No children rule CONFUSION

I have seen many situations on here where the kids were allowed to come if the family had to travel for more than a day and the child would miss school. If that is not the case for your family you stick to your guns about no kids.

Stick to your rule. Once you start making exceptions, it will be never ending. Everyone will get over it.

Address the invitations only to the adults you want invited, on the rsvp cards write the number of seats you have reserved for them, call anyone that rsvps kids/people not invited and correct that, make a note on your website stating it's adult only, and don't back down. It's fine to have the wedding party kids there but if you make exceptions for some people not in the wedding party, it's rude.

I do have family coming from Atlanta but they have 3 children huh this is so hard. Waychox3 your picture is very beautiful

You don't have to explain to anyone (unless they are paying for your wedding). If they ask you can tell them it's an adult reception

I feel like it should be any children or no children, no exceptions (except the kids in the wedding party)...If you make exceptions, other people may come and see other people's kids and wonder why they couldn't bring theirs.

Side note: we have 2 children of our own and had 4 in our wedding but we let anyone bring their kids and they were on the dance floor the whole time having a great time with each other, not running around and being unruly. We also had open bar and everyone was ok. But this is a personal choice and I totally respect that, just offering up our experience allowing children.

Thank you everyone is making me feel like I am wrong

Address the invites to who you want invited. For your BP make sure you put the child's name on the invite as well. You can pick who you invite, but what is the difference in numbers between those children you want to invite and those your family thinks should be the exception?

We made our wedding adults only, addressed the invites appropriately ans still had people asking if they could bring their kids. FH and I called those that landed on our side and told them "We're sorry, but the invite was for Mr and Mrs" if they can't make it, they can't make it....

If you make exceptions for some people, you have to make them for everyone. If you want it to just be the wedding party, say that and stick to it. If they ask, just say it's an adult event and not appropriate for children (it's ok to make an exception for the wedding party).

I don't really see how the open bar makes a difference at all with the children being there. If you only want specific children invited my only advice would be not to break up families (if they have multiple kids and you only really want to invite one, it is kinda rude to not invite the others).

3 of my bridesmaids have little ones 2 have a 1 year old and 1 h as a 3 year old I would like them to be able to enjoy their night as well and during the ceremony who will watch them this is just a very sticky think just another thing to stress me out during planning

You're not wrong. They decided to have the children, not you. If they cannot leave home to come without the kids, then they don't come. I'm sure there are other things they don't do; skydiving, drinking gin for breakfast, spontaneously leaving on vacation at a moment's notice. It's the happy price of parenthood; you make choices and you miss things because of your choices.

No children are "allowed" at our wedding unless their families are traveling or they are in the bridal party. You can make the rule however you want it, just be logical and not rude so others are understanding if you say their children aren't allowed.

ETA: words

I'm not having any children at my wedding at all. Period. I also do not have children, but I do have a friend who is having her children in the wedding ceremony, then having a babysitter pick them up for the adult only reception. Do not make any exceptions because people will be pissed if their kid wasn't allowed but someone else's was.

Ours was 21 and up, except for one bridesmaid (who many thought was 21). It's the way both our families have been doing it, for decades.

We made no exceptions. I have 2 first cousins, who I've only met a couple of times in my life, who could have gotten a pass, with the "traveling" idea. No way! We don't even have their parents' address - my parents don't even exchange Xmas cards with them.

You are able to invite children in social circles just as you would for adults. Allowing your child and the children of the bridal party while not inviting the children of co-workers is completely acceptable. If you want a completely child free event, that is fine too. Don't split up families though (ex: inviting the 17 y/o child but not the 9y/o of the same family). Just invite who you would like to be there.

Thank you ladies now how do I word that do I put it on the invitation or do I call the people that have children and let them know

You address the invitations to the adults only as in "Mr and Mrs. Iwant Tobringmychildren" and to make it clearer, the rsvp card can read "Two seats have been reserved in your honor."

No kids.

only people under 18 at my wedding: FH's neice, two of my cousins, FSIL's in laws' kid (ugh, but whatever he's well behaved and polite). so that's 4 kids.

on invites you need to clearly state who is invited. DO NOT write "The Smiths" or "The Smith Family" if you don't want their kids there

Mrs. Robinson, thank you!