No kids..no exception

I would stand your ground. Otherwise there will be a flood of requests to bring kids.

For others reading, the best way to go about this is to state the amount of seats available on the RSVP card, and to only address the invitations to the people invited. If people write in more guests on the RSVP, a quick phone call is necessary.

If you truly want no kids at your wedding, I would stand your ground. "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience, but our wedding will be an adult-only event." No further explanations or anything needed. If they can't find childcare, they will unfortunately have to miss the wedding. Making an exception is a slippery slope - once you make an exception for one person, you'll likely get more requests from guests to make exceptions for their kids too.

If it's already been stated that there are no kids invited, then I'd say stand your ground. Once you make one exception, either word will get around and you'll have everyone asking to be part of the exception (or bringing their kids without asking), or people will get upset that they didn't get to bring their kids but others did.

Stand your ground. "I'm sorry, but we cannot accommodate children. We understand if you cannot attend and you will be missed". This will become the go to saying. If they still give you flack, then they are just being unreasonable

If they decline you have to be understanding and accept their answer. It's not as easy to just "figure something out", similar to, "they've had a year to save" you can't save what you don't have and childcare isn't always available or an option.

View Quoted Comment Understandable. It’s just odd to me how someone wouldn’t have the funds or childcare two years in advance. How would you even know lol At the end of the day… if you can’t make it hey, but still asking or brining a kid isn’t ok.

We are doing a kid-free with 2 exceptions: my bro and my fiancé's GodDaughter. He loves her as if she were his daughter, he wants her there since she's special to him.
We will stand our ground . He has a sister with 2 little ones, her in-laws will watch them. She said that they planned to come without them, had they been invited, so they will be able to enjoy a night-off, dance,mingle and drink alcohol in peace lol.

We are 1 year out so no one complained so far (we told them via word of mouth and phone ), we know some parents will as we get closer to the RSVP due date. But we're having security on the day of ! Anyone who's bringing their kids behind our back can't enter, no exception.

Yep: stand your ground as it' s your big day, your wants as well as your groom's come first, anyone who hates this rule will be missed should they decide to decline.

View Quoted Comment I love it!!!!! We do have exceptions as well but for immediate family. My sisters who are 19 and 15 and my son who is 1…he almost didn’t make the cut! Lol but he’s the ring bearer! We aren’t having any flower girls or children in the wedding. Oh and one more exception, my fiancé is allowing his cousin’s son(15) to take the spot because his cousin passed away last year right after our son was born. It hurt him dearly because they were very close and he never got to meet our son (our first child).


Everyone is pretty much older so I’m ok with those exceptions, I definitely don’t want small children. I’m already making arrangements for my son to be taken back to the hotel at a certain point!

View Quoted Comment Yes! My aunt and uncle wanted to bring my cousins. I expressed to them that it’ll be a small wedding and adults only. I guess to them a 15 and 17 year old aren’t children. I haven’t seen my cousins since they were toddlers because we live in different states. In the end, my aunt declined and didn’t even send a wedding gift or congratulations

View Quoted Comment Wow! That sucks!


I’m sure you still enjoyed yourself! Luckily we specified an age limit, 21 and older! I had someone saying they couldn’t find a babysitter for their 17 year old! What?!

Stand your ground FOR SURE! I have three kids coming to my wedding because they are my nieces and they are IN IT. My sister has even arranged for her in-laws to come pick them up for a sleepover after they get something to eat because she also just wants to have fun and not worry about getting three exhausted kids to bed on time! If anyone else asks to bring their kids I am letting them know that my venue requires that I hire a professional babysitter for the evening if there are more than five children in attendance which I will NOT accommodate.

View Quoted Comment I understand why you and your fiancé are doing these exceptions. No one should be miffed or scorned
My bro and fiancé's Goddaugther are 14 so they know how to behave. I don't want small kids either and neither does my man.
Had his Goddaughter been younger, I would have accepted to make an exception though, since she's basically a baby sister to him and because she's very well-behaved. My fiancé told me that at the age of 5, she was well-behaved beyond comprehension LOL. We're not having a wedding party so she's not a bridesmaid... but I told my fiancé that I'm planning to treat her like one: I will offer her to get ready with me, to get her hair and make-up done professionally by the hair & makeup artist I'm hiring and if he wants to her to be in 2-3 formal pictures, I will add her on our photshoot list.

View Quoted Comment Right! I talked to my fiancé about it and he knew I really wanted my cousin to come (the one asking to bring her kids) so he said he would look into wedding babysitting services. I let her know and she didn’t he acknowledge. She pretty much doesn’t want to leave her kids with a sitter. So I said you know what, nope! I already said no kids, you still asked to bring your kids, I’m trying to accommodate you and have to PAY for a sitter and you’re still not happy?! Never mind! No kids!

Yes lol - stand your ground. We’ve said that we’d love to see your kids at other times during our wedding weekend but we’re strictly having a no-kids ceremony and reception to make sure everyone can let loose , including parents. It helps that my wedding is a night too. The last thing I want is to hear some kid yelling during the most important moment of my life lol

View Quoted Comment The no kid policy was my husband’s! I didn’t even think about the cost of children until he brought that up. We had a small dilemma when it came to the best man’s situation. He has two girls under the age of 4 so we looked into hiring a baby sitter for them. But he worked it out with his sister in law
To this day, I stand by our choice and do not regret it one bit. Glad you’re sticking to that as well. Best of luck!

We haven’t come across this because all kids are welcome at ours, but several friends and relatives with children have attended child free weddings where it was stated “no kids no exceptions” and the couples didn’t stick to their own rules and it rubbed people the wrong way to the point of cutting off friendships because guests felt so disrespected. They allowed babies, wedding party children, immediate family children, etc. under various loopholes.


When you start making exceptions for other people and don’t stick to your “strict” rule for the majority of guests, you lose integrity as a host. Some people say “they have every right to allow family/wedding party children”. So then don’t invite adults whose children you are not inviting to even the playing field. Keep it consistent for everyone so that there are no hurt feelings or anger that is addressed behind your back.

View Quoted Comment Well luckily I didn’t state no exceptions, because there are definitely exceptions such as my child, siblings, and one cousin filling in for his father who passed away. If you’re paying for each person to be there, I’m sure making your own rules comes with it! When it’s your wedding, you do what you want.

No kids are coming to mines either and we said this the moment we start looking into venue space so they all but this. If have to find a sitter they have time and I have my reasons not beginning rude we just dont.

No kids wedding here. We had a family already ask if they could bring their daughters who vary in ages from 2-19. We had to stand our ground and say “sorry, no children. Just the adults addressed on the envelope. Our venue can’t accommodate children.” We thought about letting the eldest child (19) attend but then we’d have to let all the families with older kids bring theirs and that’s a slippery slope. It makes you feel kinda evil, but we really just don’t want the hassle of kids running around and higher cost.

Yes and I have made very clear enough that I dont want any little kids nor baby at the wedding. But teenagers 16yrs and up are allowed And I explained my reasons on the called that both myself and my FH made. So I did tell him they still time to find someone to watch them,but if for this reason that they can't come then they need to let my MOH'S know that they come

I don't understand having a wedding without kids. The point of wedding is nuptial and celebration for both families combined into one. Family members include children. Not all family members can afford child care. Few years ago I barley made enough to get buy. My mom watched my kids for free until they came of age to go to school. Year in advanced or not. I wouldn't be able to avoid childcare. You can set rules that everyone needs to be seated at certain time. Like if you were doing grand entrance to make sure no one gets in the way. Realistically if you want zero kids, don't invite anyone with kids.