Kids' Glassware and Toasts: What to Serve Children at Events

Children and glass do not mix. A wedding with 15 kids and a full glassware set invites a broken stem and a sliced finger. Smart planners give kids their own cups and their own toast, so they feel included and adults can relax. Here is how to set it up.

The kids' drink plan

What to serve

• Water, always available and refilled by a server.
• Sparkling juice or cider for the toast, in a small cup.
• Lemonade or fruit punch, with limited sugar.
• Milk for dinner or dessert.
• Shirley Temples or a kid-friendly mocktail. See mocktail bar ideas.

Always ask parents about allergies and diet. Check ingredients in punches and sparkling drinks, and label them on the table.

Counts

Plan 2 to 3 cups per child at the table. For a toast, add 1 per child. Spares matter: kids drop cups. For 15 kids, that means 45 to 60 cups, including spares. Order the same cups for the kids' table and a small stack for the buffet. Use how many glasses per guest to count the adult side separately.

Include kids in the toast

A children's toast makes the family moment. Hand them a small cup of sparkling juice and tell them when to raise it. If the flutes are glass, give the kids acrylic versions instead of skipping them. Pour small amounts, about 2 to 3 ounces. For adults, see champagne flutes vs coupes.

Placement and safety

Seat kids' tables away from the bar, near the dance floor edge or a parent's table, so adults can keep an eye on them. Remove glass from the table before children sit, and use lower chairs or booster seats where needed. Our chair collection includes light options, and a garden folding chair suits a kids' table.

For alcohol, remember that the legal drinking age in Illinois is 21. Plan for staff to watch the bar and to keep drinks away from children. See Illinois alcohol rules for private events.

Kid-friendly dinnerware

Cups are only part of a kids' table. Many families ask for smaller plates, plastic or melamine, kid-size flatware and a rolled napkin. Check with your rental company about sizes, and see how many forks, knives and spoons per guest for counts.

Chicago-area planning notes

Family events in the Chicago area often mix age groups at one long table, such as a quinceañera, a bar mitzvah or a family reunion in a suburban banquet hall. In those cases, mark kids' cups with a name or a color so they do not wander into the adult bar. Ask the venue whether it has a policy for guests under 21 near the bar, since some require minors to stay in a certain area. If the event is outdoors in summer, bring extra water and a place for kids to rest in the shade, and put the kids' station near a parent's table so refills are easy.

For a long evening, think about timing. Kids tire and spill more late at night, so move any toast earlier and plan a lidded cup for the final hour.

Add kids' tableware to your rental list

We help plan seating and tableware for every age. Book a free 15-minute seating call or request a quote.