Couples generally decide on a “no children” wedding for two reasons: 1) To save money by cutting down on the number of guests; 2) To avoid crying, screaming, running around, little hands in the cake and who knows what else. Depending on the size of your families and the life stages of your friends, having an “adult only” wedding or asking for no children can be a great way to save money and avoid these unpredictable instances. This can also hurt a lot of feelings. So what do you do? I have outlined tips for the bride and groom, as well as the guest with children, on how to handle this sensitive subject while keeping with proper etiquette.
For the Bride and Groom:
- Give Fair Warning: Before sending your invitations, call your guests with children and let them know you are having an adult only wedding. This will give them plenty of time to make arrangements for a babysitter and avoid any confusion later.
- Don’t be Tacky: Printing “no children” on an invitation is a little off-putting. Instead, consider “adult only” or indicate the number of people invited on the RSVP card. For example, “We have reserved ___ seats in your honor” and only include adults in the count. Read More »
