Special Memories Animated Header
 |
 |
 |
|||||
People say never work with children and animals. But when it comes to weddings, some of the highlights of the day are created by these very people. It’s funny how many couples are relived to find out that I have two children under five when they come and visit me, as I suppose they feel comforted that I understand the chaos that children bring to everyday life, let alone to such a key date as a wedding. I completely understand those couples that decide not to have children at their wedding. It does make for a much calmer and more sophisticated day. Events seem to run more to time, and there are far fewer sound issues during the service if there are no babies that are due a feed or a child that discovers echoes in the church for the first time! However, it has always puzzled me as to what parents are meant to do with their children while they are at the wedding, especially if all their close family and friends are also at the event. But being a videographer, children also supply some of the most special memories of the day, especially when they are members of the family. And there’s nothing as funny as capturing the cute little page boy trying to have his first kiss with the cute little bridesmaid and getting a smack for his efforts – especially if you then give him a copy for his 18th birthday! Every bridal magazine and wedding planner has advice on how to ensure that children coming to the wedding will be an asset rather than a hindrance. Ensure that you have special arrangements put in place to entertain the children. Some do go to the extent of hiring children’s entertainers or a ‘travelling crèche’ to the wedding – but with the credit crunch, will that really be the top priority on your budget? I’ve found that, having healthy snacks around so that there are no tired hungry children, and a good variety of colouring books with colouring pencils (remember any felt tip will find it’s way to the top table and the wedding dress) or goody bags with small toys at the table during the wedding breakfast, can make all the difference. At one wedding we covered, the squeaky eggs left on the table for the toddler, not only kept him entertained but also entertained the whole of the raucous table of university friends that would have been far louder without them! I have no answers as to whether children should be at weddings. As a parent, I will always see children as a bonus to any event, especially something as family oriented as a wedding, but understand that sometimes they can be a gift, sometimes a gift you would rather return, and when the worst comes to the worst, the gift of the cutting room floor comes into play! The memories you would rather forget can always be left behind, while we keep the ones we will always treasure. I would love to hear your thoughts, so drop me a line or catch me at a wedding fair, and you too could be a guest speaker on my blog! Until next time.
|
|||||||
 |
 |
 |
