How to interpret a "no children" wedding invitation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never understand why having no kids at a wedding receptions gets people so fired up. It’s not a big deal. Go or don’t go! Children don’t need to be included in every formal event- it’s totally up to the couple getting married.

It's up to the couple, but if they really want their out of town family with kids to come to their wedding, it's unrealistic to expect them to fly their kids across the country just to sit in a hotel. And unrealistic to expect parents to fly across the country and leave the kids with a babysitter. So, if you don't want kids there, please realize you're saying you don't care if your out of town family shows up.

[Anonymous]

'No children' means 'Not you or your children. Just mail us a check.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understand why having no kids at a wedding receptions gets people so fired up. It’s not a big deal. Go or don’t go! Children don’t need to be included in every formal event- it’s totally up to the couple getting married.

It's up to the couple, but if they really want their out of town family with kids to come to their wedding, it's unrealistic to expect them to fly their kids across the country just to sit in a hotel. And unrealistic to expect parents to fly across the country and leave the kids with a babysitter. So, if you don't want kids there, please realize you're saying you don't care if your out of town family shows up.

…that’s not what anyone is saying.

You saying you can’t go unless your kids are invited is you saying you are lazy and lack resourcefulness. My husband and I went to a kid-free wedding last spring. NBD. It’s called hire a babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:were their names on the invitation? No? then, no, they don't go. If the invitation was addressed to "Larla Sr., Larlo Sr., Larla Jr., and Larlo Jr. they'd be invited". If the invite was addressed to "Larla Sr. and Larlo Sr." they'd be invited. If the invitation was addressed to "The Lar Family" I'd ask to be sure.

Kids were included on the invitation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:were their names on the invitation? No? then, no, they don't go. If the invitation was addressed to "Larla Sr., Larlo Sr., Larla Jr., and Larlo Jr. they'd be invited". If the invite was addressed to "Larla Sr. and Larlo Sr." they'd be invited. If the invitation was addressed to "The Lar Family" I'd ask to be sure.

Kids were included on the invitation.

Then they are invited. FWIW, I had a “no kids” rule but still invited my underage first cousins. I wanted them there. What I didn’t want there was their kids, and the kids of all the distant cousins and friends we invited. Nothing against kids but we had a fire limit and big families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are teens -- 13 and 16. After twice delaying, our niece has finally settled on a wedding date in September. We bought the tickets, RSVPed, and tonight I was looking for her wedding registry when my eyes came accross their no-children policy: "Also, because our celebration will be at a brewery we request no children during the event. "

So... is this mean as nobody under 21? Nobody under 18? No young kids? yes for the older teen but no for the younger one?

The wedding is on the west coast, and it would be our first travel since covid. Kids are not in need of babysitting, but are old enough to be disappointed for not being able to attend their cousin's wedding. Not old enough to leave them home for a few days, but do we fly accross the States through the remains of the pandemics just for half the family to not be able to attend?

We have a large extended family, and have always cherished graduations, weddings or annual celebrations as ways to get together with loved ones. We have not had a chance to do any one of those things post covid, and this is a first event in our family. We are the youngest, and our children are the youngest among the cousins, all of whom are drinking age. So they will be, along with the younger generation of toddlers, the single ones of their cousins uninvited.

Would you politely decline?

If your kids are 13 and 16 would they be okay at a safe nearby hotel? Is the brewery on site where the hotel is? What about an in law to travel with you, or your parent to stay with them?