How do I politely say no children?? Without offending anyone?

Each RSVP card you could write: 2 seats have been reserved in your honor. Narrow it down with the people who have children, and make sure you only reserve them seats for the adults. If they try to RSVP more, explain to them you want to keep the guest list down.

If those are pictures of your kids, it looks like they aren't really little or anything where they need constant supervision. Adults only weddings are getting more common now and no one should be upset your own children are invited. Just put it as adults only. We chose not to include aunts and uncles kids and their kid's kids because we aren't close to most of them. the few I have a relationship with will attend. No one has been upset or offended so far because it's a pretty clearly drawn line.

Don't list anyone on the invitation that you don't want at the wedding/reception. Not everyone seems to understand this, but it's a start.

Thank you did you have to do this? I hope you don't mind me asking?

Hi Tania. Welcome to WW. You're not alone babes. Plenty of brides here have done and will do the same. They have their own jr bms, ring bearers and flower girls and have them stick around for the reception. Your invites can merely say "Please join us for an adults only reception." You are not the first to put that, believe me.

And even if your own kids aren't in the wedding party, I still say it's ok to have them and not have others.

If someone asks if their 6 children can tag along, what you said in your original post is more than fair. You want to have a small intimate wedding that your budget will allow.

I simply said "adult reception" and my daughter is going to be there and the RB. i think most people now a days understand and will get it "if they are adults about it". Congrats! and Good luck planning.

List only those invited on the invitation. Write "adult reception to follow" on the invitation. Put it on your wedding website. Start spreading the word when you see people that it'll be no kids. On your RSVP, you can have a line that says "We have reserved __ adult seats in your honor" and you write in the number. One bride wrote in the names of those invited on the RSVP, both to reiterate who is actually invited and so that no one could forget to write in their names so you don't get blank RSVPs.

We put it on our website "Adult Only Reception" And most of our friends dont want to bring their kids anyways because they want a night off! Plus we put the number of seats reserved on the RSVP cards.

Only my aunt and uncle were planning to bring theirs. He is my dads brother so I made my dad do the dirty work and tell them we just couldnt afford it. 40 bucks a head for 7 years olds is crazy!

This is what we put on our website:

"To allow all of our guests to relax and enjoy themselves, we have chosen for our wedding day to be adults only -- with the exception of a few of our smaller family members who have a role in our ceremony. We kindly request that you leave your young ones at home. We appreciate your understanding and hope arrangements can be made that will allow you to still attend our big day. "

We don't have kids. The only small children who will be there are my two nephews. And we're going to make them hand out programs.

@ Shannon and Monica m.- thanks!! This really helped...@ Tania s. great post and welcome to ww!!

@ Monica,

can I copy that (with a few wording changes) to my site? I am running into the issue of the expectation that cousins should be able to bring their kids! Eeeek! Um, I don't even know these kids!

@monica - I Love this! Using this on my website. I am tempted to use it as an insert in the invitation to those with children.