Wedding Ideas

How to Enforce Your Child-Free Wedding Policy

Posted on June 11, 2021 by New Jersey Bride

You’re not having any children at your wedding. Period. Case closed. While many guests respect this (some guests who are parents wouldn’t want to bring their kids even if they were invited), others will try to convince you otherwise.

We’ve heard all the common reasons: “We never travel without our kids.” “We don’t have a babysitter.” “This would be a great opportunity for our baby to meet all the relatives.” “Your flower girls will need someone to play with.”

Some guests may try to make you feel guilty and then there’s those who just write their kids’ names on the response card (the nerve!).

Here are tips for upholding your child-free wedding policy and navigating those who try to push back.

Have a Response Prepared

“We wish we could invite everyone’s kids, but that would triple our guest list.”—This addresses the most obvious issue. You have to pay for every guest. And although children are usually half price, space is also a concern as well as figuring out the seating chart.

“We’ve already had to say ‘No’ to several relatives and friends in your same situation.”—You’re acknowledging and sympathizing with their situation without giving in.

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience but we can’t make exceptions for anyone and we’re looking forward to celebrating with you.”—Short and sweet.

Offer a Middle Ground

Your wedding weekend may be filled with lots of opportunities for the entire family to mingle, such as at the hotel.

Perhaps guests who want to bring their kids to your wedding can instead bring their children and their own parents to the hotel, where small gatherings with extended relatives can take place.

A welcome party, rehearsal dinner or some down time between the ceremony and reception could be an opportunity for kid-toting guests to slip in some “meet my kids” time with family and friends.

Plus, while the guests are at your wedding, the kids can get in quality grandparent time at the hotel.

Come Up With a Solution

Of course, you are not obligated to have children at your wedding. But if you would like to have them present for some moments without disrupting the adult fun, you could plan a babysitting room. Hire nannies, and set up some video games, movies and snacks.

This is an option for couples who want an adults-only reception but also still want the weekend filled with kids.

We’ve seen couples set up this babysitting room at either the hotel or the reception hall. If you do the latter, you’re likely to see kids running in to find their parents on the dance floor, even if you give the sitters strict orders to let NO ONE out. So if you insist on an adults-only night, leave the babysitting room back at the hotel.


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