Your wedding day is such a memorable day in your life, shared with those who mean the most to you. And who could mean more to you than your gorgeous, newborn baby?
Planning a wedding involves a lot of organising, communication and adapting to situations. A tricky task for any couple but even more so when you have a little one to consider. Whether you have planned to have your baby before your special day or their impending arrival is a happy surprise, you now need to make sure your wedding is baby-friendly. Thankfully, there are lots of great ideas to make the day special for all of you.
Here are some of my top tips for having your baby with you on your wedding day.
Review your venue
If you are in the early stages of finding a wedding venue and know there is a good chance your baby will arrive by the time you say ‘I do’, then I strongly recommend looking at venues through parents’ eyes. Consider access for prams and look for spaces where you can store all baby’s kit. Is there a kitchen or facility where you can heat up a bottle? Also, review the distances between where the ceremony and the reception in relation to the bridal suite. Perhaps it will be easier to have everything on one site in case there are any emergency baby outfit changes. If you have already booked your wedding venue, don’t worry. Speak to the venue or your wedding planner who can discuss logistics and create a convenient solution for the day.
Involve your baby from the start
Your little one will be a huge part of your wedding day and you will look back feeling so grateful you got to share it with them. Making them a key part of the celebrations can start as early as the invitations by including their names or picture on your wedding stationery. You could also give them their own mention in the vows and speeches, their own table place setting and of course, include them in your wedding photography.
Hire a wedding day babysitter
As much as you will love having your baby with you, it is important to make some time for you and your new husband or wife. If you already use a childminder, ask them if they would be willing to work overtime. There are also several incredible babysitting and creche services which you can hire for the day. They will be on-site with you, but you will be able to focus on enjoying the day, knowing your bubba is in safe hands. But if your wedding budget is stretched, you could always ask a close friend or family members to be on hand to help out for a few hours, so they can still enjoy the day.
Consider baby's usual routine
From bridal breakfasts and photos to speeches and dancing, weddings take up a full day! Which can be very long and tiring for your little person. Try to stick to their routine as much as possible. If they have regular naps or feeding patterns, aim to pop these in at moments when guests are mingling. But more than anything, do what is best for you and your child. Your guests will understand. Think about what kind of pictures you would like to have too – we love natural shots but if you are hoping for snaps when your bundle of joy is wide away, speak to your photographer and plan these after nap time.
Be flexible with your timings
Traditionally, weddings follow an order of service with certain events happening at key points throughout the day. When you have a child, this isn’t always so easy and flexibility is key! Remove any stress by going with the natural flow of the day and trusting that everything will work out. You will have enough people on the day to ask for help, or you could hire an on-the-day wedding planner to keep everyone and everything in check.
Find a quiet spot for naps
Speaking of naps, when it comes to your wedding venue check there is enough space for your baby to have a snooze. There will be a lot going on, so it is important there is a quiet space where they can settle down for a few hours. This could be a separate space where you could also sit and soak up some precious moments, or a secluded part of the room where you can set up a pram or Moses basket for them to sleep. That way they are still in the room with you and you could even decorate their pram to match your wedding theme.
Make sure they have their own wedding day essentials
Along with the bride’s wedding day bag, your mini-me is going to need their own supplies too. Make sure you pack their bag in advance, so you don’t forget anything. Bring extras of everything too, just in case! In your baby’s wedding day bag, I would include bottles/ cups, bibs, milk (if not breastfeeding), change of clothes, PJs, muslins, nappies, wipes, nappy bags, changing mat, sleeping bag, dummies and toys or your little ones comforter.
Plan the cutest pictures
First of all, it is important to be realistic. Trying to get the perfect picture of your baby on any day is difficult, let alone on your wedding day. Accept that they might not play up to the camera, and that is ok! Speak to your photographer beforehand; they have a wealth of experience when it comes to working with kids and they will know the right angles and tricks to get those dream shots.
Enjoy your day!
Remember, a wedding day with your baby is a magical day. It shouldn’t be stressful or daunting. Some of my takeaway tips for planning a wedding with a baby include:
· Be flexible with your timings
· Look for a baby-friendly venue all on one site
· Be prepared with supplies and bring extras
· Work to your baby’s schedule
· Ask for help from friends, family or your wedding coordinator
I hope this has been helpful to any expectant mummies. If your upcoming wedding is now incorporating a lovely new addition and you need some support, I’d love to hear from you.
Photography: Joe from The Curries