While it might seem like an offensive thing to say on an invitation, a “no-kids at the wedding” policy is often appreciated, as it gives family or friends with small children an excuse to get a sitter and enjoy a night out as a couple.
There are no hard and fast rules, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you want to invite children to your wedding, then have them. If you would prefer an adults only celebration, that's fine too. Remember, this is your big day and it's your preferences that matter.
“I don't want babies and small children disrupting my wedding. What do I do?” A: There's nothing wrong with wanting an adults-only wedding. It's a truly personal choice and your guests should respect your decision.
There's no magical formula to determine exactly how many invitees will RSVP "no" (trust us, if we could predict the future for you, we would), but it's safe to plan for roughly 15 percent of people to decline the invitation (and more like 20–30 percent for a destination wedding).
Meier says it is totally your choice whether to attend a wedding, and you don't even have to have a “good” reason. “If you just do not want to go, that's totally up to you,” she adds. But the most important thing is how you express yourself.
If someone objects at your wedding, the officiant will pause the ceremony so you can chat with the person in private. Then, you can restart the ceremony. Wedding objections are for legal issues only, not emotional ones. No one can stop a wedding unless they have a legal reason for doing so.
Research has found that when parents are in an unhappy marriage, the conflict compromises the social and emotional well-being of children by threatening their sense of security in the family. This in turn predicts the onset of problems during adolescence, including depression and anxiety.
Con: A Wedding with children can feel more like a birthday party. Having children at your wedding may make it feel less like your event, and more like a children's birthday party. You may feel fatigued over the need to constantly monitor your wedding guests.
"While you should never feel obligated to attend a wedding you don't want to be a part of, think carefully if the reason you are using will hold up years later when you look back on it," Gottsman says. Once you decide to decline, you should ideally share the news in person, not through the mail.
Quality time with parents
Life has a way of getting in the way of things doesn't it? If your friends or family have kids, chances are life seems to be flying past at 100 miles an hour. By inviting children to your wedding, you're providing parents with a great opportunity to spend some quality time with their own kids.
The officiant, groom, and best man enter first and stand at the altar. Then enter the bride's attendants, either escorted by the groom's attendants or alone. The maid or matron of honor enters last. In some cases, the best man and maid/matron of honor enter together, but it's less traditional.
Add a section saying “We have reserved __ seat(s) in your honour”, and fill in this gap with the number of people you're inviting. For example, if you're inviting your cousin Mary and she's not allowed to bring a guest, you should write “1 seat”.
Becker says the traditional way to indicate whether a child is invited is to include his or her name on the invitation.
When should the RSVP deadline be? Have your RSVP due date be two to three weeks prior to the wedding. Your caterer will want a head count at least one week before the reception, and you'll need a few days to get in touch with people who you haven't heard from.
The vast majority of couples will be more than happy for you to bring your baby. They should be understanding, particularly if you are breastfeeding. If you are told a firm no to bringing your baby, you definitely shouldn't just turn up with them!
As Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect, told Today, it's generally fine, and even a good idea to take your baby out and about. Large indoor weddings, however, might be a bit much for them — and their health —to handle.
The study also found that kids under age 10 bring more happiness than those aged 10 to 14, and parents are happiest when they are younger than 45. In addition, married people with children are happier than those without.
Indeed, married people are happier than unmarried people: across nearly five decades of surveys, data from the GSS shows that 36% of people who have ever been married (including divorced, separated, and widowed people) say they are “very happy” while just 11% are “not too happy,” compared to 22% and 15% for people who ...
While it might seem like an offensive thing to say on an invitation, a “no-kids at the wedding” policy is often appreciated, as it gives family or friends with small children an excuse to get a sitter and enjoy a night out as a couple.
Wedding Vows – the Tradition
You must exchange vows for a marriage to be legal. Generally, you can either say the vows yourselves, repeat them after your registrar or clergy member, or say “I do” to them.
If you're suddenly concerned that someone is going to interrupt your big day, remember: Wedding objections aren't common, and it's rare for an officiant to say “speak now or forever hold your peace” anyway, so the chance of a public objection is slim.