Wedding Invitation Etiquette: No Kids Allowed

Planning a wedding can be stressful, and deciding whether or not to invite children is a tricky decision. It's important to remember that it's your wedding and your rules, but it's also key to be considerate of your guests' needs. If you've decided on a child-free wedding, careful wording is essential to avoid causing offence. While you may want to avoid being too direct, you also don't want to be too subtle and risk your guests missing the point. This article will explore various ways to politely communicate that children are not invited to your wedding.

No Kids Wording Examples

It's your wedding, and you are entitled to choose whether or not you want children in attendance. However, it's essential to be tactful and considerate when conveying this message to your guests. Here are some examples of wording you can use to politely and effectively communicate your preference for a child-free wedding:

When the Venue Doesn't Allow Children:

"We are very sorry, but due to restrictions at our venue, we cannot accommodate children."

"Due to safety reasons at our venue, we are unable to extend this invitation to children."

"Our venue has a strict no-under-18s policy, so we are unable to welcome children to the wedding."

When Allowing Certain Children:

"Unfortunately, as much as we’d love to invite all of our friends’ children, we can only accommodate a few close family children. We hope that you will understand this decision and that you will still be able to join us on our special day."

"In order to meet guest number restrictions, we are only able to extend our invitation to the children of close family and/or our wedding party."

"We are unable to accommodate children beyond our page boys and flower girls."

Keeping It Simple:

"We are sorry that we are unable to accommodate children at our wedding."

"We would like our special day to be an adult-only occasion."

"Please be aware that this will be an adults-only wedding."

"We are unable to invite children to our wedding. We hope that the advance notice means you are still able to attend."

When Inviting Children to Part of the Wedding:

"We are delighted to welcome children to the ceremony and early reception. However, from [time] onwards, the wedding will be adults only."

"We respectfully request that under-18s do not attend the reception."

"Children outside the wedding party are not invited for the ceremony, but are welcome for the reception from [time]."

When Keeping Costs Down:

"As much as we would like to invite all the children of our loved ones, we will only be able to welcome over-18s at our wedding due to budget constraints."

"While we adore your children, our budget will only allow us to accommodate adult guests at our wedding."

"We regret that due to cost restrictions, we are only able to invite over-18s to our wedding."

When Allowing Babies:

"Please note that this is an adult-only wedding. However, you are welcome to bring infants under 12 months."

"Adults only (exception for infants under six months)."

Remember, it's essential to be consistent in your application of the rule and make exceptions only for specific groups, such as children of immediate family or those in the wedding party. Be prepared for some parents to decline the invitation, and don't be upset by this. It's also a good idea to give parents plenty of notice so they can make childcare arrangements.

Venue Restrictions

If you are choosing to have a child-free wedding due to venue restrictions, it is important to communicate this to your guests in a polite and considerate manner. Here are some ways to do so:

"We are very sorry, but due to restrictions at our venue, we cannot accommodate children." This phrase acknowledges the venue's limitations while expressing regret for any inconvenience caused.

"Due to safety reasons at our venue, we are unable to extend this invitation to children." This option highlights safety concerns, which guests may understand as a valid reason for the restriction.

"Due to the nature of our venue, we are unable to invite under-18s to our wedding." This wording emphasizes the suitability of the venue for adults only, without providing specific details.

"Our venue has a strict no-under-18s policy, so we are unable to welcome children to the wedding." This statement clearly communicates the venue's policy, allowing guests to understand that the decision is beyond your control.

If you wish to emphasize the limitations of the venue, you could say: "We are very sorry, but due to space restrictions at our venue, we cannot accommodate children. We hope you understand and can still join us on our special day." This phrase expresses your regret and maintains a positive tone by emphasizing your desire for their presence.

In some cases, the venue may have specific policies regarding age restrictions: "Our venue has a strict no-under-18s policy, and we are unable to make exceptions. We appreciate your understanding." This statement conveys that the policy is non-negotiable and thanks the guests for their cooperation.

If you are inviting only select children, such as those from the wedding party or immediate family, you can explain: "Due to guest number restrictions, we are only able to extend the invitation to the children of our close family and/or wedding party. We hope you can understand our decision and still be a part of our celebration." This phrasing provides a clear explanation for the limited invitations while expressing your desire for their attendance.

Only Certain Children Will Be Coming

If you are only inviting certain children to your wedding, it's important to be clear about this from the start. This will allow parents to make childcare arrangements in advance. Here are some ways to communicate this:

On the Invitation

You can make it clear on the invitation itself that only certain children are invited by addressing the invitation to the parents and listing the names of the invited children. For example:

> Outer Envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sullivan

> Inner Envelope: Mike and Annie

Alternatively, you can include a note on the reception card or map. For example:

> "Leave the kiddos at home. While we adore your children, our venue does not have the room for your little ones. Please make it a date night. We can't wait to celebrate with you!"

> "Children outside the wedding party are not invited for the ceremony, but are welcome for the reception from X pm."

> "We are only able to accommodate the children of our wedding party."

> "We are unable to accommodate children beyond our page boys and flower girls."

> "Children are welcome to the reception, however, there will only be wedding party children at the ceremony."

On the RSVP Card

You can also clarify who is invited on the RSVP card. For example:

> "We have reserved ___ seats for you at the reception."

> "We have reserved two spots for you. _______ Will attend _______ Sorry to miss it!"

> "We have ___ adults attending."

> "___ adults would love to attend."

> "We regret that we are unable to accommodate children, but we hope you can still join us."

Other Ways to Communicate

In addition to the invitation and RSVP card, there are other ways to communicate that only certain children are invited:

• Wedding Website: If you have a wedding website, you can include a note under the FAQ section or in the wedding details section. For example: "Please be aware that this will be an adults-only wedding (exception for children of the wedding party)."
• Word of Mouth: You can ask your immediate family, wedding party members, and friends to spread the word that only certain children are invited. This can help to avoid any confusion or hurt feelings.
• Phone Calls: If you have family members or close friends who are likely to have questions about why their children are not invited, consider giving them a call to explain your decision. You can also use this opportunity to suggest babysitters or childcare options in the area.

Keeping It Simple

"We are very sorry, but we are keeping our special day as an adult-only occasion. We hope that you will still be able to join us and celebrate with us."

"We kindly request the pleasure of your company at our wedding, which will be an adult-only event. We hope you understand and look forward to your presence."

"While we adore your children, we wish to inform you that our wedding will be an adult-only affair. We hope this advance notice allows you to make the necessary arrangements and look forward to your attendance."

"We are unable to invite children to our wedding. Please know that this decision was not made lightly, and we appreciate your understanding. We hope that you will still be part of our special day."

"Our wedding will be a child-free celebration, and we wanted to ensure that you are aware of this in advance. We look forward to your presence as we exchange our vows and celebrate with our loved ones."

Remember, it is essential to be consistent with your policy and make exceptions only for immediate family or specific roles, such as flower girls or page boys. Be prepared for some parents to decline your invitation, and don't let anyone guilt-trip you about your adult-only policy. It is your special day, and you are entitled to make it as enjoyable and stress-free as possible for yourself and your guests.

Children Will Be Allowed for Some Parts

If you are allowing children for some parts of the wedding, it is important to be clear about which parts these are. Here are some examples of wording you could use:

> Children are welcome to the reception; however, there will only be wedding party children at the ceremony.

> Following the ceremony, please join us for our adult-only reception.

> Children are welcome to attend the ceremony and early reception, but from [time] onwards it will be an adult-only event. (Optional extra: We will be organising a creche, please contact us for more details.)

> We are delighted to welcome children to the ceremony and early reception. However, from [time] onwards, the wedding will be adults only.

> Children outside the wedding party are not invited to the ceremony, but are welcome for the reception from [time].

If you are inviting children to the ceremony but not the reception, it is a good idea to make a plan for them after the ceremony or cocktail hour. You could hire a professional babysitting service to supervise them in a separate room at the wedding reception site. You could also craft kid-friendly and fun meals, like a pizza-making station or a breakfast-for-dinner mini-buffet.

Frequently asked questions