Snotty noses, greasy handprints, screams, tears and meltdowns, yes having kids at a wedding can be a challenge.

This can be borne with fortitude, patience and immense self- control, or you can have a wedding which caters for children. After all children are part and parcel of our family and hearing children laugh and squeal with delight brings a smile to everyone’s face. Malta boasts beautiful weather most time of the year and even winters are mild.

In Malta outdoor weddings are a favourite and most wedding venues have beautiful outdoor spaces. I suggest the following plan when you have children as part of the wedding party. Check the number of children invited and their ages, depending on that, you can then plan with your wedding organiser how to best ensure that younger guests are happy, entertained and enjoy themselves.

There are various solutions; allocate a section of the venue to children and consider a child minder or animator preferably one who is qualified in first aid (a first aid box for scrapes and bruises is also advisable). Plan with your caterer and provide child friendly favourite food. Allow space for running and games, like hop scotch, flying a kite, skittles, hide and seek, trampolining , hula hoops etc.

Board games and wedding themed activity books are also quite popular, your wedding planner will be able to source them for you and have them hired or printed. The only tears will be the ones when the wedding is over and it is time to go home, who would want to leave a place where you are having so much fun?

If having an outdoor wedding in Malta, it is strongly suggested to let your guests know that it is advisable to wear sunblock and ensure that the children’s sunblock is reapplied regularly.