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Marina
Savvy June 2021

Adult only wedding - invitation question

Marina, on May 2, 2020 at 11:31 PM Posted in Planning 0 18
We are having an adult only wedding. I know proper etiquette is to not put that on the invitation but I'm not worried about that as I want to be as clear as possible.


Does putting "adult only reception to follow" make it clear that the whole wedding (ceremony included) is adults only, or is straight "adults only" better. The first sounds a bit more polite which I prefer, but I want it to be 100% clear as I have people I can see still trying to bring their kids if it's not clear enough. (I'll also be putting specific names on the envelopes and putting "x seats have been reserved in your honor").

18 Comments

Latest activity by E.F., on May 6, 2020 at 1:11 PM
  • Autumn
    Devoted July 2020
    Autumn ·
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    This has also been a popular question! We put "our celebration is limited to adult guests only" on the bottom of our RSVPs

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  • Kelly
    Champion October 2018
    Kelly ·
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    I had a friend put __ of ___ adults attending on the RSVP card as a way to make it more clear.
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  • H
    Master July 2019
    Hannah ·
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    We recently attended a wedding where the invitation said "adults only affair" at the bottom in small, but noticable print. I can't say I was offended by that, nor did I hear anyone else being so.
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  • Sexypoodle
    Master October 2021
    Sexypoodle ·
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    “Adult ceremony & reception” would make it very clear
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  • Marina
    Savvy June 2021
    Marina ·
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    If I do that, would I still need 'reception to follow' as well?

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  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    “Adults only event” would be more clear than “adults only reception.” That makes it sound like kids are welcome for the ceremony.
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  • Marina
    Savvy June 2021
    Marina ·
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    That's what I wanted to go with but my FH doesn't love the addition of 'affair' but maybe 'celebration' would work!

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  • Marina
    Savvy June 2021
    Marina ·
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    That's what I was worried about. Thank you!

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  • Chrysta
    Master November 2022
    Chrysta ·
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    I like that wording Autumn! Now that we’ve had to postpone our wedding due to the pandemic, I am going to use wording on our new invitations! Thank you!!! 😀
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  • Natalie
    Devoted December 2021
    Natalie ·
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    I agree, “Adults only event” seems to be the most straightforward and polite.
    When we send our STDs, we’re avoiding anything like “Mr. Smith and family...”. We’re putting the exact names of who’s invited, the whole “2 seats have been reserved in your name” thing, and adding to our wedding website “due to the nature of our venue, this will be an adults only event” since we’re having a DW in Key West. On top of that, we’re reaching out to those that do have kids to politely reiterate that it’s an adult only wedding.
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  • Ruth
    Beginner July 2025
    Ruth ·
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    I also wondered about this and decided to go with “Adults Only” at the bottom of our invitation in BOLD! I think that it speaks to the entire event (ceremony and reception). I have made it clear to everyone that I have spoken to that our wedding is for adults only. We have taken an extra step, in that, we are hiring nannies for the day of our wedding . They are not for everyone who has a child that is attending our wedding (we do not want that kind of liability) but for our close family (about 6 little ones). And we are only offering it if they have mentioned having a hard time finding someone to care for their little one(s).


    In addition, we will have someone at the door to remind anyone who decides that bringing their children is more important than respecting our wishes.
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  • T
    Super October 2020
    Trisha ·
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    We Didn't Put Adults Only On Our Invites But it Is On Our RSVP Website.

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  • Marina
    Savvy June 2021
    Marina ·
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    Thank you all!

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  • Sexypoodle
    Master October 2021
    Sexypoodle ·
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    Not necessarily.
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  • B
    Savvy July 2021
    Brittany ·
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    This is also a question I have had and struggled with finding a good example! I definitely want to make it clear. I read a few discussions that people just said that they put the names of the adults and that was good enough, but it is most definitely not. My FH's cousin married in 2018 and that's all they did, but they still had people try and bring kids. I'd love to see your RSVP card when you're done! I already have my templates, but the wording is just difficult. Now that we have postponed I guess I have plenty of time to research. Smiley atonished

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  • Marina
    Savvy June 2021
    Marina ·
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    We also postponed which is why I'm giving this more thought now :-/. I decided on adding a line to the invite itself that says "adult only affair" at the bottom. On the RSVP card I'm putting "__ seat(s) have been reserved in your honor" and on our website I put that our wedding was 21 and over. I'm also going to list out everyone invited on the invitation, no "and family". Fingers crossed that's enough!

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  • B
    Savvy July 2021
    Brittany ·
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    I hope so too! I've considered every option. Just hope it looks good on the invite. Sorry you had to postpone too! This whole thing is such a bummer to planning. Good luck with everything though! Smiley heart

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  • E
    Dedicated September 2020
    E.F. ·
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    Theres also cute phrases on pinterest on how to word it like Adult only wedding - invitation question 1

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