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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think you shouldn't assume your kids are invited too?

220 replies

SoftSetPlum · 08/02/2020 18:32

Yes, it's a wedding one Grin

DP and I are getting married later this year, We've thought a lot about it but decided, for a variety of reasons, that we will have a child-free wedding.

Some context: We are both older (late 40s), second marriage, no young kids and the majority of our friends and family (with some honourable exceptions) are the same. The venue we've chosen is meaningful to dp and me but not terribly child-friendly and we are limited on size and budget.

Pretty much everyone has been fine about it - except a friend of dp's who has kicked off because his small children - who dp has met once and I've never met - are not invited. He's been texting dp frequently asking if we can change the 'rules' for his family because they can't find suitable childcare and therefore they want to bring their two kids both under 6.

Now, I understand that childcare is a PITA, expensive and annoying. But if we change the decision for them we have to do the same for everyone else and that will have major implications for our budget and for our guest list (ie we will basically have to un-invite some friends and family in order to accommodate small children we don't actually really know).

AIBU to think they are being CFers and should either refuse the invite or sort out some childcare and either way not ask us to change the decision we've made?

OP posts:
HalfBiscuit · 08/02/2020 20:44

@EugenesAxe that's such bullshit - those kids were nothing to do with you! They weren't even related to your friend. Why would you bend the rules for some random children you've ever met? That's insane.

Noshowlomo · 08/02/2020 20:45

Let us know what you message the friend OP. They are being so cheeky!

HalfBiscuit · 08/02/2020 20:46

@hotgluegun Did you tell the bride you'd overheard that she had permission?

HotGlueGun · 08/02/2020 20:47

Your dress is absolutely stunning by the way!

Berrymuch · 08/02/2020 20:48

YANBU, it is your wedding, and I am sure if you had very close friends or family with little ones you would have considered that. Unless the invite specifically says children are welcome (going to assume that if we were invited to a wedding it would be someone who knows we have a DS!), then I would assume they weren't. It's always a good excuse for a night away anyway if it isn't child friendly and need to find someone to look after him, most weddings give plenty of notice. It's unfortunate if people still can't make it, but it is yours and your DH to bes day and if you don't want any there then don't change your plans.

KatyCarrCan · 08/02/2020 20:49

I think the problem is how your DP is handling this. You've managed to make it clear to all your friends but he's obviously not made it as clear cut to this friend hence why they think they can keep pushing.

frumpety · 08/02/2020 20:51

Nothing to add except that dress is absolutely gorgeous OP Smile

SoftSetPlum · 08/02/2020 20:55

Ah, thanks frumpety and hotgluegun - it is a cracker isn't it? I feel fabulous in it Smile

Katy to be fair to dp I think his mate is just being a bit...odd. But he has just texted the friend again to say, absolutely no exceptions, sorry. We'll see what the response is I guess!

OP posts:
HotGlueGun · 08/02/2020 20:56

@Halfbiscuit.... no, I don't think I did as it only occurred to me afterwards. To be fair to the bride, she was apologetic and said she understood why I was upset and that she regretted not having a conversation with me about it beforehand... but she still let me pay a fuck load of money in accommodation, all the while knowing that there would be another baby there. I don't think she's forgiven me for being upset the morning after... i was trying to avoid her because I can't hide my feelings very well at all and with hormones etc all over the place given that, you know, I'd recently given birth, I knew I'd get upset if I saw her. but she came over to me as we were leaving and mentioned that she hadn't really seen me on the day itself (I had to go and feed my baby etc!). I'd just paid the hotel bill and just felt really let down. I do feel bad about getting upset in front of her but... at the same time, she has to accept that i had every right to be upset and offended. That's why I think consistency is so so important. If she'd been consistent or upfront with me beforehand, I wouldn't have been upset on her wedding day/ day after.

BakerJ · 08/02/2020 20:57

Your DH's friend is being completely unfair trying to guilt-trip you into inviting the kids.

My DH is best man in a couple of months at a child free wedding. We have 2 kids who are not exempt from the rule as only family children are allowed. We gleefully arranged a babysitter for our toddler!

Admittedly we did ask (once) if we could bring our BF 3 month old, but when they said no we accepted their decision and made other arrangements. I'm not at all looking forward to leaving my littlest (or trying to express in the loos to avoid engorged boobs! 🤣) but will deal with it because I'd like to be there to celebrate with our good friend and his new wife!

MartiniDry · 08/02/2020 20:58

Is your partner not embarrassed to have such a rude friend? I suggest that you trump the rudeness by withdrawing the invitation altogether.

I would be reconsidering my friendship if a member of my social circle acted like this.

Hepsibar · 08/02/2020 21:01

It's your wedding. You have what you want and stick to your guns. And have a lovely day. Other peoples childcare arrangements are not your worry ... just worry about ensuring your florist (if using one) does get the right flowers you want in the bouquet as so many dont!

MartiniDry · 08/02/2020 21:05

softsetplum that dress is amazing. What a fabulous choice.

Confuddledtown · 08/02/2020 21:11

@HalfBiscuit pay for their babysitter? Give your head a wobble

SpaceDinosaur · 08/02/2020 21:14

Provided your wedding is 100% child free then you are not being unreasonable.

The wholly unreasonable bastards in my opinion are the ones who cherry pick children. "Immediate family yes but my bridesmaids and friends can't bring their children".
"No children but I'll make an exception for Susan who's asked me to"

It's either all or nothing or it's unreasonable and rude.

redexpat · 08/02/2020 21:14

We did once ask if we could take ds to a silver wedding that was children of close family only (there was one toddler), simply because they had invited ALL of our baby sitters. But had they said no DH would have gone alone no biggy.

Equally we have declined invitations where the dc werent named and when pushed for a reason were told that of course they were invited and we were being silly and we should know that they were invited. Hmm

I imagine dps mate hasnt been told no to something in a long time.

AllisonWL · 08/02/2020 21:18

Oops, I'm new and I voted wrong. You are not being unreasonable. If the invite was clear, the friend needs to find childcare or decline the invitation.

While I wouldn't have a child free wedding, that is your choice to make and guests are to abide by the invite.

StoneofDestiny · 08/02/2020 21:22

Yep, they need to find childcare, decide only one will attend or refuse the invite.
That's it!

Weenurse · 08/02/2020 21:25

Dress is stunning

RubyG3112 · 08/02/2020 21:30

I had a child free wedding, with the exceptions of our nephews and nieces (who were in the bride / groom parties and youngest was 10) and it was awkward as we have many friends / cousins with young children.

I did feel guilty but we were at maximum capacity and it was costing an absolute fortune so I had to draw the line somewhere. I also knew it would be a big Irish wedding and all a bit raucous and probably not ideal for young children!

There was only one family member who got a bit upset, and it was understandable because she was travelling from another country so would have to organise childcare and that would've been expensive and tricky, but when she asked if she could just bring her baby (and explained he would be in her arms and not taking up space / needing a meal) I still had to say no, even though I was cringing, because it would have been a slap in the face for other parents who'd come without their children.

Just stick to tour guns, wedding guest lists and seating arrangements were the worst, you can't make everyone happy!

mumwon · 08/02/2020 21:32

@SoftSetPlum that is gorgeous - real Hollywood & such a lovely colour - very glamerous

Slimmer2018 · 08/02/2020 21:33

I had a child free first wedding because it was huge. Everyone to the breakfast and evening do. I regret it. My second was a free for all and so much more enjoyable for being that. So much more relaxed and celebrating the event rather then being a formal ‘doing what the bride had arranged’ I would definitely say, adjust the budget and include children and all.. they really do make the wedding at the end of the night when everyone can enjoy themselves with their family and you...

EugenesAxe · 08/02/2020 21:34

Well, yeah. That’s what I told myself to feel better. Of course there’s always the possibility the friendship was lopsided and she used it as a way to get out, as she was clever and generally very sane 😆

ShesGotBetteDavisEyes · 08/02/2020 21:35

The ‘friend’ is a cheeky git! Dh and I were invited to his (Childless) cousins child-free wedding a few years back and although we have 4 dc’s we didn’t think anything of it - totally understandable and we looked forward to a good day where we could let our hair down. If we hadn’t been able to find childcare we just wouldn’t have gone - no big deal.
Dh’s dB and his wife on the other hand made it known they were horrified at the fact they couldn’t take their 3 teenage children and didn’t go (after whinging and letting everyone know exactly WHY they weren’t going)!

The worst thing was MIL then got in on it too and started echoing them about how terrible it was - I told her in no uncertain terms I thought they were extremely self-centred and ungrateful for even mentioning it - between us that would’ve been 7 extra guests for the cousin and his wife to be to pay for! (And it was a lovely wedding at an expensive venue with a free bar too so they really cut their noses off to spite their faces!)

HalfBiscuit · 08/02/2020 21:42

God, why is it "terrible" to not invite children? Especially if you don't have a relationship with the children? I don't get it.