inviting minors without their parents?

The problem with this is, who will be supervising them? Yes, there will be adults, but who is going to take responsibility for them?

It's not exactly the same because it was my brothers wedding but he's 7 years older than me and I was a minor when he got married. Him and his now wife let me invite a friend and did not invite her parents. It wasn't awkward for her family and I was appreciative because I had someone to hang out with during what felt like a really long day!

So you're having a childfree wedding, but there will be up to 5 of your daughter's friends there .... Hmmm ...

@Beach Babe - where are you seeing that? Did she edit her comment because I don't see that in her post at all.

The only concern I see is, the parents that you are inviting and not their children, that your daughter is friends with. They could wonder why this friend was there and not their own daughter. And if they mention it to their child, the kid could wonder why your daughter invited these 4 girls and not them. That's the only problem I see, just teenage drama lol.

I have the same thought as beach babe. It's not really a child free wedding if you are have 5 teenagers, 4 of which aren't in the wedding party...

To sort've answer your question though, if she has one friend I don't think they need additional supervision if that friend's parents are there. For 4-5 friends they need supervision of some sort.

I say just let her pick one friend. It's weird to tell some people they can bring kids and then invite other kids who's parents are not even invited. Won't there be family there that she knows?

I'm just thinking back to when I was a teenager and I don't think my mom would have cared. But I think it has to do with the actual age. Are they 13? Are they 16 and can drive themselves? My mom would have dropped me off and got me that night if I was younger. Do you knew the parents? Why don't you give them a call and let them know? Every parent is different I had friends parents who were so strict and weren't allowed to do anything and then there was my mom who was on the opposite end of the spectrum where she was super laid back and was allowed to do pretty much whatever I wanted to.

I would say pick one or two friends only. If she invites a whole table then you have to consider who is going to be responsible and watch them (especially with alcohol).

It depends on their ages you can't invite kids without their parents and no one responsible for them! If some parent are attending just have her invite those kids

Wait weren't you debating before on if she was even coming? Wasn't she living with one of your friends while you two weren't speaking or something? I'm guessing that was resolved...

My daughter is 13, unless this was her best friend and I knew the parents very well-- I wouldn't let her attend.

Sorry but it's just silly to let your daughter invite a table full of friends. Very unnecessary. Tell her to pick one friend.

I think one friend is totally appropriate. And there needs to be a designated person keeping an eye on them. I totally got snuck alcohol when I was 16 at a wedding and was later vomiting all night, because no one kept an eye on me. And I was a great kid. But a cousin offered it to me.

Yeah I wouldn't let your daughter invite so many friends, it'll turn into a hassle when no ones watching them for most of the night. What if they start sneaking alcohol or something?

I don't think I'd do this. I don't think I would have even thought about this. Your daughter will be surrounded by family, she doesn't need a friend to keep her occupied!

Let her invite one friend if she wants, but it seems silly to have a childfree wedding and then have 5 teenagers there. Plus other people have made good points about alcohol and supervision.

By the way, congratulations on resolving your custody issue.

My mother drove me to a bat mitzvah (former best friend, of 4 years) and sat with me through the ceremony, because I didn't want to sit alone. She saw me safely to my seat and once I realized I was seated at a table, with someone I knew and could hang out with, I was fine and he just picked me up later. . It was a luncheon attached to the synagogue and no alcohol was served. There was a separate dinner-dance, at night.

Your daughter is 16/17 right? That's old enough to entertain herself or just hang out with you or family throughout the day. Personally, if I were a guest whose children weren't invited to a "kid free" wedding and then there were five teenagers there who had no relation to the wedding, I'd be hurt.

eta: What if she wants to bring the people that she ran away to live with? Since it's her day too and all...

We didn't invite 6 cousins, who were 18 and under. Our wedding was strictly 21 and up, because 5 hours of open bar was in the package price - no discount for under 21s - and we refused to pay that for the 13 and up, and the possible 9 and up guests, who would want an adult entrée.

We are so glad we did. One cousin got in trouble for underage drinking, the following year - age 16. She was required to move in with her father - another school district.

Our venue required photo IDs of everyone, if we invited underage guests. They said they would shut the bar down for the night, if anyone under 21 tried to get a drink. That would have really sunk the evening, besides wasting a lot of our money.

After our wedding my mother's friend told her they invited the kids of family only. The 9-15 year old boys monopolized the dance floor with cartwheels and martial arts moves. After they got them off the dance floor, they disappeared for awhile. Blessed relief? Nope - they were in the bridal suite, emptying all the alcoholic beverages there. The venue sent the kids and their parents packing. Humiliating all around ...