Children can bring joy, spontaneity, and unforgettable moments to a wedding day. They can also bring logistical challenges and uncomfortable moments. From our side of the event world, we’ve seen it all. From flower girls having unfortunate potty accidents and toddlers helping themselves to every food item containing red dye, to the occasional ring bearer who likes to climb newly planted trees and the tiny tot who gets run over by adults on the dance floor.

If you’re deciding whether (and how) to include kids at your wedding, here is some practical advice from a venue perspective to help your day run smoothly.

Decide Early: Adults-Only or Family-Friendly?
The first and most crucial step is clarity. As a venue, one of the biggest challenges we see is last-minute confusion about whether children are invited. This affects seating counts, catering, staffing, and even fire code capacity. The other issue we frequently encounter is long events (6-8 hours) where children are expected to both behave and entertain themselves, frequently out of the parent’s or guardian’s eyesight.

Of course, guests of any age are always welcome at The Venue (unless a client specifically disallows children based on the type of event). We do, however, have some policies regarding youth at events, the most important of which is that children under thirteen must always have adult supervision. Failure to do so not only puts Venue staff in an awkward position because - to keep children safe and property undamaged - they turn into babysitters by default, but it also results in loss of the client’s damage deposit.

Venue Tip:

• Make your preference clear on invitations and your wedding website.
• Communicate consistently to avoid awkward day-of conversations.

There is no “right” answer...only what fits your vision, budget, and guest list.

Consider Your Space & Layout
Some venues naturally lend themselves to children being present. Others require more planning.
From a facility standpoint, here’s what we look at:

• Vendor equipment areas (DJ booths, catering stations)
• Tight table layouts or formal place settings
• Length of the event
• Whether or not alcohol is served

Venue Tip: Assign specific adults to supervise young children and do not let them roam the facility on their own. We’ve had incidents of unsupervised children (younger than 5) leaving the building and playing in the parking lot. One was even doing so barefoot! Fortunately, a Venue staff member saw them and immediately brought them inside and reported the incident.

Talk to Your Caterer About Kid-Friendly Options
From a catering standpoint, children change the flow of service. Kids eat faster (or not at all), spill more often, and may not enjoy plated, multi-course meals.

If you’re hosting families, consider offering a simplified children’s meal option. Another suggestion is to offer an earlier meal service for kids, perhaps with a fun, supervised game or activity planned for them while the adults eat. Smaller portion sizes are also an option.

These strategies can help your timeline stay on track and reduce waste, as well as keeping all guests comfortable and happy.

Create a “Kid Zone”
When there are multiple children attending, the most successful weddings and events usually include intentional planning specifically for the kids. Ideas that work well from our experience:

• A coloring or craft table (no markers or glue!)
• Wedding-themed activity bags
• Lawn games during cocktail hour
• A separate lounge area with child-friendly snacks (and supervision)
• Hiring an on-site sitter or childcare professional

These ideas keep children engaged and allow parents to relax and fully enjoy the celebration.

Plan for the Ceremony
Ceremonies are where emotions (and volume levels) can peak. We’ve seen beautiful, heart-melting moments, as well as very loud, very unexpected interruptions. As a venue, we always appreciate couples who plan for flexibility rather than perfection.

To reduce stress, you might consider eating families with young children toward the back or aisle so they can easily step out if needed. You might also keep the ceremony meaningful, but concise. Lastly, consider reserving a quiet space away from the ceremony where parents can wrangle the little ones during energy bursts (or outbursts!).

Budget & Staffing Considerations
From an operational standpoint, children can affect staffing ratios, linen and other rental counts, security and liability considerations, and clean-up time. This doesn’t mean “don’t invite kids.” It simply means that you’d be wise to factor them into your planning. A well-planned, family-friendly wedding feels seamless. A last-minute, knee-jerk adjustment feels chaotic.

Remember the Bigger Picture
From a venue’s perspective, children often create some of the most memorable moments of the day, with spontaneous laughter, candid dance floor magic, and heartfelt joy. But they also require thoughtful planning.

If your dream wedding includes the next generation celebrating alongside you, build the day with intention. If you envision a sophisticated evening focused on adult conversation and dancing, that’s perfectly appropriate too.
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The most successful weddings aren’t about whether kids attend. They are about clear communication, thoughtful coordination, and aligning your guest experience with your vision. And when that alignment happens? Every guest, no matter their age, feels welcome.

If you participate in craft shows and expos, you likely already know that scammers actively target vendors and event organizers. Why? Usually because of the nature of the events, meaning people get excited, so they sign up and pay quickly. Here’s how to spot some red flags...

“I’m the Vendor Coordinator” (But They’re Not)
One of the most common scams:

• Someone claims to be the “vendor coordinator”
• They say booths are “almost sold out”
• They avoid referencing official websites

What to check:

• Is the message coming from a Gmail/Yahoo account instead of the event’s official domain?
• Is the event website actually listing that person?
• Are you being directed away from the official website?

Always go directly to the event’s official website or social media and verify contact information. In the case of our upcoming “Southern Charm & Sweet Tea Boutique Vendor & Craft Fair,” you’ll find the official Facebook event page here.

2. “Urgent” Pressure Tactics
Scammers create artificial urgency:

• “You must pay within 2 hours.”
• “We only have one booth left.”
• “If you don’t respond immediately, you’ll lose your spot.”

Legitimate events:

• Have clear application processes (for Southern Charm & Sweet Tea, the application is here)
• Provide contracts, vendor agreements, or confirmation emails
• Allow reasonable response time

A good rule to follow is that if you feel PRESSURED, you should PAUSE.

3. Payment Methods That Can’t Be Reversed
Be cautious if they ask for:

• Gift cards
• Wire transfers
• Zelle or Venmo to a personal name
• Cash App to a random username
• Cryptocurrency

Professional events typically use:

• Secure payment portals
• Invoicing systems
• Business accounts

If billing feels informal or sloppy, that’s a red flag.

4. You Didn’t Apply But You “Got Approved”
This one is common.
You get a message saying:

• “You’ve been selected!”
• “We love your work!”
• “We’re inviting you to be a featured vendor.”

But:

• You never applied
• The event doesn’t match your product
• The message is generic

If they truly selected you, they should:

• Reference your actual business
• Know what you sell
• Have a traceable history

5. Fake Versions of Real Events
Scammers clone legitimate events. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this happen before. For example, they may impersonate well-known expos like:

• The Great American Craft Show
• Sugarloaf Craft Festivals
• Renegade Craft Fair

They:

• Copy logos
• Use similar names
• Create fake Facebook pages
• Post in vendor groups

How to verify:

• Check how long the page has existed
• Look for a legitimate website (not just social media)
• Call the phone number listed on the official site

6. Bad Grammar and Vague Details
Many scam messages:

• Are poorly written
• Have inconsistent capitalization
• Don’t list dates, location, or booth size

Legitimate events:

• Provide dates, venue name, setup times, insurance requirements, cancellation policies, etc.

 7. They Refuse to Video Call or Provide Paperwork
If you’re unsure:

• Ask for a vendor agreement
• Ask for proof of venue booking
• Ask for a phone call

Scammers will:

• Dodge questions
• Say they’re “out of the country”
• Push harder for payment instead of answering

Quick Checklist Before Paying
Ask yourself:

• Did I find this opportunity on the official website?
• Is the email from a real domain?
• Is there an agreement or contract?
• Can I verify the event location independently?
• Does the payment method look professional?

If two or more answers make you uncomfortable, don’t send money!