I do NOT want kids at my wedding. I just went to a wedding where I was sitting in the 5th row and there were children being so loud (happy kids/babies and non happy kids/babies) being so loud that I couldn't even hear what the heck was going on! AND THEY WERE SITTING IN THE BACK! How rude. Why didn't the parents get up and leave the room when their kid was being loud!? It was so distracting I couldn't even concentrate. So why the heck would I want that at my wedding!? Yeah, I'll be focused on my groom but I want everyone focused on us and not some baby freaking out or being loud. I told my sister I only want to kids who are IN the wedding to be there and she said no absolutely not. It's rude to invite those kids but not let my guests bring theirs. So she said I could have a "cry room" where the parents can go if their kids are being loud. Okay… but what if they don't go and use the cry room? Then what? Do I have someone in charge of loud kids and tell the parent they need to go to the cry room? I can't say "no kids" on my invite or whatever, I get that. And finding a sitter can be hard, and then they'll had to leave early. But wouldn't you want to leave your kid at home if they're not family? That way you can just enjoy yourself? I'd think so.. So I can't say no kids.. I get that. Even though I don't fully agree with it.. so then what's the alternative???
Update:
My wedding shouldn't be a teaching moment for kids to learn how to control themselves and any parents that sees that as such, should probably just wait outside. Why ruin it for everyone else because you're so selfish that you couldn't shut your kid up for 15 minutes for someones most important day?! So annoying. I'm about ready to not let any kid who's not immediate family come. That means no cousins children, no nothing. Unless you're my niece, nephew, or are in the wedding then stay home and figure it out. If you can't find a sitter, don't want to come without your kids, then I guess you don't want to go that bad, and that's fine. If you "can't find a sitter"…. well have fun staying at home for the next 18 years if that's the case. I highly doubt you can't find a sitter especially given 2-3 months notice...