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Original poster

No Children at weddings AGAIN!!!!

322 replies

cathers · 16/05/2008 12:17

Can't believe it. Opened the post this morning to find wedding invite number 3 for this summer. Yet again 'UNFORTUNATELY NO CHILDREN ALLOWED!' stipulated.

That now means that for three weekends in may and June we will have to choose between the wedding of 3 close family / friends or finding a babysitter for 12 hours at a time!All weddings are over 150 miles away.

Is this the current vogue to have adult only weddings? Personally find that some weddings without kids can be stuffy and v formal. Much prefer old fashioned celebratory sort! Any one else finding this?
What are you doing?

OP posts:
Lizzer · 16/05/2008 13:43

Oops, I took ages to write that post so I didn't mean it as a slur on LL's decision.

MorocconOil · 16/05/2008 13:43

Went to a child-free wedding at the week-end, and had a really relaxing day. The DC had a lovely time at home being looked after by my cousins. It would have been really stressful if they'd been there. They would have hated having to be quiet and contained in small spaces.

It would have been a pain if it hadn't been so local though, as we would have had trouble getting someone to look after the DC overnight.

It would have cost the bride and groom a fortune if everyone brought their DC. Money better spent on their honeymoon.

littlelapin · 16/05/2008 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Trix11 · 16/05/2008 13:44

No peanutbear I am the same - I love going to weddings without the children and having a child free day to really enjoy some adult company

MagicMuffin · 16/05/2008 13:53

Hehe, this is funny.

If they've put no kids, and it means people with no kids won't go - no offence but it probably means they don't give a shit if you turn up or not. You were probably only invited out of politeness.

MagicMuffin · 16/05/2008 13:56

and how rude of three people to invite you to their weddings. what a cheek!

barbiehouse · 16/05/2008 13:56

I also love weddings without or with few children, so much more relaxing, and you don't feel you have to be setting a good example. If you live some difference from the couple, then i assume they don't know your kids that well? I found it really annoying having to invite partners who i didn't know, let alone their children, cos they took places of other poeple who i may have invited had i got the space. It also depends on couples parents - by the time my parents and my PILs guests list were in, I had even more restrictions!

pagwatch · 16/05/2008 13:56

why do so many people spend so much time determined to be offended or affronted.
If it is a child free wedding then you are perfectly free to decline if that bothers you or causes you logistical problems.Its just a wedding.
We seem to have the opposite problem with very sweet people finding it diffivult to understand why we will not put our son with ASD through the torture ( for him) of a wedding.
Seriously. Life is too short. Get over it.

Chequers · 16/05/2008 13:59

Message withdrawn

hana · 16/05/2008 14:01

dh and I are at a wedding this weekend with no kids AND I CAN"T WAIT!!!
it won't be stuffy
or formal

it will be great!!

Sanctuary · 16/05/2008 14:02

went to a wedding that when the speeches came the 5year old who was the only kid there went upto the main table and started shouting to whoever was doing the speech.
His parents thought it was cute ,

Well is was`nt

We had no kids at our wedding and my cousin who had 4 kids at the time did`nt come in the day
There were to many kids (25)when we counted them all up that we would have to invite and pay for.

Just to keep the peace
Who`s day is it ??

Lizzer · 16/05/2008 14:03

Oouch!!! Right on my left arse cheek (easy target eh?)

I'd go with the silver dragees though LL, they'll pick up the shine reflected in your eyes and match the buckle on the groom's shoe

Chequers · 16/05/2008 14:06

Message withdrawn

peanutbear · 16/05/2008 14:08

Trix 11 I was beginning to feel like a lone voice lol I see that there are others that agree with me i feel better!!!

lemonstartree · 16/05/2008 14:19

I agree with you. The chance for a day out without the dcs GReat!! Seriously they are bored stiff at anythig formal, start messing around I get stressed,.... no fun at all

detoxdiva · 16/05/2008 14:25

I'm off to a wedding next weekend without dd and can't wait - she's 2 and the prospect of a late ceremony followed by photos and then finally eating way into the evening when she'll be bored, tired and hungry would be enought to put me off taking her anyway! It will be a rare treat for me and dh to have some time together with our friends and relax!

Not to mention of course, it's my friends day, so if she says no children, then that's her choice.

hellsbells76 · 16/05/2008 14:26

i'm off to a child-free wedding tomorrow and can't wait! my kids will be spoiled rotten at their grandparents', i can have conversations with my friends lasting more than 30 seconds at a time, get drunk, stay up late and have a lovely lie-in in the hotel room before sauntering back to my parents' at some point on sunday...

TheFallenMadonna · 16/05/2008 14:30

I can't see much difference between "weddings should be family affairs and that must include children" and "I want a wedding with no children" in terms of imposing your view on others.

Really, I see as much evidence of guestzillas on these threads as I do of bridezillas.

Chequers · 16/05/2008 14:54

Message withdrawn

TheFallenMadonna · 16/05/2008 14:55
Grin
Alexa808 · 16/05/2008 15:20

in my upcoming wedding I have actually been asked by a friend if it was okay to bring their 4 mths old baby daughter.

Since when has it become acceptable to exclude children (the very reason to get married for IMO) from the nuptials?

Also, I am 5 months pregnant and laughed it off saying of 'course not and I'll personally make sure my bump stays at home, too'. We giggled and that was it.

Having said that I think if a child starts to throw a tantrum or cries or is whiny because of exhaustion and hunger, then you should have the good manners to leave the church or ceremony and return once your babe has calmed down a bit. Surely, everyone gets that bit and I think it's important to make a point of bringing kids to a wedding. After all, they are the next genneration, they will carry on family traditions, they are lovely and funny and can lighten up the stuffiest atmosphere.

People that ban kid are controlfreaks who want to 'airbrush' their wedding day to tabloid glam...but life isn't like this. How boring would it be??

MagicMuffin · 16/05/2008 15:26

Alexa, that last statement you made was ridiculous. No different from saying "all kids are screaming brats who can't behave at weddings" Of course they're not, just as all people who have child-free weddings aren't control freaks.

Alexa808 · 16/05/2008 15:26

LL and a few of that camp have a point. It might be boring for kids but IMO the invites should be extended to the whole family so it's up to the parents to decide what they want to do. If they'd rather leave their kids at home or in a htel with a nanny then what's stopping them??

It's not like the invite is a MUST and you'll have to drag your kid to it...

Alexa808 · 16/05/2008 15:30

MM: so what is the reason to ban kids from attending a wedding?

I'm open to suggestions...

Is it £££?

I reckon it's the noise, the possible disruption, etc.

Please feel free to convince me otherwise.

MrsTittleMouse · 16/05/2008 15:31

But children aren't "the very reason to get married" for lots of people. And there are a lot of people who don't take their little darlings out when they start playing up.

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