A wedding day is a memorable event. Including innocent souls in the form of little children to act as a pageboy and a flower-girl, can add an element of a fairy-tale theme to the ceremony. It not only mesmerizes the viewers, but is always a hit with the newly-weds as they make their special day more adorable and priceless to fit in a picture-perfect frame.
However, just as a coin has two sides, it is not always a great idea to involve children in such important ceremonies as they are highly unpredictable and can even mess up the entire show with their inconsistent tantrums and unexpected behavior.
How preparing your tots for the wedding duties can be full of hassles?
Children usually aged between 3 to 9 years of age are chosen to perform the duties of a ring bearer or a flower girl. To participate in the main event, they have to rehearse for hours on the eve of a wedding. This can be quite taxing for the little children, who may spoil up the main event, in spite of incessant rehearsals and proper training.
The entire day’s ceremony on the wedding day involves a whole lot of duties for the flower-girl as well as the pageboy or the ring bearer, right from walking the aisle, holding the flower basket for the guests, standing with the bridesmaid and the groomsmen, respectively, for the entire length of the programs and even being a part of the wedding photographs. To handle it, all may not be possible for children of such tender age. And, as a result, the entire arrangement may just turn into a flop show.
To add on, as the parents of the participating children are not allowed to walk with them while performing their respective duties, this freedom given to the children can turn to a total disaster. Also, in the attempt to be a part of a wedding event, a child might have to compromise with his play-time and it might involve traveling as well, which might not be possible for him to handle, and ultimately give up on the final day.
Appropriate ways to involve kids in a wedding ceremony
If handled carefully and instructed smartly, children can lighten up and brighten up the entire wedding ceremony with their innocent performances, thus bringing a smile to the faces of all present around. To ensure this, however, certain tips should be followed.
1. The dress for the ceremony to be worn by a child should not be forced on him, constantly reminding him of its itchy feeling or that tight bow which would adorn his neck. Instead, the attire should be comfortable and the children involved should be made to participate in the activities right from the initial stages so as to build up the excitement of the D-day within him/her.
2. They should be given importance by way of involving them with the planning process so that they feel excited and readily await for the arrival of the big event.
3. Children should be asked to cast their opinion in connection to the music to be played for their entrance, the colors of the flowers and other simple, yet meaning things. Their involvement in these little, crucial decisions can make them thrilled and flabbergasted.
4. The boy who would carry the ring or the girl who would walk with the flowers should be made to understand how crucial and meaningful the job is for which they have been chosen. This will make them dispense their duties more responsibly.
5. If a child is not willing to participate, do not force him to do so, at any cost.
Tips to control prince and princess while following their wedding duties
1. Before choosing the children to act as a flower-girl or a page-boy, ensure that they are capable and confident enough to perform in-front of a huge crowd.
2. Make sure that the child attends the rehearsals of the wedding event regularly and practices properly, the part that has to play on the final day.
3. Make the child take a nap before the function and ensure that he has had a good night’s sleep so that they do not feel sleepy and drowsy during the rituals.
4. At no cost should the participating children be given sugar before the ceremony.
5. Bribe the child with a chocolate of his choice or a lollipop if he refuses to follow instructions, but give him his desired gift only after the show.
6. The attire to be worn by the children should be appropriate and feasible, comfort-wise.
7. Get the photographs clicked before the ceremony so as not to overburden the child at the end.
8. The entire wedding ceremony would take long, and thus be very tiresome for the children to stand through the entire length of it. So, they should be given rest and made to sit after the initial round of their duties is over.
Making children feel comfortable and the ceremony enjoyable for them can ensure the entire rigmarole of affairs to be successful.
