Kids table at wedding breakfast ...good idea or not??

I think a kids table with that amount and variation in ages is asking for trouble. I'm sure people wouldn't mind children being at the table, they are expected at wedddings afterall.Likelihood is its just for the actual meal as they'll be off playing before/after.

We have a similar number of children coming and we're sitting them on a separate table. Those aged 0-2 will be in highchairs at their parents table, those 2-8 will be on their own table with goodie/activity bags and 4 girls from the local nursery that my children attend (we're paying them £50 each for 4 hrs to cover welcome drinks and canapés and the meal), and we're having 8-16 yr olds on their own table, too, as we thought this was quite grown up for them.

Its a village hall reception with a hot buffet meal. Im not sure if that makes a difference, but the whole thing will (hopefully) feel quite relaxed so if children are up and down to their parents then do be it, but nursery staff will encourage children to play together away from parents (there's a nice garden too if the weather holds!).

We get married on 15th sept (eek!!) so will let you know in a couple of weeks whether or not it works!!

LB x

To be honest, I would be a guest without children and I wouldn't be very keen on sitting next to a child at all. It would maje me feel very on edge and I wouldnt be able to relax. I would recommend it could be advisable to make sure that they aren't sat on a table with anyone who doesn't have children. Keep the families together might help.

I haven't invited any children to ours (only my neice who is a flower girl), as otherwise there would be so many children which would add to the numbers and the cost too much.

My son is 3, he wouldn't sit on his own with other kids I don't think and for something like that I'd like to sit with him so we can make sure he actually eats his food and we don't have a meltdown later because he's hungry.

We're only having 4 children plus a baby there so it's easier to seat them and we can still have some adult only tables for our friends.

I would sit them with their parent(s) so in theory their parents should ensure their children behave and maybe sit the children between both sets of parents (If both sets of parents attending) so any childless guests are not sitting directly next to any children and place which should be less irritating for anyone not used to dinner time with young children.

We have got about 12 kids coming and are having a couple of kids table, we are putting them in a slightly different room (it is 2 rooms joined together, with doors that separate them that will be open) We have got kids packs, with pots of crayons and also giving them mags, saying that the kids are a little older with only one being 2 and the rest being from 5-13 years old so know how to behave.

The room that they are in they will have loads of room to run around with out getting in the way of the staff/disturbing the non children dress, so for us it was the perfect solution.

We were hoping to have a kids table as there's not many, but one of my cousins has a daughter with aspergers and she wouldn't be at all happy sitting with just kids, some of whom she doesn't know, away from her mum. Kids will now be sat with parents, hopefully all on one table. Personally, I love kids and being the only adult on a table full of kids would be fine with me! OH, however, can't stand other people's kids for long so would not be impressed at sharing a table. If there were other non-parents on the table that he knew and was sitting next to he wouldn't mind so much as long as he didn't have to sit next to the kids so they couldn't spill stuff on him.

Hire one of the babysitting companies to keep them all in one place and eating??

Though with that many kids at the wedding I wouldn't worry about those without kids as there is going to be kids everywhere. Embrace it - it will be great and fun (and loud). With 5 between you two they cannot be expecting anything else.

I only had 3 kids at my wedding, my nephew who is 9 sat with his parents and the flowergirl and page boy 2&5 also sat with their parents, even tho most of my friends have kids i didnt want any kids at our wedding except the mentioned 3... ideally in my little world id rather sit on an 'adult' table only and all unruly kids should be in another room running amok lol .. how about you do like the other poster said about dividing them up in their age ranges and then get them to host their own tables or make them sit inbetween their parents.. .. at the end of the day its a privelige to be asked to someones wedding so i dont mind where im sat ?

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I'm not a fan of kids at weddings, so as a child-free guest, I'd rather not have to sit next to kids, but of course I wouldn't complain if that was your only way of doing it. H's brother is the only one of the 4 brothers with kids and we once had a table of 4 brothers, plus 4 wives/girlfriends plus the 2 kids, which was fine because we knew them.

I've also been to a wedding where those with kids (there were only under 5's there) had a table of their own, in the corner, with floor games and toys.

If budget allows, I like the idea of hiring local nursery staff to entertain the kids, but I think leaving young kids by themselves is just asking for trouble. Of course, some will be perfectly behaved but there's always the odd one!

Firstly, when I was 16 I considered myself grown up and would've hated being sat at the kiddie table.

Second, I'm not a parent so would prefer to not sit with children, unless i know the parents. But of course I would never complain if I was sat with kids. I think separate kiddie tables are a better idea as you've already got qualified people to look after them.

As a childless couple, I personally would find it really weird if we were sat at a table with people who we did not know who had kids. But I would think nothing of it if we were sat at a table with friends and their children.

If guests don't know that many others there I think ideally you should be seating them with likeminded people who are going to have something in common. It would not be that easy to make small talk with people who are busy feeding their kids or stopping them misbehaving.