parent's tables.  The only children being invited are family members only but that still leaves our guest list with 5 babies under 18 months old, 18 kids between 2 yrs and 12 yrs old and 5 teenagers!

We have decided to set up a kids corner with some paid babysitters monitoring it to watch the youngest kids.  I will blog more about that in the future...but at the reception for the actual tables, I have come up with some very creative ideas for the little favor boxes and treats that will entertain the littlest of these guests.  But first, here's a couple of original ideas I had which I chose not to implement but still want to share with you.

And for my own favor boxes, here's what I will be gifting for my dear little cutie pie cousins and nieces and nephews:

I have rented high chairs for the babies in lieu of the chivari chairs...trying to think of the convenience of my guests.  :)  Here's what will be waiting for each baby on their high chair:

And for the kids, they will find a fun placemat at their place setting courtesy of Jean M products.   We ordered the placemats in our wedding color with our names on it and it has a wedding word search, maze, and scavenger hunt on it for the kids to find things like a bouquet, cake, groom, butter, etc.

They will also have a circus shaped favor box at their place setting.  Instead of this flower on it, we will have a label with some fun kid designs and their name & the box will be in one of the two wedding colors with a box belt in the opposite color and decorated with a few paper flowers.  I found these pretty inexpensive at http://www.bayleysboxes.com/ and they had a TON of different box colors and patterns to choose from.

Inside, they'll find the following items (see the slideshow below for pics and links to sites where you can find these items):

* 2 oz Play-Dough  * Mini mad libs book or Bible Activity book  *  Flashing sunglasses or flashing mouth guard  *  Bear Stickers or Make your own car stickers  *  Finger puppets  *  Silly flower straws  *  Jesus is the Light flashlight  *  Mini bowling ball set  *  Heart shaped slinkys  *  Frog photo frame craft kit or a Beaver magnet craft kit  *  Lollipops in funky holders  *  Gel pens  *  Hair clips (for the older girls)

My favorite two things in the kids box:  the Beaver craft kits (since my fiance's last name is Beever) and the flashing mouth guards which will only be for the older kids:

How fun will that be for the kids to be walking around the dimly lit reception room and dance floor with their flashing sunglasses and mouth guards?

There is plenty for these kids to be kept entertained with.  My favorite site I found in the midst of all my shopping:

http://www.designed2bsweet.com/  (And yes, I found a coupon code online for this store!)

I will definitely post pictures of the finished product closer to wedding day!

So, what do you think?  Are you doing any fun favors for the kids at your wedding if they are attending?  You could also make these little kits for your ring bearer or flower girl to keep them busy throughout the day.

A blog post filled with photos!

So I've visited my venue a total of 4 times in the past year:  1)  First time in Nov, 2008 Mr Fix It and I went on the appointment to check it out and ask the questions.  2)  Second time in Jan, 2009 when I took my mom and sis to see it after we had booked it.  3)  Third time on April 16th, 2009 at 5 pm (the exact day and time in 2010 that our wedding ceremony will take place) with my daughter and coordinator so I could get pics of the place at the same time of day and year that we'll be there.  4)  Fourth time in August when I took my future MIL and SIL to see it.

I get to go again on January 7th when I take another future SIL to see it while she is in town taking 2 of our 4 little ring bearers to Disneyland.  While I was there on April 16th last year I took lots of photos of the different areas so I could plan accordingly for lighting, weather, sunset, etc.  All the pics below are mostly my personal shots from that day.

The coolest thing about this place - the private zoo on the premises that guests can walk the trail before the ceremony or during the cocktail hour to see 4 tigers, llamas, zebras, wild cats, exotic birds and more! Check it out - what do you think?

The entrance where guests walk along the trellis to the gathering/cocktail area when they first arrive.

The Cocktail area by a fountain pool (we will have a strolling magician during our cocktail hour to entertain the guests)

Look at how all the flowers are in full bloom in April!  Love it!

Another shot of cocktail area from above (to the left is the outdoor bar area, in the distance is the outdoor teatro where the ceremony is held)

The outdoor teatro where the ceremony is held (the bridal party make their entrance across that bridge)

Another shot of the outdoor ceremony area with chairs set up

A shot from the teatro looking up at Rick's Cafe. The balcony is a very popular photo op location. (This is also how the guests get down to the ceremony site from the cocktail/reception area...it is also where we are setting up a 'kids corner' area with babysitters for younger children to play games and watch DVD's and even let younger babies sleep in small pack n plays)

The reception area with a stone fireplace in the center where our sweetheart table will be set up in front of (It also has another bar area available and an alcove behind the fireplace where we can set up the buffet and keep it out of sight of the guests dining tables)

The alcove behind the fireplace where the buffet and chocolate fountain will be set up.

The patio off the reception room (Grand Salon) where our photobooth and guestbook table will be set up.

Some shots of inside Rick's Cafe where the kids corner will be set up...it's very cool, there are different table/bar areas for guests as well as another fireplace for ambience

 

The bride's cottage / preparation area.  To the right of that bridge is a patio area and the bride's cottage is the door on that patio.  The bridesmaids and I will exit that cottage and walk across the bridge to the ceremony (aisle).

Though not large, there's even an area behind the teatro for a 'groom's quarters'.  Not many places offer a place for the guys to change and hang in!

The gazebo out at the ceremony area - the guitarist (my friend Charlie) will be set up behind that little arch that juts out into where the guests will be seated.

Where guests will walk in from...that raised brick area will have the gift table on it.

Orchards behind the teatro (ceremony area) where we will have some pretty photo ops

The main entrance that guests turn into the estate off of the road.

The area where guests will exit their vehicles at the valet station...also a wonderful photo op area

The estate has some beautiful lawns, trees and flowers and this vintage red photo booth I can't wait to get some fun shots in!

More pretty walkways for photos

Another shot of the cocktail/fountain and outdoor bar area

A deck (part of the cocktail area) next to Rick's Cafe

Cocktail area lit up at dusk

Cocktail area with lounge chairs and tables set out (we won't have that big round ottoman at our cocktail hour but we will have some cushioned benches and tables up against the fountain pool similar to those brown ones).

Photos courtesy of personal camera, Rancho Las Lomas, www.thebecker.com and Renee Broughton Photography