How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

efinishya Posted: Jul 10, 2008 03:15 AM

How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

I fell bad to tell them no but I don't want kids running around and screaming in my wedding?
What's the good way to tell them? Because I will have some kids in my wedding but they're my nephews and some friends who lives in different state. I don't want them to have bad thought about us for not letting them to bring their kids when they see other kids. Please help!

deb08 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 04:58 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

I put adult reception to follow service on the bottom of my invites--

HTH

Kricket212 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 06:25 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

We are having children at our wedding. We feel regardless family is family. Also, the familys from out of state have no choice really.
This is your day & you can decide what to do. I would just tell them your having bridal party & family from out of town kids only.

Kimbalina Posted: Jul 10, 2008 06:49 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

I am addressing the invites to only Mr. & Mrs. and word has been spread that there will be no children

jaep129 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 07:28 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

Tell them only BP kids. Also, say to them I totally understand then if you cant make it (they will get the hint).

HamptonsBride Posted: Jul 10, 2008 09:04 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

we wrote adult reception on the invite & on our website....but we also provided & paid for babysitting for our OOT guest's kids...and provided a place on the RSVP card for childcare requests.

lizzie217 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 09:19 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

I think most wedding are adult only except for bridal party (RB FG) On the invite put only parents names not and family...if they RSVP with kids I guess youll have to call and explain ...HTH

pa56 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 09:40 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

If your invites are printed already and you don't want to write 'adult reception,' then I would say that due to cost and space limitations, only bridal party children are allowed at the reception. If you blame it on the things outside your control, then they can't blame you.

MD835 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 10:26 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

i politely told them no kids except bridal party - i told them it's an opportunity for them to be alone

LatinaVix Posted: Jul 10, 2008 10:33 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

We're having kids at our wedding.. Most of my family is flying in from out of the COUNTRY and we have alot of out of towners... Children are free and they're getting chicken fingers and french fries... So it's not a big issue.. Besides no child would DARE run around and act a fool at a social function in my family... That's a no no.

Cpt2007 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 10:55 AM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

We had a dozen kids at our wedding. There was no screaming or going wild. They were the hit of the party.

If the OOT kids are not in your BP, I think you may have a tough time saying no. But if you are adamant, just say that it is an adults only reception and the only children that will be there are OOT family.

efinishya Posted: Jul 10, 2008 12:23 PM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

I didn't have adult only reception on the invitation but I did write Mr and Mrs on the envelope and only write the name of the kids when I want them to bring their kids. But some guests RSVP with their kids name. I guess I just need to explain it to them. Thanks so much ladies. Now I know what to tell them without feeling like a bad person.

Espo22 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 12:36 PM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

I didnt have kids ONLY RB and FG thats it. I also didnt make exceptions for ppl bc i knew it would cause ALOT of problems if i allowed some ppl to bring their kids and others weren't allowed. Dh's family spread the word a long time before our wedding that we are not inviting kids so they knew before the invites. I will say that they weren't happy. My side werent planning on bringing kids so it wasnt a problem.

You will have some who will be upset, there were some who were upset about us doing this.

It wasnt something i had planned from the beginning. DH didnt want it and then when i thought about it and realized just how many kids could possibly be at our wedding we decided on no kids. I love kids and did feel horrible at first but the truth was that we wouldve ended up with at least 40 kids at the wedding. Dh's side always bring their kids to events and his side is HUGE. If we wouldve had 10 kids it would be fine but 40-50 kids is a bit much. Plus kids meals were not free, infact it would've been about $90 for chicken fingers and fries, with kids we would've had more guests and more tables so that would've been extra tables so more cp's. After making calculations it would've cost a couple thousand extra to invite children. The biggest problem for Dh though was 40-50 kids running around, and yes thats how it would've been, ive been to other events. Plus it was a late wedding, our wedding ended at 1:30am, personally i dont think its appropriate for a kid. If i had a kid and had a wedding to attend that late then i wouldnt even bring my kid.

You just have to spread the word and if ppl rsvp with their kids you just have to politely call them and tell them no kids.

stephanienyc2002 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 04:03 PM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

Posted by Espo22

I didnt have kids ONLY RB and FG thats it. I also didnt make exceptions for ppl bc i knew it would cause ALOT of problems if i allowed some ppl to bring their kids and others weren't allowed. Dh's family spread the word a long time before our wedding that we are not inviting kids so they knew before the invites. I will say that they weren't happy. My side werent planning on bringing kids so it wasnt a problem.

You will have some who will be upset, there were some who were upset about us doing this.

It wasnt something i had planned from the beginning. DH didnt want it and then when i thought about it and realized just how many kids could possibly be at our wedding we decided on no kids. I love kids and did feel horrible at first but the truth was that we wouldve ended up with at least 40 kids at the wedding. Dh's side always bring their kids to events and his side is HUGE. If we wouldve had 10 kids it would be fine but 40-50 kids is a bit much. Plus kids meals were not free, infact it would've been about $90 for chicken fingers and fries, with kids we would've had more guests and more tables so that would've been extra tables so more cp's. After making calculations it would've cost a couple thousand extra to invite children. The biggest problem for Dh though was 40-50 kids running around, and yes thats how it would've been, ive been to other events. Plus it was a late wedding, our wedding ended at 1:30am, personally i dont think its appropriate for a kid. If i had a kid and had a wedding to attend that late then i wouldnt even bring my kid.

You just have to spread the word and if ppl rsvp with their kids you just have to politely call them and tell them no kids.

You're so nice D!! Mike's family loves bringing kids to all the parties also. i don't really understand that. i hope ppl don't show up with them since we didn't mention it on the invites. i'm sure they would just ignore it anyway. the kids in the BP are plently already, I have 7

PegaLega Posted: Jul 10, 2008 04:24 PM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

Obviously your invites have already gone out since your wedding is next month...with that said-ask your mom, MOH, dad, sister someone to call them and apologize for any inconvenience but due to numbers and costs no one is able to bring their children. Say once all RSVPs are in and its closer to the wedding if numbers are kind you will let them know.

Dont make any exceptions-once you make an exception for one its really not fair to not allow anyone else to bring their child. Also you step over that line where people will begin to talk 'such and such brought their child but I wasnt allowed to have mine' KWIM?

KimberlyScott Posted: Jul 10, 2008 05:07 PM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

I've never been to a wedding with children (unless they were in the BP). I thought it was a given. NO KIDS!!! If you address the invitation to Mr. & Mrs. and not Mr. & Mrs. & Family, it's obvious that children are not invited. I already told my MOH who's daughter is my FG that her son isn't invited and she took it better then I thought she would. She replied of course and that her DH was bringing the FG back to the hotel after the BP entrance. She wants to have a good time and not chase the kids around.

littlepixie12 Posted: Jul 10, 2008 05:08 PM

Re: How do you handle guests who want to bring their kids?

Did you write adult reception on the invite? or the invite should be addressed to only the parents not to parents and family, that is a big hint right there that kids are not invited