A little over two years ago, the day after we told them that Baby Lighty was on his way, Brother-in-Law Browny proposed to then Sister-in-Law Lighty while we were all in Disneyland Paris. Since then, we’ve watched their plans for their special day come together, until the big day itself was upon us. As you may recall, Mr and Mrs Lighty’s social life nowadays pretty much consists of weddings, Christenings, 30th and (dare I admit it?!) 40th birthdays. This has meant that already in his short life, Baby Lighty has been to his fair share of weddings. In fact, this was to be his fifth wedding in just shy of two years. So when it came to this particular wedding? We were pros. Right?!
The new Mr and Mrs Browny!
I think it’s safe to say that as weddings go, Baby Lighty really enjoyed his first full-day wedding as a toddler. He really did us proud with how well he behaved, too. But if he were to tell his little friends about the big day, what would he say? I’m pretty sure that his how-to guide to attending a wedding, toddler style, would go a little something like this:
1. Be really annoying helpful to Mummy and Daddy as they get ready. If they put CBeeBees on in the hope that it will distract you, take no notice of it. Instead, be kind and offer to help Mummy put her rollers in.
2. Make sure Mummy and Daddy pack up the entire contents of your house to take with them. Toys, spare clothes, snacks, change bag, buggy, sling and just about anything else that you may need during the day has to go with you in the car.
3. Be travel sick enough times in the past that Mummy and Daddy decide it’s probably safer to get you dressed at the venue.
4. Once you are dressed, make sure all of the ladies fawn over how super-cute you look.
5. Take your seat for the ceremony. Spot your Nanny at the front of the crowd. Decide that you must go for a cuddle there and then, even though she is a main part of the wedding party!
With Nanny Lighty.
7. Scream with fear over your sudden aversion to umbrellas and rain. Make sure that Daddy therefore has to take you out of the ceremony.
8. Ooh, you’ve suddenly found your exploring feet! Lucky Daddy!!
9. Once the rain stops, decide that you must inspect the fish pond with the help of your cousin, who is also an integral part of the wedding party.
Baby Lighty with Cousin Browny, both looking super cute and somewhat mischievous!
11. Have everyone chasing around after you.
12. Spy the cake. Spy the Mickey Mouse cake topper on top of the cake. Wonder whether you can take the Mickey Mouse cake topper?! Give Mummy another heart attack as she realises your intentions!
13. Refuse to nap before dinner. Even magic sling dust won’t work this time!
14. Get mega excited by the goodie bag you find at your place during dinner. Tell Mummy “I would like” and point at it before the straps on your highchair are even done up.
15. Make Mummy and Daddy super proud by eating your dinner in such a grown up fashion. Even the tomato soup was eaten with surprising care!
Eating his ice cream so carefully…!
16. Employ everyone sat at the table to entertain you at some point or other. Colouring, dinosaurs, silly faces, you name it…
17. Decide that proceedings need livening up a little bit after dinner and start a rowdy rendition of “The Wheels on the Bus”.
18. Not content with starting a singalong, try to capture the attention of Nanny and Grandad (Gaga) as they are sat at the top table and ask “Nanny, want do it?” and demand “Gaga, clap!”
19. Totally misunderstand that when someone announces that there will be speeches, you are not the one to be doing the speaking! During the Best Man’s speech is a totally acceptable time to call out to your cousin on the top table to show them the disposable camera from your table, isn’t it?!
20. And while we’re on the subject of the disposable camera, we might as well take some toddler wedding selfies… (so sorry for what you may find on our table’s camera, Brother and Sister-in-Law Browny!)
21. Once the meal’s done, it’s time to get back to running around the grounds with Daddy hot on your tail.
22. Discover the sweetie buffet. Demand chocolate.
23. Run around some more.
24. Demand chocolate.
25. Run around some more.
26. Realise that actually you can reach the chocolate yourself, so start helping yourself to chocolate.
27. Have a little boogie.
28. Run around some more.
29. Have a bit more of a boogie.
Throwing some moves on the dancefloor!
30. Help yourself to the sweetie buffet some more.
31. Take to a small step next to the dancefloor for a boogie with the same panache as if you’re taking to the stage at Wembly Arena!
32. Decide that this wedding is way too fun to go to sleep!
33. Have a bit more of a boogie.
34. Sit down with Mummy for just one moment and then….
35. …..zzzzzzz!
Zzzzzzzzz!
Yep, it would seem that after all that boogie-ing, all that running around, all that disrupting the speeches and above all else all that super-cuteness, all it would take for Baby Lighty to give into the land of nod was some Mummy cuddles. I’m pretty sure that he had the time of his little life at the wedding, especially because on the Saturday morning following the wedding on the Friday, he didn’t emerge from his cot until 11am. Little party animal!!
Running around after a toddler definitely kept Mr Lighty and I on our toes, but it has also created some lovely family memories to look back on of this wedding that we attended with our almost-two-year-old.
Congratulations, Brother and Sister-in-Law Browny! Baby Lighty would like to say thank you for a lovely time xxx
If you enjoy reading All Things Spliced, I would be completely chuffed if you could nominate Mrs Lighty in Reader’s Choice category of the BiB Awards! Please click on the badge below and complete the form, my full web address is https://allthingsspliced.co.uk and my Twitter handle is: @MrsLighty. I will love you forever and will send (virtual gluten free) cake!
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Awww bless him. Looks and sounds like he had as memorable a day as the bride and groom. Love love love weddings. I hope you managed to enjoy it when your heart wasn’t in your throat lol. Huge congrats to your bro and sis in law.
Thank you! We all had a lovely time, but especially Baby Lighty!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Ha! Toddlers have no sense of occasion do they?! Love this. 🙂
Nope! They really don’t!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
I love it! And your son has now gone to more weddings than I have! #DreamTeam
Haha! Seriously?! Oh we have been to many a wedding over the last few years!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
He sounds like he was a busy boy! All that in just one (wedding) day. What fun!
Yes. What fun!! Those were my exact words on the day, ha!! 😉 Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Great post. I particularly like number 6- how typical! Sounds like the wedding was a lot of fun! #DreamTeam
I know, I did have to laugh at number 6! He loves the sound of the rain on Ewan!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
awww, so cute X #dreamteam
Thank you! And thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
lol sounds like you had your hands full but not getting up till 11am is amazing! I was maid of hounor at my best friends wedding when my little girl was 3 weeks old and she slept most of the day x
#DreamTeam
Oh wow that’s no mean feat though, being maid of honour and having a newborn in tow! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Brilliant post. It’s certainly a different experience isn’t it? Little Man was a page boy at his Auntie’s wedding (my SIL) when he was 21 months old. Hubby was an Usher and MIL and FIL were obviously parents of the bride. So, help was minimal! One thing I learnt that day was don’t wear high heels to a wedding you are attending when looking after a toddler, on your own. I spent most of the day in bare feet! 🙂 #DreamTeam
Fantastic post! It sounds like he’s a pro at weddings! #dreamteam
The packing always makes me laugh, no matter the occasion I’m sure I’ve done a workout just loading and unloading. It’s certainly different attending with kids but so many great memories created because of them. #DreamTeam
It’s so true isn’t it?! And we didn’t even need the toys as they had the goody bags on the tables!! Ooops! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Ah super advice! I know there’s babysitting service which specifically look after children when their parents are at a wedding, but I’d absolutely be about bringing them along and this is lovely! #DreamTeam
Hehe! This made me chuckle! I can’t believe you got an 11am lay in from him! My best friend is getting married soon and my two are flower girls… I have my in laws coming to get them at about 7pm so I can have some fun after that. I’m very excited.
#DreamTeam
This made me chuckle! I remember going to a family wedding when my brother was about 4yrs old, and the bride walked down the aisle to Winnie The Pooh – my brother sang along at the top of his lungs! Lol. #dreamteam
Aww!! Yes toddlers and weddings can be a challenging mix alright. We had a no kids rule at our wedding and our friends (with kids) said it was the best one they’d ever been too – funny that! 🙂 #DreamTeam
Ahh this is such a lovely post. The bride looked gorgeous! #Dreamteam
She looked totally stunning! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
You are very very brave.
#dreamteam
What a lovely post, what a pro at attending a wedding. I think I would need a nap after all of that fun #dreamteam
Hahaha. This sounds like the sort of thing I’d do with the sweetie cart and the dancefloor. Great tips. We’d definitely recommend getting changed at the venue x #DreamTeam
Bless him! I think it sounds like he did really well – and glad he enjoyed it so much 🙂 I’m glad you don’t have family that expect children to behave like tiny adults, or view it as misbehaviour or disruptive when he acts his age 🙂 #dreamteam xx
Luckily the bride and groom have a four and a two year old themselves (our niece and nephew) so I think we got away with it!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Ah it looks like a gorgeous family day! I love kids at a wedding, it makes it! xx
#dreamteam
This is awesome!!!#dreamteam
Thank you! And thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Sounds like a great albeit exhausting day for you all!! Everyone loves a good wedding and a boogie though, glad to see he’s no different!! ?
Yep he totally loved it! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Oops forgot to write #dreamteam on my comment
Brilliant! Run around sone more! You know I went to my brothers wedding and my uncle turned up, well let’s say a bit worse for wear (hic) and a lot of his behaviour very much resembled what you’ve just described!!
#dreamteam
Haha, that’s hilarious!! Ooops!!!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Wow! Five weddings in two years! That’s a lot of weddings! We’ve also been to a wedding two years ago when Evelyn was starting to walk. It was great. I love weddings. I think your little man did so well here. Lovely photos too. Well done! #DreamTeam
I know, I kinda feel like there’s surely no one else among my close family and friends to get married now, surely?!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Ahhh … that is so sweet. My eldest was 3 at her last wedding. My sister-in-law did not have children at the time and chose a white dress for the flower girls! Nightmare! Weddings are not for the faint hearted.
#dreamteam
Eeek!! My Sister-in-law also choose a white dress for our niece, who pretty much decided that she wanted to crawl all around the gazebo collecting the petals she’d scattered as they got married!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Awww it sounds epic. certainly a challenge! I’m not sure I could cope with my toddler all day at a wedding. Love the last photo x
#DreamTeam
Haha! It definitely wasn’t for the faint hearted, that’s for sure!! I love the last photo too! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Fab post, kids always have an awful and fab time at weddings don’t they, all depends on what is happening at that precise moment (food and music help!) #dreamteam
Ah thank you so much. I think he mostly had a fab time, but I know what you mean! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Ah, isn’t he gorgeous. I would love to hang out with him at a wedding. He would certainly brighten up the day. Pen x #DreamTeam
Ah thank you so much. I did think he looked lovely in his little suit, I must admit! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Lovely post. He did really well. And you don’t look at all stressed!
#DreamTeam
Ha! I hid it well! Thank you for your kind words and thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Aww bless him! Sounds like he had an absolute ball. #dreamteam
I’m pretty sure he did!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
He is super cute! Looks like he was the life and sole of the party! #DreamTeam
Thank you! He really was! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Love it! The part about the rain is hilarious! I have a huge family, so there are always at least a few weddings a year. Fortunately, they are usually kid-free events, except for the flower girls and ring bearers. I’ve only had to bring my kids to a couple weddings (they were in both). At my sister’s wedding, my son left me for a younger woman. 🙁 At least I got to dance with him first! 😉
Ha!! Hilarious! Although maybe you could have palmed him off on her and you could have had a stress free night?!
What a cute outfit! e looks like a real little gentleman 😀
#DreamTeam
I know, I’m so in love with his little outfit! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
I love this, at least he lay in for you! #dreamteam
Yes he did, however…Mr Lighty and I still got up at 7:30am?! Why? Whyyyyyyyy?!!!!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Awww bless him. We experienced much the same with our eldest when she was bridesmaid to my sister and her husband in Utrecht last year. #DreamTeam
Ah I hope you had a lovely and hopefully stress free day when it was your turn last year? Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Brilliant post, Mrs Lighty. What a little darling! I’m still marveling at #2. It was only recently that I realized just how much stuff parents are hauling around these days (much more than previous generations)! Friends have a 2-year-old, and they’re always on the go, weekends away and all that. A day out is like a huge expedition – it’s a wonder they don’t need a separate vehicle for all the stuff!
Do you think? That’s really interesting. I feel like I’ve pared things down for out and about during the day but something like this I think we over pack for because we knew we couldn’t easily leave and buy anything we needed, if that makes sense? And we didn’t even need the toys as they had the goody bag at the tables!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Ahhh how lovely! It seems Ben isnt the only one that demands ladies to fawn over him and his cuteness! Its so frustratingly adorable isnt it?! haha #dreamteam
Oh yes, these little boys are annoyingly cute aren’t they?! I kinda love it though!! Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
Aww great post and what a beautiful couple. We’ve got a couple of weddings this year and i’m sure Mr T will love it #dreamteam
Thank you, they looked stunning didn’t they? Thanks so much for linking to #DreamTeam 🙂
How adorable! Lovely photos #DreamTeam