Dinnerware for Kids at Weddings and Parties: Plates, Cups and Tables

Rental china is a hard sell for a table of eight-year-olds. A single dropped plate in a hotel ballroom is a nuisance, but at 150 guests it becomes a pattern. Kids also eat less, faster and with more spills. So the dinnerware plan for children should be different from the adults' plan. This guide is practical, for weddings, birthdays and family reunions in the Chicago area.

Pick by age

What to put on a kids' table

Tables and chairs

Kids' tables are short, around 20 to 24 inches high with kid-height chairs for ages 3 to 7, or standard tables with booster seats. Weddings often put kids at a table near parents so a grown-up can reach them. See our chair counting guide and our overview of dinnerware sizes for buffet, plated and family-style for layouts.

Food and portions

Kids' meals are usually chicken fingers, pasta or mini pizzas, in about half the portions. A smaller plate looks more generous and wastes less. For buffets, set a low stack of kid plates at the start so children do not grab dinner plates. Ask your caterer whether a kids' menu is plated and whether they carry their own plates.

Safety notes

• Avoid glass at the kids' table, and ask the rental company about breakage terms before ordering any for kids.
• Keep hot beverages away from children.
• Use plates without small removable parts.
• Keep cups and napkins in reach.
• Check food allergies before the menu is set.

Cost thinking

Plastic and melamine are often cheaper to rent or buy per piece than china, but the savings are small. The real savings come from fewer breakage charges. See rental breakage and loss fees. Disposable plates for a kids' table are also an option; see compostable vs rented china.

Weddings in Chicago venues

Many Chicago banquet halls and hotels have set kids' menus and can use their own plates. Ask the venue whether a kids' table is included and what kids' dishes they provide before ordering. Some venues limit how many tables fit near the dance floor. Count kids in your guest total so you do not run short of seats.

Seating the kids well

Place the kids' table where adults can see it but away from the dance floor speakers and the bar. Set it with paper table covers and crayons so waiting is easier, and serve kids first so they can leave the table. If your venue has no kid-size tables, a standard table with booster cushions works. At family parties in Chicago homes, a card table beside the main table keeps kids close and the noise contained.

Snacks and timing

Kids get restless long before the toasts end, so serve their food first and keep a small snack, such as fruit or crackers, on the table while they wait. Give each child a labeled cup so drinks do not get swapped, and keep a spare stack of napkins and a trash bag at the table. A short, early meal for children often means a calmer room for the adults, which matters at a long Chicago wedding reception that runs well into the evening.

Plan the kids' table with the rest

Book a free 15-minute seating call and we will help with kid tables, chairs and dinnerware for your Chicago-area event, or request a quote.