Brides with Kids/Stepkids

[aubry]

I've seen a few posts here and there about some ideas, but no place to consolidate for those with kids already.

 

I have five kids - 3 biological, 2-step from ages 1 - 9. It's important to us to have them involved in the ceremony. I've heard that some include them in a sand ceremony or as the wedding party. Does anyone have any other ideas or seen anything neat to help them be a part?

 

Also, we are really having trouble with the rooms. Not sure how to book rooms with so many! Any advice from TA's would be appreciated.

 

We are sending all of them back with family for a few days after the wedding so we can have a honeymoon! Yay!!

 

Love to hear thoughts, ideas, and suggestions from others who have or are doing DW's with kids in tow! So glad to have a kids' club!!

[aubry]

Here are some helpful links I found. Pretty basic, but a start:

 

Sand ceremony: How to Use a Unity Sand Ceremony for Blended Families | eHow.com

 

Kids part of ceremony: How to Incorporate Children Into a Wedding Ceremony | eHow.com

 

Kids and planning: How to Incorporate Step Children Into a Wedding Ceremony | eHow.com

 

in vows: How to Incorporate Stepchildren Into Your Wedding Vows | eHow.com

[aubry]

Here is some wording for the actual ceremony:

 

Blended Family Ceremony

 

I like the family unity ring part at the end of this: Making children a part of your wedding day.

[steponmyknee]

My fiance has 2 boys, so we're having them in the ceremony as groomsmen/ring bearers. They're also going to escort my mother to her seat.

[donutdjn]

We have two boys (14 and 9), they will be wearing the same suit as their dad,my dad and the best man. The younger one will bear the rings (under supervision from my mum) and my eldest will escort one of the mums onto the beach, sand ceremonies are not a UK thing so we have not incorporated as noone will understand what it means but we are planning our first dance with them, we will start off nice and slow and just the two of us and the music will then turn into a reggae/dance hall track that is popular and the boys join in and take everyone by surprise.

[PrincssScorpion7]

My father is deceaded. My 7 yo son will walk me down the sand.

[AtteGirl]

We'll have a 1 yr old son by the time our wedding hits so I was wondering this same thing. I think he'll be too young to really do anything beside the ring bearer part. I was hoping to do the sand ceremony but he'll be too young to participate in that. But I think I'll be dressing him the same as daddy too

[Sax Lady]

We have a son that will be 3 by the wedding and he has a daughter that will be 10 by the wedding. Our son will be the ring boy and his daughter will be the flower girl. They will be dressed similar to the MOH and BM thats the only bridal party we are having and I also want to included them in the sand ceremony maybe them pouring one color in together since our son is so young (he will only have turned three a month before our wedding so he will just be transitioning out of the two's).

 

Also maybe one of your older kids might be able to read a poem or something in the ceremony.

[SouthernSweetie]

I have 3 girls - ages 21, 19, and 5 at the time we get married. He has 2 boys - ages 8 and 14 by then. My older girls, along with my sister (MOH) and his sister are the BMs. The older son is a GM. The younger 2: flower girl and ring bearer. I had a son who passed away 2 years ago at age 11. His sand vial will be in front of a picture of him at or near the alter; his sisters or my parents will pour on his behalf.

 

We are doing a sand ceremony for blended families. We are also including the children's names on our wedding invitation. You can find wording appropriate for your situation on the internet by typing "wedding invitation wording blended families" in the search box. PM me if you'd like the exact wording we chose.

 

Good luck!

[aubry]

Loving all the ideas! It's so fun to see how everyone is including the kiddos! I didn't think about them walking the parents down the aisle. I guess I hadn't thought about how that will work when you're not in a church.

 

I think we've decided to have the 7 and 9 girls act as bridesmaids (we're not having any others) and the five year old boy as a groomsman. Do you think they are too young for that? I'll have the almost 2 and 4 girls as flower girls. I know they all won't be still and quiet, but that is the case wherever they'll be. And I love the idea of having such a visual picture of how both families are coming together with all of us at the front together.

 

I think I'm going to take my big girls dress shopping with me today. I'll let you know how that goes.

 

Neither of my big kids have a whole lot of experience with public speaking, and I'm not sure about the sound system situation yet, either. Still up in the air on that. However, has anyone come across any really sweet or neat poems/readings? If I found one I liked, it might help me decide.