Children invited?

marip123 · April 2013

What do you member think about little children being invited ages 1 thru 8 years old to a wedding reception?

itzMS · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_children-invited-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:dde0705a-f597-4ec9-b6b7-838aa13ff819Post:2f5a7c39-ceca-4f28-84dd-693a6b3fc1e3">Children invited?</a>:
[QUOTE]What do you member think about little children being invited ages 1 thru 8 years old to a wedding reception?
Posted by marip123[/QUOTE]

Can you afford to host them?
Can your venue fit the additional guests?
Will NOT inviting children under 8 split up families? (i.e a family has a 12 year old, 9 year old, and a 4 year old)
Are children permitted in the venue? (yes, some have an age requirement)
Do you WANT to invite children?

I don't think it matters what others' opinions are on this until you answer those above questions.

vanityink · April 2013

We had 3 2-year-olds an a 7-year-old at ours. Of course, we offered a babysitter in another room for when the got fussy. The 2-year-olds all ended up with her, the 7-year-old was just fine with us.

marip123 · April 2013

I really don't want children invited but my daughter thinks people would be offended if their kids are not invited. It would be about 10 kids if they all came.

winelover123 · April 2013

If you want them, go for it. FI and I chose to have a child-free wedding (except for the WP of course).

MayDay513 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_children-invited-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:dde0705a-f597-4ec9-b6b7-838aa13ff819Post:aeaf8386-90f8-42ee-be79-c5c0b9ba4b0e">Re: Children invited?</a>:
[QUOTE]I really don't want children invited but my daughter thinks people would be offended if their kids are not invited. It would be about 10 kids if they all came.
Posted by marip123[/QUOTE]

Wait. Who's wedding is it? Yours or your daughters?

marip123 · April 2013

My daughter doesn't really want to invite them either she just doesn't want to offend anyone if we don't invite their kids. I told her I don't think they would be offended.

JMalettas · April 2013

We're not having children at our wedding, and no one seems to mind. A few people did ask to clarify, (even though we did not add their children's names, or 'and family'), but everyone seemed to understand. I think it's more heard of now to not have children attend than it used to be. Our reasoning behind it was, that there are SO many kids on both sides of our families, that we'd have almost as many young guests as adults. A few people did ask if children could attend the ceremony, which we ended up allowing, and clarifying on the invites that the dinner/reception was adults only.

llandi03 · April 2013

Everyone is different but you should do what you WANT. Period.

We have about 325 guests attending and about 75 of them are children under the age of 12! I have a 7 y/o daughter and as far as I'm concerned this is her day, too! She is getting a new step-dad and deserves a celebration with her friends. I realize that my situation is completely different, though.

MrsGandthebeag · April 2013

We had a kid free wedding. We're not big fans of children. It's okay. People live for a night without their kids.

MoxieMickie · April 2013

Some parents will be offended that you are not living your life around their children. these are the parents who will be offended that you did not think it was cute when their darling angel threw a temper tantrum during the entire ceremony. Everyone else will understand. They may choose not to attend, and that is OK

TMagee515 · April 2013

I live in New Jersey, but my parents & where I want to get married is on Cayuga Lake. What I plan to do is invite kids to the reception until a certain time (say 7-8pm) & then they will go with the babysitters to the house or B&B across the street (and have a movie/slumber party with their cousins) so the parents can have some fun too. That way everyone is invited, and all of the families coming from out-of-state (which is pretty much everyone) don't have to get their own babysitters or leave their kids with their in laws for the entire weekend. And everyone wins! *The babysitters are friends of the family that we've chosen and paid to watch everyone's kids. Depending on how many kids would gage how many babysitters.

jennyd412 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_children-invited-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:dde0705a-f597-4ec9-b6b7-838aa13ff819Post:f0704a26-ceb7-4fbc-ae55-f00cc8b53491">Re: Children invited?</a>:
[QUOTE]I live in New Jersey, but my parents & where I want to get married is on Cayuga Lake. What I plan to do is invite kids to the reception until a certain time (say 7-8pm) & then they will go with the babysitters to the house or B&B across the street (and have a movie/slumber party with their cousins) so the parents can have some fun too. That way everyone is invited, and all of the families coming from out-of-state (which is pretty much everyone) don't have to get their own babysitters or leave their kids with their in laws for the entire weekend. And everyone wins! *The babysitters are friends of the family that we've chosen and paid to watch everyone's kids. Depending on how many kids would gage how many babysitters.
Posted by TMagee515[/QUOTE]

FYI I work for a company that provides this kind of service at weddings. Just be prepared that some families will not want babysitters. As a word of caution, count how many children will go with the babysitter, after asking their parents specifically. Very often, I get to a wedding reception and the bride/DOC/grandmother/somebody besides the parent tells me I am watching x amount of kids. Some parents and kids go for it right away and some never send their kids to the "babysitter area." The jobs work out best if the parents are involved in the planning...

pabride56 · March 2014

I wouldn't do it.

Only 6 guests under 25, will be invited to our wedding. The venue only allows 112 guests, so we have to limit those we invite. There are 11 kids, just among the groomsmen - and I haven't met any of them - my FH just a few. We have a flower girl (9 - her mom is a close friend/bridesmaid), ring bearer (10 - his mother is FH cousin), his niece and nephew (12 & 15 - in the bridal party), and my honorary little brother and sister (15 & 18). We're not inviting all our first cousins, because an uncle from each side isn't invited - we don't have a relationship. It's a formal, evening affair, in a historic building - nothing about it is kid friendly.

indianaalum · March 2014

We had children and they danced and had a blast. I wouldn't have dreamed of having a wedding without inviting my nieces/nephews. They are way too important to me to get all snobby and have a "child free" wedding. JMO

Viczaesar · March 2014

marip123 said:

I really don't want children invited but my daughter thinks people would be offended if their kids are not invited. It would be about 10 kids if they all came.

I wouldn't be offended but depending on logistics I might not be able to come, so just keep in mind that it might keep some of your guests from being able to attend your wedding depending on circumstances.

Viczaesar · March 2014

Crap, zombie thread got me! @KnotPorscha

Jen4948 · March 2014

indianaalum said:

We had children and they danced and had a blast. I wouldn't have dreamed of having a wedding without inviting my nieces/nephews. They are way too important to me to get all snobby and have a "child free" wedding. JMO

Having a "child free" wedding is not "snobby." And calling people who don't want small children at their weddings "snobby" or any other negative name actually makes you sound "snobby." Pot, meet kettle.

Some people just aren't into small children-including those whom they are closely related to. I love my nieces, nephews, and cousins' children, but I do not want them attending my wedding or reception. Their parents, grandparents, and other relatives are overindulgent with them, and sometimes it has been at my expense. Sorry, but my not wanting them there doesn't make me a "snob."

Crud, zombie thread.

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