Childcare
Childcare and kids at a Vermont wedding
Describe the actual wedding childcare arrangement before hiring: the children’s ages, families represented, care location, hours and who is responsible. Vermont’s childcare statute includes an exemption for care of children from no more than two other families. An event label alone does not establish that an arrangement is exempt from licensing.
The number of families can matter independently of the child count
In an assumed six-child group, children from two other families and children from three other families present different facts for the exemption. Section 3502 has other definitions and exemptions; do not conclude that every three-family wedding arrangement necessarily requires the same license. Ask the Child Development Division about the actual care model.
Give parents the named caregiver, sign-in and collection procedure, care room and emergency contact. Agree whether care continues through a room move or parent departure. Adult-to-child staffing, medication, toileting and age limits belong in the provider’s documented arrangement, not an invented universal wedding ratio.
References
Inviting children to a Vermont wedding: the decision and the wording
An adults-only wedding is a normal choice, and it works best when the invitation says so plainly and the envelope names each invited guest. Family exceptions should be set once and applied to everyone.
For a family wedding, tell parents what the evening looks like. A late reception with a bedtime at nine needs a plan for the last hour.
A children's space at a wedding: what to arrange
A quiet room with games, snacks and a supervisor gives parents a break and children a place to reset. It needs a space the venue allows, an adult who is not also a guest, and a way to reach parents.
Safety for children at Vermont wedding venues: water, farm and mountain
A hired sitter should have relevant training and references. Ask for both, and ask what the sitter will do if a child is hurt.
Hiring a sitter or a children's team for a Vermont wedding
Vermont's child care licensing statute, 33 V.S.A. § 3502, says a person may not operate a child care facility without a license. It exempts a person caring for the children of not more than two families besides their own, along with a few named programs, and it lists no exemption for occasional or event-only care.
A friend or relative watching children from one or two families is inside the exemption. A business that cares for children from three or more families at a wedding is a question for the state's Child Development Division, so ask the company how it is licensed or registered before you book.
Caring for children of not more than two families besides your own; Exempt from the license.
- Hospitals and Department of Health facilities
- Exempt unless they provide care beyond their primary purpose.
- Care for three or more unrelated families
- Needs a license or another listed exemption.
Are children welcome, and are they allowed in every space?
Ask the venue, and ask about the water or the barn.
Where can a child sleep or rest during a long evening?
A quiet room, or a nearby room if you are staying on site.
Who is supervising the children, and what are their qualifications?
Get references and first-aid or CPR training.
What does the caterer offer for children?
A kids' menu is a caterer decision and may cost differently.
Where are the hazards at this venue?
Ask about water, machinery, animals and steep ground.
What is the plan for the ceremony if a child is unsettled?
An aisle seat and a plan beat an awkward exit.
How does the sitter reach the parents?
A phone number and a place to find them.
Should we invite children to our Vermont wedding?
It is your call. Say clearly on the invitation. Apply any exceptions to everyone in the same situation.
Do Vermont wedding venues offer childcare?
Very few publish it. Ask each venue what it provides and what it restricts, and plan for a sitter or a relative to take the role if the venue offers nothing.
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