Poll: How many mom's are offended by kid free weddings?

1. Don't put anything on the invitation. Just address it to whoever is invited.

2. You have a right to invite whoever you like. However, you don't have a right to get offended if some people decline rather than leave their kids behind.

The second thing is particularly an issue for guests who would have to travel for the wedding. Two days away from a nursing baby could be a disaster for a new mother in terms of keeping up the milk supply. Even for other parents, it can be hard to find a sitter for a whole weekend. And a lot of parents don't want to leave their kids with a sitter in a strange town. So for heaven's sake, don't present a kid-free wedding as though it's a welcome respite for everyone! You do what you've got to do, but don't make assumptions about their feelings.

I agree that your explanation is a bit off putting. I agree that a night out without the kids is usually a good thing for parents but assuming things never goes well. Having been on WW for over 1 yr, I have seen quite a few people put "Adult Only Affair" on the RSVP card. Honestly, I am considering it for the reasons you stated but I haven't decided for sure. Putting it in the invite itself is really not appropriate but I wouldn't be offended if you did. It's not rude to plan the wedding you want. Rudeness is typically derived from poor delivery of a reasonable message.

Explain on the website if you feel the need to. I must added a FAQ section to the website that said "Can I bring my kids" and the response was basically while we love your children, we have decided to make the wedding an adult only affair. Its the PC way of saying "No. Because I said so", lol.

You don't put it on the invite EVER. You don't insinuate that their kids will ruin everyone else's relaxing evening. I'm not even a parent and I'd be insulted.

You invite the specific people you want to come, and when the inevitable push back comes, you just say, "You know we'd love to have you attend, but we can not accommodate children. We hope to see you but we will certainly understand if that's not possible, and we'll miss you."

Adult only weddings are just fine; just like adult only bars, adult only sky diving and adult only strip clubs. There are some places that aren't kid friendly, and you get to make the choice since your the host. In a perfect world, the guest would just think, "Well, this is what they want. I can either go or not.:"

And listen, not everyone you know is willing or able to disrupt their routine with their kids to attend your milestone event; it just may not be theirs. That's fine; life is about choices.

AND

@Victoria for the win; "It's not rude to plan the wedding you want. Rudeness is typically derived from poor delivery of a reasonable message."

A little put off by the wording, but with 2 boys who would rather be out with friends then dressed up at wedding I would hire a sitter. Most of my friends all have children now and enjoy the time catch up.

Our wedding we will not be inviting friends children, nieces/nephews and our 2 boys only.

Aww thanks @Celia. Just dropping gems on the first Sunday of the new year lol.

It all depends on the circumstances. I've been to plenty of weddings where my kid wasn't invited. But if my sister told me I couldn't bring my kid I'd be pretty upset. Children are still family members regardless of their age.

I've seen it written on invitations and I've been in situations where it's implied.

We are having 2-3 kids for the ceremony, ring bearer and flower girl.

Go the route of designating who is invited and how many reserved seats they have.

I'm still debating on how to talk to my SIL who's daughter is our flower girl and who's son was just born. He will be 10 months by our wedding. SIL is a bridesmaid and I want her and my brother to have a good time. I think SIL assumes she will have both kids because she's going to be breast feeding. But she's an adult and can figure out what works best. Her two kids will be the only two at the reception if they stay.

There are lots of events that are not kid friendly, I.e...Some concerts, bars, rated R movies,!and clubs... And parents manage to make it to those.

Just be clear, fair and upfront so guests can plan accordingly.

I would say if you let 1-2 kids come you have to let all be there.

I am also not a fan of the last line of the way you asked though.

I can't speak as a parent, but I can see how a parent would be put off by the wording. You would only include the adults name(s) on the invitation and/or indicate on the RSVP card how many seats have been reserved in their honor. Honestly, when I become a parent I will welcome the opportunity for night out with just the two of us.

I'm a mother of two and I prefer kid free wedding.

No kids for me and I like kid free weddings.

Not rude at all.

Here is a question on this topic, although my FH and I are having a kid free wedding minus our 8 year old flower girl, we originally considered it. A lot if not almost all of our guests have children, would we have to invite each and every one of our guests children as well? I would assume, since I would consider it rude if I invited some over others?

Here's the thing:

It is the host's choice to invite children or not. A guest does not get to be offended if their kids aren't invited. A host does not get to be offended if a guest chooses not to come because they can't bring their kids.

Also, you don't put it on the invitation, and you certainly don't insinuate that someone needs a break from their kids.

Know your crowd and don't get offended when people choice not to come because of your choice of allowing/not allowing kids.

Not a mom, but I still if you have a problem with it don't go. I do see from the parents' perspective if they live out of town to maybe help them find a sitter? But that's a different circumstance.

It's not rude to have a child-free wedding, but I do think your wording is pushing it and could come off as rude. You don't put these things on invites. You put them on the website and don't ever use the wording "night off." It's not up to you to decide who needs/wants a night off from their children.

Also, if you invite some kids (kids in the bridal party, etc), then you need to invite their siblings. You can't break up families.

Not rude my brother and sister both have kids(both under 4) my newphew safe my RB but will not be staying at the reception. I was not sure how they were going to be when I told them no kids but they both are looking forward to a night out with no kids

OP, I saw that working on another website as suggested language for adults only wedding. I don't think it's the best way to convey the message. I decided to put on our website, "due to the intimate size of our wedding, the ceremony and reception are adults only." For our families, I could not use the subtle approach by just addressing the invites to the adults.

I'm going kid free and just said "Adult Reception to follow ceremony "

While I'm not the subject, I do have to ask what your definition of kids is. Some people do no-kids as actual children (10 and under or 13 and under or whatever), and some do under 18. For me in my early 20s, I think it would be very degrading to put a 16-year-old in the same category as a 6-year-old while FH, myself, and our friends are all 22-24ish. I am not inviting children under 10, but if someone causes a fuss, I'll consider hiring a sitter. For teenagers, I'm treating them like adults. If I have a close relationship with their parents but not them, I'm addressing the invitation to just the parents and leaving the kids out. If it's a teenager I'm close with, like my cousin, I'm sending her her own invitation.