No Kids at Wedding/Reception Etiquette

I wish we could cut the kids, but it seems like if you invite one, you have to invite them all. We don't want to upset anyone, so it's a fine line you have to ride.

We did exactly as you plan to do and never really had an issue. We spread the word by mouth through our parents and family members. We made sure to address the invitations to only those invited and listed on the rsvp cards how many seats were reserved for each couple invited. There is nothing wrong with what you plan to do and you just need to be honest with people if you get any questions.

I'm in the same boat as you! Most of my friends understand why I don't prefer children, but I'm also prepared to get some declines due to it (and the fact that my wedding is out of town)

I'm just trying to keep the mindset that this is our day, and in a month, a year, they won't even remember, but we will!

Good luck!

What @Mandi said is what I was going to tell you. It's best not to put adult only on the invite, but instead address it to the adults invited and indicate on the RSVP card how many seats are reserved for them. You can also put it on the FAQ page of your wedding website and spread it word of mouth. I've only just started spreading this word of mouth, so fingers crossed! I already know some people won't come without their kids and that's fine, you can't get upset when they decline because of that.

Hang tough, Kgirl-- I have two kids of my own, and have MUCH more fun at weddings when I attend without them. Yes, this decision will mean some OOT guests can't come, cause they can't find sitters for multiple days of travel, and some locals won't, because they won't find sitting for an evening, but some guests will thank you, either in person or in their hearts.

Thanks, everyone! I guess I just needed some validation! I like the input of how to address invitations and reply cards. Thank you so much!

We added it to our save the dates

It's not polite to state on invites or STD's who is not invited. @Mandi above has outlined the proper etiquette really well.

If you are doing adults only, you have to stick with it. I just told one of my very good friends she can't bring her kids for the 100th time. She is currently pissed at me and i'm not even sure she will show up to the wedding. You just have to put your foot down.

We cut the kids from our wedding. We had a 2 year old ring bearer and a 6 month old nephew. We had friends willing to travel across the country without their kids to come to our wedding. We also had a couple who lived 10 minutes away from us give us a bs excuse 8 months before the wedding that they couldn't find a babysitter. Yea.... If they would have been honest with us, we'd still be friends (maybe), but one thing my close friends know... Never lie to me. We made the exception for my 6 month old nephew because my entire family was there and my SIL's family lives in a completely different state than any of us. So they would have had to fly from Puerto Rico, to Missouri, to Arizona, back to Missouri, then back to Puerto Rico.

I plan on putting "We have reserved __ seats in your honor" on the reply cards, filling out that number myself, so if it is a couple it would say 2. I'm not having kids attend either. I think that gets the message across without being rude or stating "no kids"

I agree with how everyone said to address invitations etc. Just a note / suggestion: when anyone asks just tell them the "rule" you gave yourselves. For example, FH and I are only allowing his nieces and nephews (they will also be a part of the wedding and are travelling from OOT). However, quite a few cousins of ours all have small children so when asked, we will remind them that it is Adults Only, and if they question the couple kids, we will just let them know that only children of immediate family were invited.

I'm mostly doing word of mouth and restricting the names on the invitation. For example: put Mr & Mrs Smith, not The Smith Family. If anyone gives you grief about it, smile and say you hope they can make it, but understand if they can't. Then shrug it off and let it go. You can't control what other people do; you can only control your response to it. And you deserve to have the wedding you want.

Oops! I put "Adults Only reception to follow ceremony." on the invitations.

We are having children in the Wedding but will hire a professional sitter for them and their siblings.

We love kids but family alone was 40 kids all under 12!

The exception to "if you invite one kid you have to invite all children" is with them in the wedding party. This is pretty common nowadays. I would invite siblings of the wedding party kids and call it a day.

You could properly address the envelopes and write "We have reserved __ seats in your honor", but I think you should still tell people so there's no confusion. I'm not sure about your family, but my family will still act like they didn't know what was going on unless I told them myself. People will get mad, but unless they're paying for it, they have no say