The first thing to consider is whether you want to include children in your wedding ceremony. If you decide to include young ones in the mix, be prepared for the fact that you can't always predict their behavior and that things may not turn out the way you had envisioned. If, having given due consideration to the foregoing, you still want to proceed, here are some suggestions:

When assigning wedding duties to children, please take their age and personality into account, very young children (under the age of 4) are likely simply too young to participate in a wedding. A child that is very shy may want to be a ring bearer or a flower girl, but become overwhelmed by the idea of walking down the aisle in front of a large number of people.

Try to include the child in planning for their part in the wedding. Let them have some say in choosing what they will wear to the wedding. Try to choose a comfortable outfit for them to wear. You will find they will be much better behaved if they are not itchy or feeling confined in tight clothing. They are more likely to look forward to participating in the event if they feel that they are an important part of the day.

Ask your photographer to take photos including the children early in the picture-taking session. Standing around for long periods of time is a recipe for bored, touchy young ones. Keep in mind that the children will likely be ready to leave the reception early, so if you were planning on taking photos at the reception site, do this as soon as possible after your arrival.

Since children who are either tired or hungry are much more likely to have a temper tantrum, have someone standing by with some small toys and a snack if the children get hungry. You might also want to consider ordering a special meal for the children at the reception. They might well enjoy chicken nuggets much more than the prime rib the other guests are eating.

If there are several young ones in the family that you would like to include in your special day, you may want to assign each of them a small task to do. They can't all be flower girls or ring bearers, but they can help distribute programs or pass out wrapped pieces of wedding cake. Another option is to ask them to make sure that guests who would like to throw rice or birdseed or blow bubbles have the necessary items. They are able to be a part of the wedding without dragging out the ceremony.

If you do decide to include children in your wedding celebrations, the day may not go exactly as you had envisioned it. On the other hand, children add a certain charm by their enthusiasm and love of life, which is just the thing to make your wedding day a most memorable one.