Bridal Shower Invitation - Children

loulawee11

My mom and I were talking about the invitations for my bridal shower and she was wondering if it is rude to put on the invitation "Please no children" since the shower is going to be at a nice restaurant. If it is, what is a tactful way to let people know that it is a ladies event only?

ootmother2

There are some things you just have to say right out.

There was one family member who thought her 7 year old daughter was should go herever she went.  That's probably not so bad but the kid has to have everyone's attention, all the time!  She was disruptive at the bridal shower because she wanted to show everyone there her swimmin/diving talents.

We purposely omitted her from the baby shower three years later and her mother still brought her.

I blame the parents. All events are not suitable for children and God invented babysitters for that very reason!

michaelandjulie2

Whoever is hosting the shower should address the invitation only to those invited. Most children would not be interested in attending and most ladies would likely prefer to attend without a complaining child. I think as long as the hostess addresses them to only those you want there, you shouldn't have a problem.

michaelandjulie2

Well, I guess that is just personal experience. No random young children came to any of my bridal showers.

Perhaps it would be better to say it outright to anyone you think may bring a child with them.

nda_roxybabe

Do not print it on the invite but spread it by word of mouth.

tenofcups4me

Just address it to the women invited. (And yes, it's rude to put "Please no children" on the invitation.) Make sure the hostess(es) ask for an RSVP and if anyone says they're coming with a child, they can stop it right there.

brookelynpaisley

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_bridal-shower-invitation-children?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:49010ef7-398f-4e64-8127-e6682ea218d8Post:f87564b5-e8e2-4ea3-a306-da9c2f5bf7af">Re: Bridal Shower Invitation - Children</a>:
[QUOTE]Just address it to the women invited. (And yes, it's rude to put "Please no children" on the invitation.) Make sure the hostess(es) ask for an RSVP and if anyone says they're coming with a child, they can stop it right there.
Posted by tenofcups4me[/QUOTE]

This. It's no different than the etiquette for excluding children from the wedding. Address the invitation to the adults only.

brookelynpaisley

Additionally, hopefully if it's at a nice restaurant, people will get the hint. Wait, nevermind, this is people we're talking about. I know that I wouldn't bring a kid to a nice place though.

taertman2516

Maybe it is just where I'm from, but a lot of people from FI family assume kids are just allowed, no matter what is on the invite.  That's why we had to invite kids to the wedding because we knew his family would bring their kids regardless.  Call it tactless or whatever you want, but it's tradition in some places.  (My mom reminds me daily how upset she is that kids are coming to the wedding.)  So, I agree that word of mouth would be good.  Or, could you suggest that it might not be appropriate for children? I didn't have a racy shower by any means, but I did get one item of lingerie.  Maybe that would be an excuse??

danieliza1127

The hostess should just address the invitation to the adults only, and if anyone does RSVP with their child, then the hostess would need to politely let the woman know that it's adults only and that she hopes she can still make it.