Inviting Children to Your Wedding: To Do or Not To Do?

Whether or not you should invite children to your wedding has always been a bit of a controversial topic. For some couples, having children be a part of their wedding day is a must, while others would prefer to keep it an adult affair. I have seen couples experience utter rage when they tell their guests no children, and I have also seen that same rage when children are included from guests who feel children don’t belong at adult events.

So, what should you do for your upcoming wedding? My first answer is “Whatever the bleep you want!” but let’s have a deeper look at this….

Your Wedding Day is About You!

Unfortunately, there will always be some guests who end up being offended about children not being invited but it’s important to remember that this is your wedding day and it’s the one day when you’re allowed to be a little selfish.

You and your partner are the ones paying for the venue, flowers, and food, which means you’re allowed to be picky about who you invite and how many people you invite too.

The people who care about you will understand your reasons for not wanting children at your wedding and if they don’t, that’s not something you need to worry about. In fact, they likely won’t even ask for your reasons!

You and your partner are celebrating your love and your union, which is exactly what your day should be about – not the preferences of your guests. Yes, you should, of course, take your guests into consideration but this doesn’t mean you need to feel obliged to invite their children to what can often be an expensive day, especially when children require extra accommodations like food, activities, and entertainment.

ProTip! If you include children at your wedding, hire a babysitter to keep them wrangled and entertained! Have a designated spot for the kids where they can play, jump around, do some crafts, and not be in the way of your caterers carrying hot food and drinks. Also – remind their parents to bring a change of clothes for them so they can play comfortably without anyone worrying about the kiddies getting their wedding clothes dirty.

If you don’t want children at your wedding and know you have guests who refuse to go anywhere their kids aren’t welcome, have the kids go all together with a babysitter to another location like a hotel room for games and food – this might be the happy middle ground for everyone!

Children Get Bored!

One thing to keep in mind if you’re considering inviting children to your wedding is that they get bored. This means that you need to be prepared for potential interruptions during your ceremony and your reception. Have someone ready to quiet a child or children who start crying, talking, or yelling during your ceremony. ProTip! Ask the parents to have snacks with them to keep the kiddies occupied and quiet.

Children Get Scared!

When I find out there will be small children involved in the ceremony, I let everyone know my one rule is that we let the children do what they want. No, we will not be stopping for 45 minutes while everyone tries to convince a terrified, screaming toddler in an itchy dress to walk down the aisle through a gauntlet of strangers. If they won’t do it, we move on and the child will do their thing. Yes you all rehearsed it the night before, but your guests weren’t there and suddenly things have changed for the child.

With that being said, choosing to invite children to your wedding is a wonderful, personal decision and there are ways to keep them busy during the day. Just be prepared for them to behave like children and plan accordingly.

Overall, inviting children to your wedding is a personal decision and there really is no right or wrong answer – it all depends on what’s important to you as a couple.

You Might Also Like:
How to Choose A Wedding Color Scheme that Photographs Well
Wedding Venue Red Flags You Should Always Pay Attention To
Tips to Help You Plan a Stylish but Budget-Friendly Wedding
Ways to Feel More Relaxed in Front of Your Wedding Photographer’s Camera
How to Experience a More Meaningful Wedding Ceremony
Wedding Photography Regrets Couple Have
Wedding Planning Myths You Should Definitely Be Ignoring
Fun Uses for Your Engagement Photos
Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Bridesmaid Dresses
Tips to Get the Best Wedding Confetti Photos at your wedding!
Unique Ways to Honor Deceased Loved Ones at Your Wedding
My Best Tips to Enjoy More of Your Wedding Planning
The Father-Daughter Wedding Photos Brides Shouldn’t Miss Out On
6 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding
Expert Tips for Planning a Backyard Wedding
How to Handle Divorced Parents During the Wedding Planning Process
Thoughtful Touches to Add to Your Wedding Day for Your Guests
Fun Ways to Include Children in Your Wedding Day
Guide to Creating a Wedding Budget
Tips for Navigating Wedding Shows
Wedding Reception Ideas You’ll Definitely Want to Steal
The Wedding Guest ‘B’ List – The Dos and Don’ts
Tips for Organizing Your Wedding Photos
Steps to Finding Your Officiant
The Wedding Veil – What Every Bride Needs to Know
Things Your Wedding Guests Probably Won’t Remember
Wedding Ceremony Mistakes You’ll Want to Avoid!
Tips to Stop Your Wedding Guests From Posting Your Photos Online!
4 Reasons to Consider a Cocktail-Style Wedding Reception
Things Your Officiant Will Want to Know!
9 Tips For Navigating a Wedding Show!
Beautiful Ceremony Traditions to Consider!
7 Things You Should Know Before Planning Your Wedding
Unconventional Wedding Decor Ideas!
5 Things to Trust Your Photographer With
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Maid of Honour
Tips for Wedding Favours Your Guests Will Love!
Wedding Photography Styles Explained!
Tip For Choosing Bridesmaids Dresses!
2020 in Review! The Year of the Wedding!
How to Keep Children Entertained at Your Wedding
Things You Don’t Want to DIY For Your Wedding
How to Set Up a Gorgeous Dessert Table
7 Photos with Your Bridesmaids You Wont Want to Miss
How to Save Money on Your Dream Wedding
Where to Begin Your Wedding Planning
5 Simple Tips to Take the Stress Out of Wedding Planning
Halloween Wedding Ideas
5 Reasons You Might Need a Wedding Planner or Coach
Things to Consider When Selecting a Wedding Venue
Why an Officiant Charges as Much as They Do
Why You Should Hire a Professional Officiant
Parental Estrangement and Wedding Drama