photo by Liz Banfield
The debate has been around as long as I have been planning weddings- kids or no kids? Of course, we roll with whatever is the best plan for our clients, but if you are a little hesitant about including peanuts, maybe some of these ideas will help you feel more confident about having kids at the wedding. And, head over Vogue.com for more kid friendly ideas from some of our event colleagues.
photo by Corbin Gurkin
photo by Liz Banfield
As mentioned in the Vogue.com article, I think kids in a ceremony are adorable. It’s not about whether they make it down the aisle perfectly or not, and it definitely helps take the pressure of the bride. Sometimes, having a parent in the wedding party that one can walk to or with or older flower girls can be a big help in keeping the tiniest ones comfortable.
photo by Liz Banfield
Once at the reception- whether it’s a seated dinner or station/buffet style we suggest have a separate seating area for the kids. Not only does this help save money on the fancy table decor you may be doing for the other tables, but also gives the parents a chance to relax and enjoy conversation. You could have preset family style meals for the kids too… Full tummies always help keep the kiddos on track.
photo by Liz Banfield
We like to do special boxes or gift bags for the kids, full of snacks and games and activities. If your venue has the space for it, we’ve often hired babysitters to come and be with all of the kids in a separate area. They are still close by for the parents to check on them but under other adult supervision.
The bride went with a tulle and crystal covered Monique Lhuillier gown. The veil was also embellished with crystals, for the formal ceremony, but a down-do and fresh flowers took over at the reception. We made a wild but sophisticated bouquet of phalenopsis orchids, wild peonies, and trailing greenery perfectly fit for a bride. The Groom’s blue Ermenegildo Zegna Made to Measure suite was perfect for the coastal climate and color palette.
The bride, who is an architect herself, chose the Church of the Atonement for her ceremony, which was build in the 1880’s by a well known NYC firm. She is a long time fan of the classic shingled style of buildings seen in the Hamptons, so it was a natural fit. With the dark grey, the vivid fuschia orchids seemed to feel very celebratory for the big day.
The couple love food and wine having traveled extensively and living overseas, so the food and wine aspect was very important to them. We worked with
A potted urn of phalenopsis orchids in varying shades of pink made the perfect centerpiece for the grassy topped escort card display.
The tabletops were simple and organic… The lighter shades set the tone, allowing for the menus (Happy Menocal), escort tags and hand painted table numbers, and the food to be the pops of color throughout.
After dinner, guests moved into the lounge tent for dessert and dancing, bars were covered in custom fabric and orchid arrangements throughout provided whimsical pops of the mixed color palette.
An artful dessert display of locally made pies accompanied the traditional white wedding cake made by 
Guests danced and partied well into the evening in the cozy tent, enjoying tunes from the 
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