We all know what comes after being asked the big question. When the excitement of donning a gorgeous preowned ring settles down, now comes the part that most couples have mixed feelings for⁠—planning a wedding.

Let’s face it, wedding planning is stressful enough without having to worry about the dreaded boredom setting in for the children on your guest list. We know how quickly children can lose focus, particularly on a day where there may be lots of waiting around. It’s important to have a few distractions in mind to keep them entertained throughout the day.

Beyond introducing some outdoor activities or games to help pass the time, a special way to keep your children entertained is by giving them a starring role in proceedings. Whichever job you designate to them, be sure to account for last minute nerves or changes of heart, and have a plan B in mind.

Here are three meaningful tasks children can carry out on your special day.

Public speaker

One of the most significant roles a child can play in a wedding is performing a reading during the ceremony. However, this can be a daunting task, even for adults, so be sure the child is confident enough to stand in front of your entire party to save any embarrassing mishaps from happening on the day. It is advisable to reserve this job for older children who might be more assured in their reading skills, or have a group of children perform together to ease the pressure.

Whether you help them to write a personalised speech, or take an excerpt from one of the classic wedding readings, getting your children involved in this way will really add a personal touch to your ceremony.

Confetti coordinator

Is there a more appropriate task for children on a wedding day than being the architects of the organised chaos that is confetti throwing? You can start by giving them the responsibility of handing out the bags of confetti, and have the little ones count everybody in before the throw.

If you’re creating your own confetti bags, the childrens’ first job in their new role as confetti coordinator will be to help with the preparation. Consider using environmentally friendly confetti for your eco-conscious wedding, such as lavender or bird seed, and ask for their assistance in setting up the bags. You could even use this opportunity to let your children get creative in designing their own bags to make the moment even more special.

Designated photographer

One really special way to get the kids involved throughout the entire day is by making them your wedding’s ‘unofficial’ photographer. Invest in a disposable or digital camera and let the childrens’ imaginations run wild.

You can expect a couple of extreme close-up selfies or some blurred photos of your glistening diamond engagement ring as they get to grips with their new equipment. But, you will ultimately end up with an album of special moments you might have missed on the day.

The candid photos taken by your children will provide brilliant alternatives to the more formal ones collected by your official photographer. The more photos you can get, the better, so consider bringing along a few cameras for the children to look after to create as many lasting memories as possible.