Welcoming children to a wedding

Whether you are taking children to a wedding as guests, or your child is taking part as a bridesmaid or page boy, we welcome children!
Children dressed for a wedding holding hands

Vicars are used to welcoming and including families with children of all ages, so don’t worry about children leaving their seats or making noise – the Vicar can advise and reassure the bride and groom on all of this.

Here are some suggestions to help children fully enjoy the wedding service:

  • Children often find a wedding fascinating, so help them to get a good view – they may stand out in the aisle, or, with a parent’s help to keep them safe, even stand on their seat to watch.
  • Be ready to answer questions from children about what is happening in each part of the service.
  • Sometimes churches have special areas where children can play, or have hand-outs or other activity sheets for younger children to help them find out more about the church and the wedding.
  • Make sure children have service sheets too, so they can follow what is happening.
  • Do check ahead of the wedding whether there are practical facilities, like toilets and a crèche, as some rural churches might have limited options. There may not always be room for buggies in smaller churches, so it’s worth finding out beforehand.
  • If your child has a particular role, such as being a bridesmaid, page boy, ring-bearer or are doing a reading, it’s important they go to the wedding rehearsal, so they can feel reassured and confident about what they need to do on the day.
  • It’s also a good idea to take them to church beforehand, especially if they have never been before, so they can begin to find out more.

Also in this section

What to expect as a guest

Doing a reading

Being a bridesmaid

Being a ‘best man’

Being an usher

Being a witness

Praying for the happy couple