To think childfree weddings are pretty normal now

[LeVole]

We got an invitation for a wedding and the couple specified no kids. This didn't surprise me at all but DH and my mum were both surprised by it.

AIBU to think it's very normal nowadays to exclude children? Personally I didn't as we had a lot of close family with young kids and very few friends with kids but it makes sense if you're in the opposite situation. I think we payed £20 per head for toddlers!!

@Mary46

Just had flower girl at ours years ago. She was 2. I accept people dont have family backup to mind them so we turned down a few invites for that reason. I think brides think everyone has helpful families. Not

Even people without kids know that parents struggle to find care but it isn't actually their problem.

@LukeEvansWife

Most of MN - 'weddings are shit but if you don't invite my little darling I shall be very cross, even though I don't want to go '

And don't forget "weddings are a family celebration and are about joining together families"

2 years later

"AIBU to go NC with my toxic MIL"

@Lookingoutside

Sitting there smiling at everyone while your babe in arms screams over the vows is a dick move too.

Of course it is

But look at how many posts on this thread have referred in endearing terms to children ‘running riot’ or ‘doing aeroplanes’ during a wedding

There are too many parents who think their kids being loud and disruptive is funny or sweet, and somehow brings a little something extra to the occasion, so it wouldn’t even occur to them to remove them

I wonder if it is because weddings cost so much these days that the 'per head' amount is wasted on kids and couples paying such a lot of money for grand houses and estates to marry in just don't want kids ruining the ambience.

@SpeedRunParent for us that's part of the reason

We would end up inviting aprox 40 kids easily, each one is a significant cost, we priced up 2 village halls near us and found our hotel that was all inclusive was actually cheaper. Adding the kids is about 2 grand easily, but also is a massive dent in the number of invites.

For both budget and space reasons there is a limit to the number we can invite and at least 1/2- 1/3 of our guests would be children. Less children is more people that are actually friends etc or people who actually could recognise us or want to be there we can invite

Actually if the parents kick off about their offspring not being invited, look at it this way - you can fill their place with people who don't want to be surrounded by kids