Planning a wedding with children involved can feel like a different kind of wedding day altogether.
You want beautiful photographs and time with the people you love, but you are also thinking about naps, snacks, excitement levels, outfits, and the fact that children rarely care that you have planned the perfect family photograph.
The good news is that a relaxed wedding day with children is completely possible. In fact, the children often become the heart of it all — bringing the funniest, sweetest and most memorable moments of the day.
As a Dublin wedding photographer and a mum of three, here are a few ways to keep the day feeling easy.
Keep the plan simple
A wedding day does not need lots of locations and a packed schedule to feel special.
A ceremony in a beautiful Dublin hotel followed by drinks, dinner and an after-party in one great location can be the perfect plan for a family-focused wedding. Less travelling means less stress, fewer opportunities for children to become overwhelmed, and more time for everyone to actually enjoy the celebration.
When couples keep their plans simple, the day feels far more like them.
Build little pockets of time into the day
You do not need to disappear for hours of photographs.
A short window after the ceremony is often enough for the key couple photographs, while children stay with grandparents or a familiar family member. Then I can bring them in for a few relaxed family photographs before they head back to playing, eating or enjoying the party.
This means you get beautiful images together without asking children to stay still or be “on” for too long.
Let children be children
The most meaningful photographs are rarely the perfectly posed ones.
A child holding your hand as you walk into the ceremony, a cuddle during speeches, someone making a dash for the dance floor, a little face peeping out from behind a chair — these are the moments that will bring you straight back to your wedding day.
Of course, we will take the important family photographs. But there is no pressure for children to perform or smile on demand. I work around them, keep things light and capture what is really happening.
Think about the timing
If your children are younger, consider the parts of the day that are likely to be hardest for them.
An earlier ceremony can work brilliantly, particularly if it means they are fresh for the important moments. For others, a later ceremony may make more sense if there is time for a slower morning at home.
There is no perfect formula. The best timing is the one that works for your family’s usual rhythm — and leaves enough space for things not to run exactly to plan.
Give them a role, if they would enjoy one
Children often love having a small part to play.
They might walk down the aisle, carry flowers, hand over the rings with an adult nearby, or simply be the person who gets to choose the music for a few minutes of the evening. There is no need to force a role if they would hate it, but including them in a way that feels comfortable can help them feel part of the day.
And if they decide at the last moment that they would rather sit with Granny than walk down the aisle? That is absolutely fine too.
Choose a photographer who keeps things calm
Your photographer spends a lot of the day beside you, so you should feel comfortable with them.
For family-focused weddings, I keep photographs relaxed and efficient. I will help organise the key group shots, gently guide you when you need it, and then step back so you can be with your children and your guests.
The aim is never to make the day feel like one long photo shoot. It is to give you photographs that hold onto the love, energy and personality of your wedding — including all the beautifully imperfect bits.
If you are planning a relaxed wedding in Dublin with your children by your side, I would love to hear about your plans.
Find out more about my Dublin wedding photography or get in touch here.
