The joy of a childfree destination wedding

[daliesque]

Or, all the ways in which we went against the approved MN wedding that cost £3, didn't require guest to travel more than a mile and full of children 🤣😁

We married on Christmas Eve (so double points for being the dreaded weekday wedding and for interfering with Christmas). We hired a gorgeous, remote venue in Scotland - we live in the south of England but are both from Glasgow. So our guests had to travel - flight then cab/car etc.

And we didn't invite children. Admittedly, as two people now in their 50's we have a friendship group made up of mostly childfree or parents of adult children. There are a few relatives on both sides who have sprogs, but none of those relatives would ever make it onto,our guest list anyway. A few guests have grandchildren who they would normally see over Christmas. One or two declined our invitation in order to spend it with their families. Of course in wedding threads on here that would require a long discussion about how bridezilla I was for daring to invite people to my wedding, complete with made up hissy fit if they decline. In real life people can or cannot make it to a wedding for whatever reason and the bride and groom say ok. But that doesn't make the thread interesting, does it.

So, despite being the complete opposite of the approved MN wedding, everyone who came (50 in total) actually enjoyed themselves even though there were no "cute" children doing knee slides at the reception or burbling (screaming to people other than their parents) during the vows. It wasn't an Instagramable wedding as we don't do social media, but it was very beautiful and hideously expensive for us, but it was a once in a lifetime experience.

We also all hung out together for Christmas Day and Boxing Day and a few stayed on with us until new year. Instead of being joyless without said "cute" kids it was full of love, laughter and other cringey sentiments.

We ate lots, drank lots and those who were inclined danced several nights away. What our friends and family liked the most was that it was a mini holiday, that there were no children spoiling things and that it was all relaxed, chilled and adult.

Sounds absoloutley wonderful. The best part about this all though is that you clearly understood that not everyone could make it, it's an invite not a summons, and people were free to decline.

Sounds beautiful, a big congratulations on a day that sounds so meaningful and full of what you wanted x
As someone from warmer climes- what did you wear over your wedding dress to stay warm?

I've never yet met a couple who had tantrums when people declined. I, not sure it's a big a thing as it's made to be on here - and I'm 54 and have been invited to many weddings and have had to decline a good few for various reasons!

My wedding dress was burgundy velvet 😁

It sounds perfect. I am a mum of adored kids (grown up) but small children at a wedding are a pain in the backside. I remember big rows with my mum because I refused to have children at our wedding, because I'd been to a wedding the previous year where young children played on the altar and crawled between the vicar's feet during the ceremony (the parents looked on fondly).

Child free weddings are absolutely fine. As long as you are prepared and happy for people to decline.
The only time jts really shitty is when it’s close family and all babysitters are invited or they know they don’t have someone to look after the children. There’s always posts about how people should have a huge network of people who will look after your kids. Sadly life doesn’t work out that way.
Your wedding sounds wonderful btw.

Congratulations! It sounds like a wonderful day.

Of course in wedding threads on here that would require a long discussion about how bridezilla I was for daring to invite people to my wedding, complete with made up hissy fit if they decline. In real life people can or cannot make it to a wedding for whatever reason and the bride and groom say ok.

Exactly I had people decline my wedding invite. One family (I HAD invited their children) declined as they couldn’t get a dog sitter. I said that’s a shame but not to worry we’ll come over and visit you for a catch up soon instead! And I thought no more about it.

Burgundy velvet sounds gorgeous!

Congratulations @daliesque ! X

Honestly, I think many people are weirdly addicted to the idea that ‘everyone’ is going to pitch a fit if they choose to do something which would actually suit them, like getting married in jeans with two witnesses, or not inviting people’s children, or having twenty guests rather than 200, or getting married in Bali rather than Bognor.

Usually, it isn’t true. People should suit themselves.