Children make a wedding — the flower girl who refuses to walk, the page boy asleep under a table by nine — but a long day of sitting still is hard on them, and on the guests next to them. A little planning goes a long way. Most of what follows costs very little, and the best of it gives the kids a reason to go and explore the wedding instead of tugging at a sleeve.
What works at which age
- Under five: short, physical and close to a grown-up. Bubbles, stickers, a book, a nap corner. Plan for them to be tired by the speeches.
- Five to nine: the sweet spot for hunts and I Spy, played on a parent's phone or with a paper checklist. They love a job: ring security, handing out programmes, guarding the guest book.
- Ten and up: give them responsibility. A photo mission list of their own, the job of photographing the dance floor, or helping the younger ones with the hunt.
Whatever the age, one thing matters more than any activity: a named adult who's keeping an eye on the kids, so their parents can enjoy the day too. Many couples hire a babysitter for the evening.
A kids' photo scavenger hunt (15 things to find)
Kids love this one because it sends them exploring. Children who are old enough to use a parent's phone can play it themselves; with younger ones, a grown-up holds the phone and the child does the spotting.
- Something heart-shaped
- Something sparkly
- A flower bigger than your hand
- The wedding cake
- A grown-up dancing silly
- Someone wearing a bow tie
- The biggest smile in the room
- Something blue
- A candle
- The tallest person at the wedding
- Two people holding hands
- Something the same colour as your outfit
- A grown-up pulling a funny face
- The bride's shoes, or the groom's
- A selfie with the couple
Put the list on a card at the kids' table, or set it up as a photo challenge so the photos come back to you with everything else. For a longer list in the same spirit, see the wedding I Spy game.
Activity packs for the kids' table
- Colouring sheets of the venue or the couple, and a small pack of crayons.
- A sticker book or a sheet of stickers to decorate the place card.
- A little puzzle — a mini jigsaw, a maze, a wedding word search.
- A draw-the-couple contest. The couple picks a winner, and every drawing goes in a box for later.
- A paper I Spy card for the ones too young for a phone.
- Play dough in small tubs — on a wipe-clean table.
- A disposable or kids' camera for the older ones, with a short list of things to shoot.
- A small treat bag to open after the main course, which buys you the speeches.
Things to do outside
- Bubbles. A bubble wand per child, and a bubble send-off for the couple later.
- Lawn games: giant Jenga, ring toss, a football.
- A treasure hunt with clues leading round the garden to a small prize.
- Sack or egg-and-spoon races if your venue has a lawn and your kids have energy.
- Chalk on a patio, if the venue doesn't mind.
- Giant Connect Four or noughts and crosses.
Quiet ideas for the ceremony and speeches
- Busy bags on the seats: a book, a soft toy, a snack that doesn't crunch.
- A job during the ceremony — flower petals, ring bearer, holding the programme basket.
- Seats at the front, where they can see. Kids at the back get bored fastest.
- A quiet room with a sitter and a film for the speeches.
- A nap corner with blankets and cushions for the evening.
- Headphones and a tablet as the last resort, and no shame in it.
A word about photos of children
A kids' photo hunt means children photographing other children. Most parents are delighted, but some prefer photos of their children not to be shared widely. If that's your crowd, ask the parents beforehand, and consider keeping the gallery private: on Premium, secret mode means guests can still upload, but only you can browse the photos. Either way, the gallery isn't public: it's only reachable through your QR codes and the link you choose to share.
Frequently asked questions
How do you keep kids entertained at a wedding?
Give them an activity pack at the kids' table, a photo scavenger hunt or I Spy list, bubbles and lawn games outside, quiet busy bags for the ceremony, and a named grown-up or babysitter keeping an eye on them.
What is a good wedding scavenger hunt for kids?
A short list of easy, visual things to find — something heart-shaped, the cake, a grown-up dancing silly, someone in a bow tie — played on a parent's phone or a paper card. Fifteen items is plenty.
Can young children do a photo scavenger hunt?
Yes, with a grown-up holding the phone. Children under about seven enjoy spotting the things on the list; the adult takes the photo. Older children can usually play on their own.
What should be in a kids' wedding activity pack?
Colouring sheets and crayons, stickers, a small puzzle or word search, an I Spy card, and a treat to open after the main course.
Are photos taken by kids at a wedding private?
With PhotoChallenge the gallery isn't public: it's reached through your QR codes and links. Guests can browse it by default; Premium's secret mode makes it visible to the couple alone.
Give the kids a hunt — and get their photos
Write the kids' list, print a QR card for their table, and every photo lands in your gallery. The test run is free for up to 5 prompts.
Create a kids' photo hunt