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17 Ways to Include Your Child in Your Wedding

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It has become more and more common for children from a previous relationship or from the couple pre-marriage to be included in weddings. On your big day, it’s completely understandable that you want children who mean so much to you to be involved. They are part of your life, too!

When planning your wedding day, you will need to keep your kids in mind and how much they can handle. Enlist a friend or family member to take charge of caring for them for the day. You have far too much on your plate already. Prepare them for spending a chunk of the day and, presumably, overnight without you.

Here are some great ideas for incorporating them in the big day:

    1. Let them help you pick out the ring.
    2. Have the children walk you down the aisle.
    3. Make them bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, or ring bearers.
    4. If they are children you had together, have them go down the aisle first holding a sign saying, “Wait until you see Mommy!”
    5. Let them hand out the wedding programs or confetti.
    6. If you are having a unity ceremony as part of the festivities, include them. Have them help light the candle. If you are pouring sand or candies into a joint bowl, have them pour their own candy.
    7. Present them with a ring or necklace of their own.
    8. Mention your child’s name in the ceremony.
    9. Let them sign the record of marriage. They cannot sign the license, but many traditions have a separate record that they can sign.
    10. Let the children play wedding photographer. Give them a cheap camera and let them loose to take pictures of whatever and whomever they want.
    11. Older children can participate in the ceremony by doing readings or singing.
    12. Exchange vows with the children.
    13. Hand out family medallions. A family medallion is a small token symbolizing the family as a whole.
    14. Have the children as part of the cake topper.
    15. Include them in your professional photos on that day.
    16. Have a second first dance that includes the children in some way.
    17. If your child is into arts and crafts, let him or her make something that is used in the big day.