Ask the Experts: Children at a Reception

Q: Some of the guests are bringing young children to our nighttime reception. I worry they’ll leave early to put the kids to bed. How can we keep the party in the pink?

A: Fly in Mary Poppins. Mark Kingsdorf, owner of the Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants in Philadelphia, recommends hiring nannies so parents can focus on the fun. The Wedding Sitters, based in Newark, Delaware, provides professional child care at reception venues and hotels where guests are staying.

“They take the kids into a room near the ballroom, where they have age-appropriate games and snacks,” says Kingsdorf. “The little ones have a good time doing kid stuff, while the grown-ups are free to enjoy themselves at an adult event.” —Eileen Smith