I don’t have one friend getting married this year. So no new dress, tears at the ceremony or late night wedding dancing for me. It is estimated however that 50,000 brides will be getting married in the UK this summer. That means there must be quite a few of you that are planning on attending a wedding.
The question is, will your children (if you have any) be joining you?
Before Buttons I was a wedding planner at a hotel in Berkshire and one in Surrey, so I have helped to plan the final details of lots of weddings and have also seen lots of weddings breakfasts take place. For us adults a good Wedding breakfast is about yummy food, chatting with friends new and old, and listening to everyone dish the dirt on the bride and groom during the speeches.
If you’re under 15 years old however, a wedding breakfast is all about playing with the table sprinkles and decorations until that gets boring, eating a bit of food and ignoring your parents telling you to eat more, and getting a numb bottom from sitting still while lots of big people laugh and talk about stuff that makes no sense to you
I offer children’s wedding entertainment packages for just this reason
On Saturday I was booked to entertain 8 children at Northbrook Park wedding venue in Surrey. I knew this venue before the booking because I lived in Farnham for 4 years while studying, and one of the hotels I worked in was located in Farnham. This is a stunning venuewith peacocks roaming the gardens and I was delighted to be called by Karen, the mother of the bride, at the start of the year to discuss how I could ensure the children had a great time while the parents got a chance to relax.
Northbrook Park
I was booked from 5-7pm and we (me and the kids) had the very lovely marquee all to ourselves for bubbles, games, magic, dinner and glitter art. We had a great time! I usually host parties for groups of 15 +kids so it was so nice to be able to spend a bit more one-on-one time with this small fun filled group of kids.
I even learnt (and still remember) all of their names! If you know me or have been to one of my parties you will know pretty much everyone (not including the birthday child of course) gets called Sweetie at some point, It would be near impossible to remember all the names and faces I meet each week.
I did not get to meet Karen on the day but as you canimagine being mother of the bride comes with responsibilities and lots of jobs.I did however receive this email from her this morning which put a big smile on my face.
“Hello Ellie, I just wanted to say a huge ‘thank-you’ for providing such a wonderful party for the children at Kirsty & Sandy’s wedding last Saturday at Northbrook Park. I must also apologise for not meeting you – which was a disappointment for me but I was everywhere and nowhere all the time! I know the children had a brilliant time but I must also tell you how impressed the adults were with your efforts, so it’s definitely “THREE CHEERS FOR ELLIE” Thanks again, Best wishes, Karen (and Rupert, Jonny, Ellie, Bethany, Liam, Rhianne, Sian and Arthur)”
I’m usually the one who starts the Hip Hip Hoorays at parties, so it was very nice that at the end of my time at Northbrook the children’s parents actually did a three cheers and hip hip hooray for me!