If you’re contemplating whether or not you should invite children to your Las Vegas wedding ceremony, you’re not alone. It’s a common question that comes up among many brides and grooms. However, there’s really no one-size-fits-all answer as every couple has their own set of circumstances to consider. It’s always sorted out in the end, though, because once a few determinations are made, it becomes easier to say yes or no to having kids attend your wedding or not. With all that said, your big day may be soon approaching, so let’s get the ball rolling to figure this out.
A Las Vegas Wedding Ceremony With or Without Children
There are many elements to factor in when it comes to planning a wedding, and one of them is deciding if you should invite children, or tell their parents that their little ones won’t be attending. Although this can be a difficult decision, just remember that it’s your special day.
So, whether you have a family-friendly or adults-only wedding, it’s perfectly fine either way. Your main concern should be making decisions that ensure you have the Las Vegas wedding you have always dreamed about, not if you will offend anyone. Most guests realize the day is about the couple and won’t be bothered if their children need to stay home.
Now, let’s get started with a few of the basics when it comes to children attending weddings:
The Age Range – Babies or Young Adults Can be a Big Deciding Factor
When deciding whether or not to invite children to your Las Vegas wedding, age range is an important factor to consider. Younger children, such as toddlers and infants, may not be able to handle the ceremony or reception and can become fussy or restless, and could even disrupt the ceremony. Because of this, it’s common for parents to decide to leave their little ones at home without even being asked to. But not all do, and this is why it’s important to set the rules ahead of time. In contrast, older children, such as teenagers, generally don’t have issues during a wedding ceremony, and most likely would even be able to handle a formal event.
If you happen to have many friends and family who have babies and toddlers, and want your wedding day to be a more family-friendly affair, then consider having organized childcare. This is when the couple assigns a few individuals, perhaps people they know and trust, to watch over the children in a separate area until the ceremony is complete. Professional childcare can also be organized, but it should be done well in advance if you live out of state and need to find a company in the Las Vegas area. Once the ceremony is over, the parents can tend to their children during the wedding reception.
Your Budget May Determine if Children Will Attend Your Las Vegas Wedding
The cost of the ceremony and reception just may tip the scales in one direction or the other when figuring out who to invite. Why is this the case? Because every person counts as a per-plate fee, with the exception being infants. Therefore, it’s important to think about the financial implications of inviting children.
This is especially true if you’re on a tight wedding budget, and find that you have to eliminate some of the adults to keep your day cost-effective, then it makes sense that you won’t be able to invite most children. We say most because some brides and grooms have close nieces and nephews, or even younger siblings that they would want to attend the ceremony and reception. Additionally, some children may be part of the wedding party as flower girls or ring bearers.
Will the Atmosphere be Family-Friendly or Geared Towards Adults?
Are you planning a formal black-tie ceremony and reception or perhaps a casual outdoor affair? The atmosphere or even your wedding theme can be a deciding factor because an elegant formal affair may not be appropriate for young children. On the other hand, a casual affair may be fine for kids of all ages to attend – there typically isn’t an issue with children running around a reception hall with a more casual-type atmosphere. A special table can even be set up with coloring books, games, or puzzles to occupy the children while the adults are mingling. You might even employ a nanny to supervise or keep the children entertained during the reception.
Also, keep in mind that a morning, afternoon or evening wedding can set the tone for whether or not you should invite kids to your ceremony. For instance, if you’re having an evening affair, this may be too late for babies and toddlers, while morning and afternoon ceremonies would be fine.
Choosing a Las Vegas Wedding Venue that Works Well with or without Children Attending
In the end, the bride and groom can invite as many children as they want, or have zero attend, as well as invite a few select children while not inviting others. No matter what you do, just be sure to spell everything out in the invitation so the parents can make arrangements to attend your Las Vegas destination wedding.
With that in mind, be sure to book a wedding venue that works well with or without children attending. For instance, if you would like children to come to your wedding, then maybe an outdoor ceremony would be best where noises would not be as distracting as they would be in an enclosed space. In addition to this, if you’re not sure yet if you will be inviting children that would make the guest list grow, it’s best to ensure that the venue has large wedding packages, as well as smaller ceremony options – this way, you would be covered either way when it comes to your guest count.
Lakeside Weddings & Events in the Desert Shores Area of Summerlin
Lakeside Weddings & Events is one such venue that has packages for any size wedding, a ceremony just for two, or up to 50 guests, as well as 100 and more. The venues at Lakeside Weddings showcase stunning lake and garden views, as well as romantic ceremony gazebos that create a wonderful backdrop for wedding photos. Be sure to check out our Awards and Reviews page to see what other couples have to say about our award-winning ceremony and reception venue.
Let’s take a look at some information on affordable Las Vegas wedding packages to give you an idea of what this wedding venue near the Las Vegas Strip can offer you and your guests.
All Inclusive Ceremony & Reception Packages (Children-Friendly & Adult-Only)
- Swan Garden All Inclusive Packages
- Grand Garden All Inclusive Packages
- Heritage Garden All Inclusive Packages
- Waterfall Garden All Inclusive Packages
You can read over our All Inclusive page for more information on what’s included in the ceremony and reception packages. Also, be sure to take a look at one of our popular all inclusive wedding venue spaces below – Grand Garden:
Ceremony Only Packages (Children-Friendly & Adult-Only)
See our Ceremony Only page, as well as our Lakeview Chapel main page for all the details on the venues and packages that are available. Additionally, dive into the following video to catch a glimpse of Heritage Garden, which is one of our fabulous ceremony only venues.
Questions Regarding Inviting Kids to a Las Vegas Wedding
Couples who are not sure if they should invite children to their wedding ceremony will have many questions as they sort out all the details. We know it can all be a bit confusing, so with that in mind, we’re providing a few questions and answers regarding children to help you get your Las Vegas wedding in order. You can also reach out to us with your questions and we’ll be happy to help – (702) 240-5290.
Where do I place children in the reception seating chart?
There are two common options for seating children at a wedding reception. The first one would be to place them at the same table as their parents. This would be suggested if the children are too young to be separated from their family, or if they’re old enough but don’t know the other children who are attending.
The second option is to have a designated children’s table, or two, where children, preferably 12 years or older can sit together. This really only works well if they know the other children at the table. It would be wise to carefully craft your seating arrangements by consulting with the parents to find out if their child would feel comfortable sitting at a table away from their family, and if the parents approve as well.
How do I communicate that children are not invited to my wedding?
The ideal way to communicate to your wedding guests that children are not allowed is to be direct. This can be accomplished by simply stating the facts in your invitations, and phrasing it as an adult-only wedding. Spelling this out in the invitations would be enough to make it clear, but some brides and grooms prefer to speak directly with the parents. This way, they can let them know their wishes to ensure there are no hard feelings about having to leave their children behind. All in all, you’ll find that the parents won’t mind, they are more concerned about making the bride and groom happy.
Resources for Couples Getting Married Near the Vegas Strip
Whether you’re inviting children to your Las Vegas wedding ceremony or not, you’ll still have many other decisions to make to put your big day together. So, as you can imagine, you’ll need plenty of ceremony and reception resources to help you along the way. Fortunately, Lakeside Weddings & Events has resources for getting married in the Las Vegas area that can assist you in creating your dream come true wedding day.
We have information on planning a morning ceremony, what wedding flowers are best, wedding cakes, details on choosing a DJ or live music for your wedding reception, as well as information on pricing for a Las Vegas wedding. Below, you’ll find even more resources to help you get started:
- Here’s some helpful information on reception only venues and packages.
- Find out if you need a Las Vegas wedding planner – read more!
- Will you require catering in Las Vegas for a future event? If so, we can help.
- View our main Wedding Photography page for some useful details.
- Lakeside Weddings has a main Marriage License page for those who haven’t filed yet.
- Consider having a romantic sunset wedding in Las Vegas – learn more.
- Need some bridal updo ideas? If so, dive into this post for seven updo examples.
- Take a look at our page that details fabulous lake wedding packages!
- Thinking about having a Las Vegas evening wedding? View this page for inspiration!
- Find out how to choose the best wedding chapel in Las Vegas.
- Learn why it’s essential to have a professional wedding photographer document your big day.
- We have some amazing wedding specials for ceremony only and all inclusive packages.
- Head over to our main Hair & Makeup page for bridal salon information.
- Take a peek at the wedding cakes we serve at our Las Vegas receptions.
Book Your Ceremony and Reception at Lakeside Weddings & Events!
No matter what the age of your wedding guests are, 3 months to 99 years of age, we are here to make sure your ceremony and reception is one to remember. With our affordable all inclusive and ceremony only packages, and beautiful garden ceremony sites, as well as modern reception halls, you’ll be sure to have a wedding day that you and your guests will love. Feel free to reach out to Lakeside Weddings so we can help you choose a venue and package that meets your needs – we look forward to hearing all about your plans to marry the one you love!