A wedding is a special time that you wish to share with everyone in your life. Often, this includes friends and family with young children. However, children often have a hard time sitting still for extended periods of time, and could disrupt your wedding ceremony. A wedding nanny can keep the young ones in line, while they still share in your happy day.

While there are professional wedding nannies available, it is a small portion of the wedding industry. An official wedding nanny may not be nearby your wedding location. What should you do if you are considering a wedding nanny? Here are some quick tips.

Choose a friend or family member to fill the role. Perhaps you know and trust a teen who babysits, but doesn’t appreciate the beauty of weddings. While still enjoying your special day, your young recruit can keep the little ones at bay.

Hire a certified day care worker. Get recommendations from some of the parents. Meet ahead of time with the chosen person, and give clear, specific instructions on what is expected of them, in appearance and in actions.

Plan where and how the children will be entertained. Will they be nearby to experience the joy of the wedding? Or will they be playing some distance away, to cut down on the noise? Plan activities to keep the kids occupied and happy to avoid meltdowns.

Meet with the guest planning on bringing their children. Let them know that their kids are welcome, but will be supervised by another person during the ceremony. Be prepared to address their concerns, and assure them of the nanny’s qualifications.

Have you had experience with a wedding nanny? What worked and what didn’t? Leave a note and share your experiences here.