Since you're hiring babysitters, I added the word "supervised" and also if you are also including a movie later one (many young ones will just fall asleep during the movie) and maybe pizza or other child friendly foods, let them know that as well!
"Parents- For you convenience, we will be entertaining children with supervised outdoor toys and games right across the street at *address*. As it gets dark, we will be showing the movie Cars 2 inside with pizza and ice cream!"
I think the more fun you make it sound, the more parents will drop their kids off.
It's not clear from your post whether you'd be fine with children attending if their parents would prefer it. Some people may not be comfortable leaving their kids with someone they don't know, and some children (particularly little girls in a certain age range) are very excited about attending weddings. If it's optional, I would phrase it like this:
"For parents who would appreciate it, childcare will be provided by the bride's grandmother, Mrs. Jane Doe, at 123 Elm Street, located within walking distance of the ceremony site. Please indicate on your RSVP whether your children will be attending the wedding, or staying in childcare."
i don't think anyone would choose to leave their kids if it's optional. i would sooo sad if i was a kid and knew that lots of other kids got to go to the wedding and i didn't!!!!!
Have you thought of having a special area at the front where young kids can gather for the ceremony?? I've been to a few weddings where the officiant invites young children to come right up to the front, they can stand or sit right by the bride and groom! It's fun for the kids and they won't block the view of others because they're little :) i'm sure you could find a spot for them. If you have childcare for only some kids- it will cause hurt feelings for children and parents, i promise.
In my family I think most people would leave their kids, even if it's optional - they won't want to worry about their kids while dancing and talking with family and friends, and most of the kids in our family are too young to care - they'd rather be jumping on a trampoline and running around outside than sitting still for 15 minutes and then listening to the boring grown ups talk.
I just wanted to let you know I attended a "Picnic in the Park" wedding a few years ago. In addition to the rented chairs for seating, the couple also got a half dozen plaid picnic blankets and set them around in the front. It made good seating for the younger folk and since they were on the ground the older relatives in the chairs behind them could still see. You can get a half-dozen people on a blanket on the ground in less space than six chairs and the aisle between them.
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I would phrase it as being optional, something like:
"Parents- For you convenience, we will be entertaining children with outdoor toys and games right across the street at *address*"
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I like the way you phrased it, actually. Do you think I could include it with the invitation?
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Since you're hiring babysitters, I added the word "supervised" and also if you are also including a movie later one (many young ones will just fall asleep during the movie) and maybe pizza or other child friendly foods, let them know that as well!
"Parents- For you convenience, we will be entertaining children with supervised outdoor toys and games right across the street at *address*. As it gets dark, we will be showing the movie Cars 2 inside with pizza and ice cream!"
I think the more fun you make it sound, the more parents will drop their kids off.
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"For parents who would appreciate it, childcare will be provided by the bride's grandmother, Mrs. Jane Doe, at 123 Elm Street, located within walking distance of the ceremony site. Please indicate on your RSVP whether your children will be attending the wedding, or staying in childcare."
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Have you thought of having a special area at the front where young kids can gather for the ceremony?? I've been to a few weddings where the officiant invites young children to come right up to the front, they can stand or sit right by the bride and groom! It's fun for the kids and they won't block the view of others because they're little :) i'm sure you could find a spot for them. If you have childcare for only some kids- it will cause hurt feelings for children and parents, i promise.
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Also, I like the way neoqbacca worded it in her second comment. =]
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I just wanted to let you know I attended a "Picnic in the Park" wedding a few years ago. In addition to the rented chairs for seating, the couple also got a half dozen plaid picnic blankets and set them around in the front. It made good seating for the younger folk and since they were on the ground the older relatives in the chairs behind them could still see. You can get a half-dozen people on a blanket on the ground in less space than six chairs and the aisle between them.
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