Kids?

Allot of people have strong opinions about the "No Kids" wedding reception. It's like anything else, it works for some people and doesn't work for others. For some couples they themselves have children and they want their kids to be a part of the big day too. Others have big families with lots of children and they don't want to alienate anyone.

On the other side a couple with kids might want a night off on the big day. Or they might be willingly looking to avoid a bit of the extended family to keep the guest count down. Whatever your reason might be, here's what this DJ thinks of it.

Kids can be fun, the can provide a unique, "cute" energy when they are out there on the dance floor. Circles form around them and guests ooh and ahh as they show off their best moves. I've had some clients lean all the way in to the kids in attendance and have had me add Disney songs, and Baby Shark etc. into the nights playlist to keep them engaged. And once again like anything else, it works for some and not for others.

Where I've seen problems is when the kids go not unsupervised, because people are certainly watching them, but under-supervised. For example parents sitting at a table having idle conversation as their 5 year old is running full speed laps around the dance floor. Nobody wants to cause a scene correcting someone else's child, but they also don't want to be ran into or tripped while they are trying to Cha-Cha real smooth and turn it out. So instead some of your dancers begin to sit out some songs until the kids clear out. Which is of course bad for the dance floor.

Another DJ specific issue is the under-supervised children curious about the surprisingly expensive electronics that the DJ has spread throughout the venue. Most of us have had gear knocked over, moved, and sometimes broken by children. Kids are going to be kids, and none of it is done maliciously those of us with kids ourselves understand that of course. But that doesn't help the anxiety when a child is kicking your $300 uplight like a soccer ball and no adult seems willing to correct the behavior.

Ask yourself do you know the parents and the kids that are coming well enough to suggest to them before the reception to make sure that they have a GREAT time, but not at the expense of other guests or vendors. Is there someone in the wedding party or a respected older family member able to act as the "Heavy". The person that can suggest to the kids that the couples first dance is a terrible time to play cops and robbers if their parents don't.

The goal is to celebrate your day the way that YOU want. If you want to be surrounded by children or to have none present at all is totally up to you. But if the kids are there try to take measures to make sure that they behave in a manner that YOU approve.