Do I need to invite children?

It's hard to say some children and not all unless the line is wedding party and immediate family. Past that and people do tend to get grumpy if their children weren't invited and others were. As far as how to word it, you simply address the invitation to the parents only and not the family. Ex. Mr and Mrs _____ rather than The _____ Family. People also often put on their wedding website (often in the FAQs) that it's an adult only wedding.

I have NO problem with adult-only weddings so I say feel free to make a note on your wedding website or elsewhere. We did the same save for wedding party children. However, I feel like people have a pretty unrealistic expectation of how children act. I've never been to a wedding where a child "ruined" the ceremony by crying or fussing; most parents know when to take a child offsite to soothe him/her. I've also never seen a child act as though a venue is a "playground" and climb all over the furniture. Sorry, maybe I'm biased because I'm a mother but I don't think children are these horrible little gremlins some WW brides make them out to be.

That being said, if you already know these children are ill-behaved, send invitations out a week or two early to give families time to find sitters. If people ask about bringing their kids when they see the invitation is only addressed to the adults, remind them that they have plenty of time to find a sitter and leave it at that. Make no exceptions.

Immediate family only, or they'll be rumbling and you'll be explaining this from now until the wedding.

My wedding was 21 and up, except for my honorary little sister, who was 16.5 and a bridesmaid. There was some grumbling, but no one on the groom's side, or my grandmother, offered to pay. Guests 13 and up and those that refused a to be served a kid's meal, were charged the full adult rate ($175), with no discount for 5 hours of open bar. Out of 250 invited guests one couple couldn't find a babysitter, despite receiving a save the date 10 months before, and my distant/estranged aunt/uncle boycotted, because the centers of their world weren't invited. I had only met them twice, they have a nanny, and no way we were going to make an exception for them, because they had to travel.

I'd hire a babysitter, for your out of town guest. Kids of the couple, nieces/nephews, and godchildren can sometimes get a free pass.

We chose to not invite children besides the 2 in our wedding. If somebody else doesn't like it, sorry!

You invite who you want, on the invite specify each person by name. For example: Mr Bob and Mrs Jane Smith. Or: Mr Bob, mra Jane, Bobby and Susie Smith. I invited some kids (they were all family and our of town) and none of my local friends with kids questioned. They were stoked to have a night alone.

The only children that will be at the wedding will be the 2 flower girls and the ring barer. After there done eating there grandmothers will be picking them up so there parents can have fun. We addressed on the STD and we will be addressing on the invites that this is going to be a childless event.

Its really a preference issue as to whether you have children there or not. But as others have said, its unfair to include some children and not others (you cited bad behavior but parents will feel like their children are being left out if you pick and choose). Making an exception for members of the wedding party is one thing and of course immediate family but outside of that you are bound to have people upset. If you chose to welcome children, check with your venue/caterer as some offer discounts for "kids meals". If you choose to not invite children, you should be prepared for some people to not attend due to them not being able to bring their children. But as others have said, if its adults only you can put it on your wedding website (if you have one) and address the invitation to only the adults in the household.

You don't NEED to invite anyone. invite who you would like to have there!

You need to be clear about where you are drawing the line to minimize people being offended. We are inviting the children of immediate family only (our nieces and nephews) and of course, our own two kids. If you start getting into "well these kids are misbehaved...and I don't really know those kids" etc., it starts to get messy. As for the invitations, address them to the parents by name, rather than "The So-and-so Family." And include a line on the RSVP card that says, "We have reserved ___ seats in your honor." Word of mouth is always good in addition to those steps.

I agree with the others on either limit it to just the children in the wedding party or considering inviting them all. You can't invite some and not others. I personally have been to a wedding when a child did ruin the ceremony. Consider what you want and your FH want. Also be prepared that some guests might not be able to attend if their kids aren't invited.

We're not. No RB or FG.

My beach ceremony will definitely be kid friendly. I haven't decided on the reception yet, but if I do make it kid friendly I will hire a babysitter or trustworthy teenagers within my family and create a "Kid's Corner". The "kid's corner" will include kid friendly food, snacks and little activities to keep them occupied. I saw this idea on Pinterest and I think it's a cute idea. I have even spoke with the manager at the reception venue about possibly observing a vacant room for the kids.

UPDATE: I went to my fmil to get addresses for the stds and finalize the guest list. Without even really telling her how I felt about it she instructed me not to invite the certain children who are all from their side. I told her I felt badly about it, but she told me "absolutely not." And that if drama arises she will personally take care of it. Lol.