Couples often want to include and involve children. Some don’t and that’s all good too!! It is your choice whether to invite children or not. There is no right or wrong. Your Celebrate People is here to help and support you at all times 🙂

ABOVE ALL, AS WITH ALL CELEBRATE PEOPLE CEREMONIES, HAVE FUN!!

There are lots of ways to give children a special place during your ceremony. Here are a few ideas.

Ask your celebrant for support or ideas.

For example:

• Involving them in handfasting or drinking from the quaich
• Giving out Orders of Service
• Distributing bags of confetti to family
• Ringbearer/ring “security”
• Walk the bride/groom down the aisle
• Choose (or let them choose) a special piece of music for them to walk down the aisle
• Bring up the handfast cloth
• Sand ceremony – all the family pours coloured sand into a container
• Do a reading or sing a song
• Receive a gift or ring as part of the vows
• Sign a witness form (unofficial made by your celebrant)
• Come out to the front and show off their outfit – do a twirl! Letting them choose their own outfit can be a very important part of the day for them – try to encourage them to express their own personality – there are no rules about what kids should wear!
• Make a special mention to the children during the vows or your story
• Mini Ushers / Groomspeople or second bestperson/witness of honour, Flower children

Some READINGS ideas

Two or more children or young people might share a poem too. There are many online that may work, or they might even write their own words to say how happy they are (like Terence in the photo). Here are a few examples:

Us Two – by A. A. Milne

Wherever I am, there’s always Pooh, There’s always Pooh and Me. “What would I do?” I said to Pooh, “If it wasn’t for you,” and Pooh said: “True, It isn’t much fun for One, but Two, Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. “That’s how it is,” says Pooh.

Oh the Places You’ll go – by Dr Seuss

“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the couple who’ll decide where to go.”

My Advice – by Anon

Mum and Dad Get married Today, I’d like to help them on their way. So here’s some special advice from me, To help them with our family.

Keep our house filled with laughter Let’s have fun forever after. Keep the drawer filled up with sweets, And give us children lots of treats.

Make sure you spend time together, To keep your happiness forever. Make sure you spend lots on us, And then us kids won’t make a fuss.

But the most important thing for you, Is to show your love in all you do. A caring word, a kiss, a touch, And those family cuddles that mean so much