Babysitting services for out of town guests

No, but be prepared for more declines if you don't.

I assume that most people wouldn't even trust a babysitting service, and would just decline an invitation if their kids weren't invited to an out of town wedding. But if they are asking you to provide it in order for them to come, yeah, you should.

We are getting married 4 hours away from where we and my FH family lives. My FSIL mentioned she'd like a babysitter for her kids at the venue, even though the kids are welcome to attend and said she'd be happy to go in with our other SIL to pay for one. My suggestions is to just say, I can suggest some babysitter names for you in your interested. That way they know you aren't paying but they can have some contacts if they want to come.

We are providing one at the venue in a separate location that way the out of town guests didn't have to worry about finding or paying for a sitter since they are already traveling. I think it's a nice gesture for your guests from out of town. Can you ask friends in your area to recommend sitters? I don't have kids, but I asked some friends and coworkers with kids and found a plethora of options of sitters they have used for years. Good luck!

We invited 250 adults - age 21 and up - and 225 attended, on the Sunday night of a 3-day, summer holiday weekend.

One local couple declined, because they didn't arrange a babysitter, given 10 months notice with the save the date. Another couple boycotted (I know the situation well), because their kids weren't invited, and they have a nanny. One couple drove a whole day and back, to attend, and managed to sort-out local childcare.

We attended one wedding where the couple offered to provide childcare and only about 6 kids used the service. Local couples hired their own babysitters; non-local couples primarily found childcare at home, instead of paying for air flights.

Many parent say, on online wedding boards, that they won't leave their kids with a stranger, even if bonded, certified, CPR trained, licensed, with child-abuse and criminal records clearances, etc.

We've been invited to and attended 5 weddings, since our now toddler was born. She wasn't invited to nor attended a single one of them, including her uncle's, when she was an infant. One was out of town; we managed.

I was wondering the same thing. I do not children there other than my own son. Most of our guests would be coming from OOT, so I was thinking about hiring a babysitter if people would be interested.

It's a nice gesture if you know you've got lots of OOT guests with kids. Otherwise some references because they won't know the locals. If you personally don't have references what about trying a licensed nanny service of some sort?

I've never heard of someone providing childcare. If I couldn't find a sitter for my own children I would decline the invite. I don't see how it's the bride and grooms obligation to provide babysitters.

Even though kids are invited to our wedding, were still planning on having a kids room staged with a couple of babysitters and some movies/ kid friendly snacks at the reception. You might be able to do something like this where is on-site and parents can easily check on them - most parents I've known wouldn't want to just leave kids somewhere with a stranger. (And yay for Cbus!)

I should also preface with we don't have many couples traveling from out of state with kids. Maybe 4? But we also have some guests from about two hours away that their kids aren't invited, but most of them have babysitters

I'm inviting kids to my wedding, but i asked a few people if they wanted this, since they are travelling in from out of town. they were not comfortable leaving their children with strangers.

if she specifically asked, maybe you can offer the name of a babysitter that local friends with kids use and she can arrange it herself?

It is not up to the bride and groom to handle every challenge that attending a wedding might bring to someone else's life.

There are not too many parents who would leave their children with a total stranger hired or provided by someone else.

In an emergency, I would use a licensed, bonded service provided by a hotel.

I suggest you limit your activity to including information on the website about such services.

It's not only not your problem, but most parents will not leave their kids with a stranger.

Don't make this your issue. They either come or they don't.

I don't think it's your responsibility to find a babysitter. My kids and their care are my and my husband's responsibility.

I also wouldn't leave my kids with a babysitter I didn't know, so it might be a waste because I can't imagine many others would either.

Childcare is a guest expense like clothing and transportation. Is it nice to offer a shuttle service? Yes. Are you required to? No. Same with childcare.

You aren't required too.

If I was invited to an adult only wedding that I had to travel for, I wouldn't take my kid with me. Id probably leave her at home with her grandparent.

I had this debate with my family for a couple of months on and off. My Fiance and I decided to have a no kids policy, mainly because we don't have kids and don't want to worry about kids running around like crazy. I have a large number of family coming out of state and their expectation was for us to have a "kids room" during the reception. We definitely won't have a kids room! If your guests want to attend, they will find a way, simple as that.

I wouldn't worry about it. The parents will either find a sitter, or decline the invite.

We have a little corner "room" (it's blocked off by a half wall) in our venue that we are going to set up with kids stuff (quiet toys, coloring books, activities for them) we're not having a sitter but it's somewhere a little off to the side where they can go and play a little if they get bored, but they're still in the same room if parents want to check on them. Most kids coming to our wedding are over 6 so they can handle playing by themselves.