Decide early on if your wedding will be kid free or kid friendly.
On average, weddings last about 6 hours and the expectation of having a child stay calm or entertained for the duration is sometimes not realistic. When considering children at your wedding, ask yourself the following questions-
Is the venue an appropriate setting for children?
Will you provide activities such as yard games, coloring sheets, etc?
Will you hire a babysitter?
Do you have the budget for extra guests?
Are you prepared for talking or crying during vows, toasts, or first dances?
Once you’ve made your decision, be clear and don’t make any exceptions. Start by putting the details on your website, spread the word to your guests, and include the information on your invitation.
Photo Credit: Lauren Crumpler Photography
Here are some different ways to ask for an adult only wedding:
“We love your kiddos! However, due to many factors including limited space, we respectfully request no children under the age of XX years old. We hope you take this as an opportunity to enjoy a date night and we appreciate you making prior arrangements.”
“With respect, this is an adults only occasion.”
“Unfortunately, our venue does not accommodate children. Thank you for understanding.”
“To allow all wedding guests, including parents, a night of relaxation, we respectfully ask that no children attend the reception”
Use this verbiage if you want specific children at your wedding-
“Although we love your children, we regretfully cannot accommodate everyone’s children at our wedding. If we are unable to invite your children, we hope you will see this as an opportunity to let your hair down and enjoy the party with us.
“Due to necessity rather than choice, it is children of immediate family only”
“Unfortunately due to space limitations, we are having an adults-only reception. The only children attending are those who are part of our wedding party. If anyone needs help with making arrangements for child care, please let us know and we will do our best to assist”
Photo Credit: Ann Mark Photo
Creating your guest list can be one of the hardest parts of wedding planning and deciding whether to invite children is a very controversial topic. But at the end of the day, it’s not about your guests or their kids. It’s about celebrating you and your fiancé. Contact The Perfect day to help design wedding websites and invitations to fit your specific needs. Cheers!
