Kids

We are having the children of close family members, but only because I would probably be disowned if we didn't. Thankfully, we have a relatively small family! It's not that I don't like kids per se, it's just that we have a very strict limit on 100 people at the venue, and kids count towards that. Unfortunately, the children who are coming are taking the places of some good friends of mine, but there you go. We do have a friend who isn't coming as we haven't invited his kids, but that's his loss...

We had a blanket invitiation for all kids - it surprised me to see who did bring them and who didn't. Quite a number of couples decided to get a sitter in and enjoy the day without being parents! Wouldn't have had it any other way but that was just us. Personally, my opinion is to say yes to all or none at all - I think it's unfair where some weddings only have certain kids at it but I realise in some situations, there's nothing else you can do (i.e. own kids, very small babies, nephews/neices etc.)

Completely agree.

I *very strongly* didn't want kids at ours - rather selfishly, I didn't want people oohing and ahhing at other people's kids! But equally attended a friends wedding this summer with LOADS of kids and it was lovely.

family wise there are just two nieces, so we are taking them to the registry office when we have our legal ceremony the week before, and have got them a pretty (non-bridesmaid) dress to wear to that and feel special. At that there will just be them, and our two witnesses.

most people have been all too happy to book babysitters, and have said so on their RSVP's, it'll be the last wedding of our group of friends, so everyone is happy to let their hair down and have fun without their kids.

The only kids we're having is our own two and we're inviting my fiancés 2 nieces and nephew, though I'm doubting that they'll come.

Due to a limit on the number of guests allowed in the ceremony room it came down to a choice between all the kids (who will be bored and playing computer games..) or close friends coming to the wedding. This will go down like a lead balloon on OH's side but it's tough.

It helps that we're getting married on a school day and I can't see many parents being prepared to pay for their children to take the day off school.

We're inviting all the kids to the evening do, though I doubt many will come due to school etc.

We have two kids and I always thought a ban on kids at a wedding was a bit harsh until we went to our first wedding with little one... I soon changed my tune! You just can't relax or enjoy the day as you would like to at a wedding. I've missed most of the 6 weddings we've been to since we had kids. I'd now avoid taking our kids where possible, unless it was a close relatives wedding.

Anyway - you should do what you want! It's your day. You wouldn't be the first nor the last to say no to kids.

Hi

I've posted this on another thread (sorry if anyone's already seen it) but there are a few more people on here so was wondering if people could give me their thoughts please. Additional suggestions also welcome as planning on sending these out in a week or so...

I'm on the verge of sending out our invites and my aim is that children will be invited to the day but the evening reception will be adults only. Now I know this may be a bit controvesrial but I'm "hoping" parents will know that the only other option would to not have kids there at all. At a wedding I went to last year a couple had there toddler during the day which was nice to be as a family and for photos, then they let their hair down at night as her sister came to pick him up before the evening reception started.

There will be 19 kids (most under 6) in the day out of a total guestlist of 116! And whilst I am worried about them running a riot during the day, i definetley didn't want them doing so in the evening and space is limited.

Please can you let me know your thoughts on my decision so it helps me prepare for the worst! Please be as brutal (or kind) as possible. I do think there will be repercussions, but weighed up I felt having young kids there at night would have caused more issues.

Thanks xxx

I have invited the family kids to our daytime but still when i am only allowed 50 people at my daytime, 10 of the places are taken up with kids, but hey ho just gotta accept that. And i know i will be happy having all the kids there

For the night time i havent said, a lot of people will just want a night out so will not bring the kids, but i am catering for kids incase a few turn up. And there will still be the family kids from the daytime there so no harm. One of my mates did have a bit of a go because i didnt invite her kids to the daytime but you have to draw the line somewhere ?

We are having four kids all of whom are family. Three will page boys/flower girls and one is too young. Personally I would have devastated if they couldn't make it. In terms of friends kids it would only have added an extra three kids (one would only be six months) so we left the choice with the parents and they have decided not to bring them. We would have loved to have had them their but equally happy for our friends to have a chance to let their hair down. Our venue is very child friendly. Me and my fiancé are both very laid back people so not worried about having the kids potentially playing up during the ceremony. To be honest it will probably just make me laugh and help me relax! We were recently at a wedding and watching the kids on the dance floor was certainly the highlight!!

I always thought I would be dead set against having children at my wedding but both our siblings keep popping them out so I don't feel like we can exclude them especially since their go to babysitters will be at the wedding. X

We have family children only for the ceremony but that's mainly due to numbers and the fact that we're getting married on a monday during the school term. But, we have invited all the children we know to the evening reception - for me, a wedding wouldn't feel right without them at some point ?

It is a completely personal choice however, and I would never be offended by a child-free wedding invitation x

I originally said no kids, but then the guest list started getting smaller (people have said they can't come before we've even sent the invites out!) and I decided that actually, having kids there could be fun, and will fill up the empty spaces! To keep them occupied, I am doing them all a special personalised favour - a gift bag with a colouring book, colouring pencils, paper airplane/doll, balloons, bubbles and so on. Hopefully, that will keep them busy during the meal and then they can run riot at the reception.

x

We had an amazing no kids wedding on Friday. As our venue wasn't licensed we got legally married in advance and took our nieces. They spent the two hours, (took them out for pizza afterwards) saying they were bored and could they play games on our phones, even though we were actively trying to engage them in conversation, and they had activities / drawings to do. This doubly cemented our views and decision for no kids on the actual day. All of our friends (rather drunkenly) thanked us on the day for there being no small people, and we all had a whale of a time.

absolutely fab, and would do it all exactly the same again.

We will be having a lot of kids at our wedding of various ages. My son will be 3 or 4 by the time it comes around. The venue we like has a really big room for any use so we are going to turn it into a playroom for them, and hire a couple of childminders to help entertain them so we can do our grownup thing!

We are. Not that enthused about it but there you go! Some people cannot get babysitters even with over 6 months notice apparently. It is a bit awkward as some of them are Mr Erin's god children but anyway! Funnily enough he started off enthusiastic about children and then as time went on wasn't as realised that they take us spaces (like most people we have limited numbers), cost money and probably won't enjoy it much either.

Funnily enough we have a friends with 3 badly nehaved children (not helped by lazy parenting) who are coming and l am nervous! Last time they went to my FSIL house then they trashed her bedroom....

The last wedding I went to there was a horrendously behaved child, not only running riot near the cake, candles, glass photo frames, PA wiring etc, but also running up to people and just grabbing onto them. I have weird anxieties about being touched by people I don't know and it was making me very uncomfortable, but it seemed like her parents didn't care. I'd have paid money to not have her at my table and/or near us when H2B was DJing!