Invites - how to say no children?

Noctu

We've decided, for financial and personal reasons to not have any children under the age of 10 at our wedding.

I have a cousin who lives quite far away who has three young children. I was wondering how to word it nicely on the invitation that we're not having any children at the wedding?

I've thought about just having her name on the invitation but I'd like to make it clear (!).

Thanks for any help!

*Louise*

Just address it to her (and her partner?)

Any invite I have recieved without the kids names on I have assumed was for the adults. None of my kids were invited to cousins weddings, wasn't a problem. If I couldn't get a babysitter, I couldn't go though, so you need to bear in mind that she might not make it.

I have invited neices and nephews to my wedding, so included their names on the invites.

If she isn't clear about it, whe will contact you - it will prob be easier to explain directly (and she might like the thought of time out to enjoy herself)

Horace

When you invite people you usually put their names on the invitation e.g. Sally, Rupert and Barnaby but if you only want to invite one person and not their children then you don't include the children's names. You could always pass the word to your mum to pass it on further down the line that you don't want children to be there.

You could perhaps drop a polite note in with the invitation saying that due to the size of the venue that you are unable to accommodate children under the age of 10.

wolfehouse

just a personal thought- (and i know a lot of people would not agree)...

if i were a struggling young parent who found it hard to make arrangements i would find it insulting not to let the kids in on some part of the celebration even if it wasn't the meal (money reasons).

could you not invite only the parents to the actual 'do' but have some part of the event the kids could go to as well or at least discuss it openly with them so relations don't get strained.

bride_on_a_budget

we decided to only have children that belong to close family members to our wedding which was 6 and they were all over 9 years.

we also decided not to have children at the evening reception, i mentioned this to my friends that have children and they were all happy with it as they got a night out without the kids.

its your wedding and if you dont want children there its your choice,

i would put the names of the people you are inviting on the invites and leave the kids names off...

mirandab

On the invitation I had recently it stated due to the size of the venue unfortunately children cannot be accommodated.

HTH
Miranda

Noctu

Thank you all for your replies :-) I will just put her name on the invitation, bearing in mind with 3 kids she may not be able to make it of course.

Debt_Free_Chick

Noctu wrote: »

Thank you all for your replies :-) I will just put her name on the invitation, bearing in mind with 3 kids she may not be able to make it of course.

hhhmmmmm ...... difficult one. The danger with family is that tend to assume that the invitation includes their children, as you know they have them. Sorry, but I think you need to make it clear. Why not something like "I'm sorry, but we can't include the children in this invitation, but I hope you'll be able to get a sitter and come along"

crystal_fire

I have said the same to my guests im not child orientated which they all know so i have said no children. my cousin lets her kids run riot and thinks it's adoreable.
if she doesnt come because she won't leave her little darlings at home with a sitter then she won't come ! she understands that too.

Harsh? perhaps but thats the way i feel.

ixwood

There was another thread on here a while back with someone offended that their children weren't welcome/wanted at a wedding.

What's the motivation for the no kids thing? Is it a symptom of the state of parenting (or lack of) these days? i.e. people don't want unruly, rude, obnoxious brats ruining their day.

Noctu

For my situation, we can't afford it, and I think that if I invited children it's all or nothing - I can't abide the idea of cherry picking the 'best kids'.

Unfortunately my SIL-to-be's children are absolute HORRORS. They're definitely not coming, I've seen them ruin similar events. So that made the decision for me.