Taking your baby to a wedding is perfectly doable, as long as you plan for three things: the noise of the evening, sleep and the journey home. A ceremony and drinks reception often go smoothly with a little one. The evening party takes more organising, or even someone to look after your baby.
Here's how to plan the day according to your child's age, protect their ears and keep a quiet corner for them. These tips also work for a christening or a big family celebration.
Baby at a wedding: should you bring them?
Yes, if the couple are inviting children and you're happy to enjoy the celebration at a slightly different pace. A wedding often runs from the afternoon until late into the night. No baby can keep up with that without breaks.
So the real question isn't ‘can we bring them?’ but ‘until what time?’. Many parents enjoy the ceremony and the meal, then slip away or hand their child over to someone else for the evening. Others book accommodation at the venue so they can put baby to bed at the usual time.
First of all, find out what the couple would like. Some couples plan a child-free celebration. That choice deserves respect, and it's best to know early so you can arrange childcare.
What changes with your child's age
Under 6 months
Young babies sleep a lot and are easy to carry around. They often fall asleep in your arms or in a baby carrier, even amid all the bustle. The main challenge is limiting overstimulation: being passed from arm to arm, kisses from guests, noise.
From 6 to 18 months
This is often the trickiest age. Your child is alert, curious and on the move, but still needs regular naps. Wariness of unfamiliar faces can also make a crowd feel overwhelming. Missed naps take their toll by the end of the day.
From 18 months to 3 years
Toddlers can join in: scattering petals, dancing for a while, sharing a children's meal. On the other hand, they get bored quickly during a long ceremony. Bring something to keep them quietly busy and plan an easy way out.
Evening noise: how do you protect their ears?
The amplified music at a wedding party can be very loud, especially near the speakers. A baby's ears are delicate, and exposure to high volume builds up over the hours.
A regulatory benchmark gives a sense of scale. French Decree No. 2017-1244 of 7 August 2017 limits sound levels in venues that play amplified sound. The ceiling is 102 dB(A) over 15 minutes for the general public.
For activities aimed at children aged six or under, this ceiling drops to 94 dB(A). The same text requires hearing rest areas where the level does not exceed 80 dB(A). These rules apply to venues open to the public. A private reception isn't necessarily covered by them, and the volume mainly depends on how the sound is set.
In practice, a few simple steps significantly reduce exposure.
- Sit well away from the speakers and the dance floor.
- Bring ear defenders sized for your child for the moments when the music is loud.
- As soon as you arrive, find a quiet room for regular breaks.
- Leave the room when the music gets louder, rather than waiting for baby to cry.
Standard earplugs aren't suitable for little ones, who could swallow them. Our hearing tips are in our article on noisy toys and the risk to hearing.
Protecting naps and bedtime
Sleep is what makes or breaks the day. A well-rested child copes far better with noise, strangers and waiting.
- Stick to the usual nap times if you can, even if it means missing part of the programme.
- Bring a travel cot or a reclining pushchair to set up in a quiet room.
- Pack the comforter, the sleeping bag and the dummy if they use one: familiar things help them fall asleep somewhere new.
- A baby monitor lets you enjoy the meal while baby sleeps next door.
For sleeping, our guide to choosing a travel cot covers the safety criteria. How to organise naps throughout the day is explained in our article on your baby's nap routine.
During the ceremony and the meal
Choose a seat at the end of a row, near an exit. You can then get up discreetly if baby gets restless, without crossing the whole room. Let the couple know if you're worried about a noisy moment.
For the meal, the same rules as at a restaurant apply: arrive with a child who has already eaten or bring their food, ask for a high chair, keep a few quiet toys to hand. We go into detail in our article on eating out with a baby.
Guests will often want to hold and kiss the baby. You can politely say no, especially with a newborn. A baby carrier makes things easier: your child stays close to you and rests more easily.
What should you pack for a wedding with a baby?
- Nappies, wipes and a portable changing mat.
- Two changes of clothes, including a warmer one for the evening.
- Baby's food and water, or everything you need to make up bottles.
- Properly fitting ear defenders, the comforter and a few quiet toys.
- A light blanket and a baby carrier.
- The travel cot or a reclining pushchair for naps.
A party outfit that's easy to take off saves a lot of drama at nappy changes. Clothes with lots of buttons or ties at the back are best avoided on the day.
Arranging childcare for the evening
This is often the best compromise. Baby enjoys the day, then sleeps peacefully while you stay at the party.
There are several options: a grandparent who heads home earlier, a babysitter in the hotel room or at home, or childcare shared between several guest families. Some couples arrange childcare themselves for their guests' children. The preparation is the same as for any evening with a babysitter, as explained in our article on babysitters for babies.
The drive home, often at night
The journey home often comes late, with tired adults. It deserves as much preparation as the outward trip.
- Baby travels in their car seat, properly strapped in, even for just a few kilometres.
- Take off any thick coat before doing up the harness, and put a blanket over your child instead.
- The driver doesn't drink alcohol and must be well rested. Staying overnight at the venue is often the safest option.
If it's a long journey, our tips for planning a long car journey with a baby also apply to the trip home from a party.
The next day: allow time to recover
A day of celebrations disrupts a little one's routine. They may be grumpy, wake in the night or nap for longer the next day. That's to be expected and it passes.
Keep the day after the wedding calm, with no other outings. Going back to the usual mealtimes and bedtime is generally enough to get things back on track within a day or two.
Key takeaways
- Taking baby to a wedding is doable: the ceremony and the meal often go well, the evening needs more organising.
- Sit away from the speakers, bring properly fitting ear defenders and take quiet breaks.
- Protect naps with a travel cot or a pushchair in a quiet room.
- Childcare for the evening is often the best compromise.
- For the journey home: car seat, a sober and well-rested driver, or accommodation at the venue.
Sources
- Décret n° 2017-1244 du 7 août 2017 relatif à la prévention des risques liés aux bruits et aux sons amplifiés (French decree on preventing risks from noise and amplified sound). Overview: Banque des Territoires (Localtis), “Les lieux de musiques amplifiées et les festivals vont devoir baisser d'un ton”, 25 August 2017.
- The practical tips in this article reflect common practice and are not taken from an official recommendation.
