I realize this topic comes up a lot, but I've been struggling with this for the last couple months, so I'd love some advice...We're planning on getting married September next year. It will be a very small wedding-parents and siblings only (and their spouses/guests), so somewhere between 20-35 adults.
We're planning an evening courthouse wedding. I don't mind if there are kids at the wedding, but reception, no. I'd like the reception at a lounge-style restaurant with a Mad Men/50s/60s cocktail party theme. That being said, there will be drinking and maybe cigars. I would rather not have children. I don't want babies there.
The thing is, both my brothers' wives will have 7-month olds next September (younger is having twins, older also has two girls, 6 and 10). So, if I say no babies, there's a high probability they won't come. That would mean my brothers won't come either. On FIs side, both of his older sisters have young children. So, that could potentially bring the guest list down to his 20-year-old brother and 15-year-old sister, and our parents (and spouses/guests). Sad.
How would I be able to pull off a no-kids reception? Do I just hope they'll get sitters and be excited for our day? Should I schedule a family-friendly dinner and then excuse kids afterwards for adult drinky fun time? Should I plan some kind of offsite kids' party/sleepover after the wedding so the parents have a sitter and a night out (is it even my responsibility)?
I don't want to have to tone down my reception for kids...I want it to be exciting and a fun adult evening. I also don't want to sound so harsh, as we have a daughter as well (she'll be 7 when we get married)...but she'll be in the wedding, then going with a sitter, as the reception will be late. The wedding will be about our family; the reception will be a party. Please help!
