Do You Want to Have an Adults-Only Wedding?
There are many reasons you may not want little kids running around your wedding. You may be on a budget and keeping the kids out is a good cost-cutting option. Maybe there is limited space and a kids’ table won’t fit. Or it could be possible that you just don’t want kids at your wedding. And hey! Who is anyone to tell you what you can or cannot do on your special day? Kids are unpredictable and we think keeping the little ones at home is a fair option to avoid a screaming toddler in the middle of your once-in-a-lifetime ceremony. I mean, we’ve all seen, or rather heard, it happen before.
It’s not a secret this can be a controversial topic. Wedding gifts are expensive, traveling to a wedding can be expensive and telling your guest they need to pay for a babysitter too… touchy subject! So how do you tell your guests to leave their precious mini-me’s at home? We’ve got you covered!
Here's how you can keep your wedding an adult's only occasion:
Address the invite to just the parents. This may not be the only step you need to take, but it is a good way to avoid any confusion and set the expectation.
Add a ‘no kids allowed’ p.s to the invite. Just word it a little more delicately. For example “Unfortunately we are not able to invite children to this occasion” or “As much as we would love to invite everyone’s kids to the wedding, this is a kids-free event” or even “this invitation is extended to adults only”. A more subtle option may be “Please join us for our kids-free wedding and reception”.
If the above option doesn’t seem like the right fit for you, ask for the number of adults attending on the RSVP. This is a great option but be prepared! There will undoubtedly be one person who writes in their children’s names and you will have the responsibility of giving them a call to let them know that unfortunately, kids aren’t welcome.
If budget isn’t an issue, another option is to rent out a second room at the venue and hire a babysitter (or two) to watch over the kids as their parents enjoy the festivities next door. You can even look for a service similar to Black Tie Kids. This service offers an on-site camp-like experience to keep the little ones entertained during a wedding or event so that the adults get to adult. You are in no way expected to provide this service for your attendees, but it is a good alternative for those who really don’t want kids but also really don’t want anyone to be turned off by your decisions.
At the end of the day remember, this is your wedding and it should be exactly how you envision it! Want to see samples of how the above options may look on your invitation? Send us an email!