Best way to handle kids as guests?

You could do either an age cutoff or considering circles. If you don't like the no children under 12 suggested by the MOH, you could do no under 18 or 21 (this is a good cutoff, especially if you're offering alcohol). This is what we are doing since my fiancé a has 20 underage cousins and I have 12!!

But because I feel you won't like the idea of doing a totally kid-free either, you could do children of family only, or immediate family and wedding party members only.

I suggest going no children except for your own. It'll keep the guest list down and still include your children. The photo is gorgeous!

Could you include the kids and shuffle around your budget in other areas? If the headcount is the only cut you can work with, you'll probably have to pick an age cutoff or trim down the guest list in other areas.

I wanted to keep the guest list to 120, by the time we were done it was 147 invited. Our wedding is in 15 days and we have only 96 coming. So keep in mind that not everyone will be able to attend.

Set up a play area for the kids to keep them occupied while the adults are entertained by the host and main event.

I would just phrase it as an adult friendly or adults only event.

What a gorgeous photo!!! My daughter & her fiancee would like their reception to be adult only. My daughter has 13 younger cousins. I think we have landed on a good way to do this: 18 & over, with 4 (who are younger than 18) that will be involved in the wedding ceremony… No other children are invited, even if they are a relative. This has brought about some hard feelings but it is their wedding! The younger cousins will have plenty of opportunity to visit with aunts & uncles, etc the day before, earlier that day & the next day. Also, the ones who are over 18 will also be allowed a guest so the envelope will be addressed like this: Mr. & Mrs. William Anderson, Lauren & Guest, Evan & Guest then address. If I was to invite the whole family without guests for adult children I would say: The Anderson Family.I don’t know if I am helping or not? Just my experience thus far…and yes I have had to deal with a very angry sis in law who wanted things her way…but we held firm & she is threatening not to come (whole family). So we will see what they decide to do. My daughter is appalled with behavior of sis in law.

I think your best 2 options would be an age cut off of your choosing or you could reduce the number of children to immediate family or close family/friends.
Just because you can invite a bunch of people doesn’t mean you should. Your wedding is all about celebrating with those closest to you and your family.

There is no way to not offend people if you make exceptions for certain kids. It’s a very unpopular opinion to not provide loopholes for wedding party kids, your own children and/or infants when the rest of the guests have to find childcare or decline the invitation, but that is what proper hosting is if you want to stick to the definition of etiquette as “navigating sticky social situations to avoid guest discomfort”. . It’s difficult for parents to attend if you have a cut off of “no kids under 10” and they have to decide between not attending or finding a babysitter while they bring their child who doesn’t behave but fits the age criteria while the child who isn’t old enough is well behaved and may be looking forward to going. If you don’t want to invite all kids in a family, don’t invite the parents.