Incorporating teens into DW

When we get married in 2010 FI's children will be 18 and almost 16. I would like to present them with something or somehow include them more than just standing up for us. Does anyone have any suggestions?

We are going to do the civil ceremony at home a week prior to DW so the kids can sign the certificate in Negril and be the MOH and BM. FI and I will have been together for 6 years by 2010.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

I will be watching your post to see what peoples responses are because I am in a similar situation. Me and my FI are getting married this Dec and will have been together 7 1/2 years. I have one son who will be 15 in Dec and my FI has 2 sons and a daughter (18, 11, 16). We want to have the kids involved in the wedding. They will all be in the wedding party.

So far I thought of doing the sand ceremony together as a family and having one child read a poem. My son will walk me down the aisle as my dad won't be there. The young one won't be a problem... he will get into things ... it is the older ones I worry about.

Thanks for the post.

Including them in a sand ceremony might be something to look at - search here for "sand ceremony" and you'll find lots of threads. It can be a great way to involve kids - young and old...

I'm glad you posted this cause I was wondering the same thing. My son will be 16 and his children will be 16 (girl) and 8 (boy) when we get married next year. I did think about doing the sand ceremony thing as well. Just couldn't think of any other ideas. I'd like to see other peoples suggestions!

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t19380

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t8774

I found a couple threads that may have some ideas too! I hope that helps.

Also, when my parents were married (WAY back in the day- I was only 8 ) we did some vows. We promised to be loving, supportive children for the sake of our new family. I was a turd, so I'm not sure how true I stayed to my vows.

So, I married a man with 2 sons. They were 12 and 15 at the time. The eldest served as the best man, and the youngest walked me down the aisle. We didn't force them to do any of this, it was actually their idea...and it was really special.

In hind sight, it may have been nice to do something like a sand ceremony that symbolized the joining of us all...but I remember thinking at the time that I didn't want to do anything that made the kids feel uncomfortable, and I kinda thought that might be weird for them.

Anywho - I really suggest opening it up to the kids & seeing what they might like to do, you might be surprised!

Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it! You guys are so full of ideas and inspiration! Thanks!

dougs son 12 will be his best man, and his daughter 9 will be my MOH. we are doing a sand ceremony to symbolize the joining of us as a family, but other than that i wanted it to be all about doug and i. i've never been married, and he went thru the big wedding thing 11 years ago his first time, so i think that's why i didnt want the entire focus to be about the whole family after the sand ceremony part. after all, it's me and him getting married!