How to say no kids at wedding?

On our invitations I put at the bottom "adult reception to follow" and only addressed the people invited, on the envelopes. I also put on the RSVP card "we have reserved___seats in your honor" and filled in the number according to addressee. *fingers crossed*

The way to do it is exactly as you said- address the invitations to the people who ARE invited. If anyone was free to come, you might as well send a blank invitation to the household.

1. address the invitation to specific names not "the Smiths" or "family"

2. state how many seats are reserved on the rsvp card

3. do not put "adult " anything on the invitations. That is just a passive aggressive get around.

4 you can say "adult reception" on the website

5. Have a response prepared for when people ask about bringing their kids or change the number of seats on the rsvp card.

Life isn't foolproof. Neither are invitations. Some people were never taught,or have chosen to completely ignore, etiquette.

Spread it by word of mouth. If you have a wedding website, you can put a note on there. Having something on your RSVP card like "we have reserved ___ seats in your honor" (you write the number in the blank) also helps.
There is no absolutely fool proof way to let your guests know it's adults only. You will most likely have at least one guest ask you if their kids are the exception, so be prepared. Stand firm in your decision for an adults only wedding if that's what you want

Having the same issue. I think my plan is just to put Adult Only Ceremony & Reception. If people have a problem then they don't need to come

I have seen on invites adult reception to follow. So hopefully for the ones who have done so,the guests will understand and make necessary arrangements. Another good way is to just say we have reserved blank amount of seats in your honor. Some will definitely not care and still feel they are the exception but you have to politely tell them when all else fails.

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Everything that Muriel said with emphasis on the last line: Be prepared for people to assume their kids are invited or write "4 people attending" when you invited only 2. People just can't get past their little ones not coming. As a parent I don't get this!!! LOL! I was always game for a night out without mine!!

Be sure to get ready to make a few phone calls explaining that the invite was intended for Mom and Dad only.

Best wishes!

You address it only to the adults and write 2 seats reserved in your honor. If for some reason someone ignores it and RSVPs for more than that you simply have to call them and gently explain that unfortunately you only reserved seats for the adults and will not have space for children. Likewise, some people may call to confirm and you will have to answer that question.

I get its frustrating but thats simply how its handled for any kind of RSVP. I was once invited to a wedding by a friend from HS without my FH. She had met him and I almost called her to confirm that it wasn't an accident he was left off but then realized that if she had meant to invite him it would ahve been addressed to us both.

Word of mouth. Me & my husband told our family no kids. Our kids will be in the wedding but as soon as it's over & we done taking pictures they leave.

I've been spreading it by word of mouth and put it on my wedding website. On the invites I have we reserved __ seats in your name. My venue counts people of any age as guests so I have to pay for alcohol for a 4 year old which I'm not doing. It's a good way to shift the blame from myself for not wanting kids at the wedding.

I do know someone who has been telling someone no kids at their wedding, yet some of the guests still insisted they'd be bringing their kids. So they had to put something small on their RSVP card about no children and those people finally got the hint.

Ok, from the way your question is phrased I'm guessing your invites aren't out yet. So, you're getting people asking about it before they've gotten an invitation? Just stay strong. The good news is that because they've already heard from you, or a wedding party member, that it's going to be kid free so any trouble you get after invites are out are going to be from people who are just out and out rude. It is so much easier to be firm with them then. As so many people say around here, "No" is a complete sentence.

Don't give in if you don't want kids there! We didn't have any kids at our wedding, except the 3 in the wedding party, who are family. We just addressed the invites to the adults only, and that was that. No "we have reserved 2 seats in your honor" on the RSVPs. Not a single person asked if they could bring their kids. I don't get why people have trouble with this, or why some people are so adamant on bringing their kids? What fun would that be?

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I like this idea of shifting blame, LOL. Paying for alcohol for kids so unreasonable.

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You give me so much hope. Thank you!

My FMIL told us she will call people who may ignore the etiquette of who is on the envelope is actually invited. I am really hoping people get the hint!

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"No" is a complete sentence. --- a good thing to remember for wedding and life. Thanks!

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They technically do. And what makes it messy is my fiance's neices and nephew (3 kids under 5) will be there. And then his cousins kids (1 baby, 2 teens). The FMIL was very upset and cried when we said no kids. Thankfully she isn't pushing having her grandkids in the wedding. Yet...

I remember getting an invite to my cousin's wedding that as politely as possible stated no children allowed. I never realized that it was an issue until I started reading forum questions.
That's crazy to me that a venue wiuld make you pay for a 4 year old

Oh girl, I am SO with you. Just be sure the address the topic clearly.
-address who the invitation is for
-give them a max RSVP if including rsvp cards or even write the names of those only invited
-include it on your wedding website
-call anyone who you think would try to be an exception

And the biggest is to directly state it on the invitations. Possibly like:
Due to limited space, children are
Child care is not provided
Adult reception to follow

To lessen the harshness, I've known some people who provide websites or names for Nannies or Babysitters.