HELP! Not sure how to handle kids....

leyhockenberry

I am in need of help to figure out what to do. My fiance has two siblilings, an 8 year old brother and a 12 year old sister. He wants them at the wedding, but We would prefer no other children at the wedding. We have a limited amount of space and several people have children. I know some of his out of town family have smaller children as well. How should this work? Should I just let the kids come and suck it up or should I say if you live in the area no kids? (but better put). Help! any advice would be greatly appreciated.

brielleinlove

Invite the children you want there and don't invite the ones you don't.  For example, I would address your FI's parents' invitation like this:

Mr. & Mrs. John Doe

Miss Jenny Doe

Master James Doe

But for other parents whose children are not invited, I'd do it like this:

Mr. & Mrs. Sam Smith

You never indicate on an invitation who isn't invited - so don't say anything like "no children."  If people try to RSVP for their kids whose names were not on the invitation, call them and say, "I am so sorry, Sam, but the invitation was for you and Susan only.  We cannot accommodate little Sally."

MoxieMickie

  

kmmssg

Kids are like any other category of guests - you invite those whom you want at your wedding.  You don't have to invite all coworkers, church family, or neighbors, and you don't have to invite all the kids.

For the OOT family - if you do not invite the kids they may not come because they will have to find care for the children.  As long as you graciously accept those regrets, you are fine.

If someone RSVP's and includes the kids, you call and say, "We are so happy you are coming to the wedding.  We apologize for any confusion but we can't accomodate the children.  The invitation is for you and Jim".

Good luck.

leyhockenberry

Thank you all so much for helping with this! I am about to send them out in the next couple days and was just unsure of how to go about this.

AddieCake

PPs have covered it. It's perfectly reasonable to invite only your fiance's siblings and no other kids or to invite in very specific groups or circles with clear lines.  Just make sure you don't start making a bunch of "exceptions" b/c that is where you run into stickiness. 

harper0813

I think it's fine to have your FI's siblings at the wedding and to invite out of town children IF you'd like. You are not required to invite any and all children. If you don't want to invite children outside of your immediate family, there is nothing wrong with that.