No Children Allowed: The Pros and Cons of an Adult-Only Wedding

Whether you are opting for a smaller ceremony, your budget constraints don’t allow it, you have a fear of crying babies, or you and your future spouse just don’t like children, if you are considering an adult-only wedding party, you should be prepared for the consequences. Sure, there will be those who will support you with this idea, but others will criticize and judge you, and won’t be afraid to word it.

If you're thinking about it, consider these pros and cons:

Pros

It can save you some money. Caterers usually charge per person and eliminating children will reduce your guest list. Even if you get a discount for a small person, it can still be a significant burden for your limited budget.

Your guests will feel more relaxed. Both those with children, and those without. Getting children out of the way will please a number of your guests as some people simply don’t want little ones underfoot at such an event. The guests who are parents might rejoice over the idea even more, because it is a lot harder to let your hair down while you are keeping an eye on the youngsters.

Kids are unpredictable. If you want a picture-perfect wedding, having a lot of young guests is probably not such a good idea. They are demanding, messy, and have short attention spans. It takes only one tantruming kid to destroy everything that you have been planning for months. So, if the thought of a kid screaming through your wedding vows, or in the middle of the wedding dance, gives you turns, you should definitely opt for a ‘no children allowed’ reception.

One more thing to consider is how to communicate this idea to your guests with children. Some etiquette experts suggest you call your friends and family who have children and let them know that you have decided on an adult-only wedding before you send the invitations. You will give them plenty of time to organize a babysitter. Be firm. If you allow your sister to bring her kids, but make your friends leave theirs at home, you will offend someone.

Cons

However unpredictable they might be, the little ones have also been known to create some of the cutest moments at weddings. They make the cutest flower girls and ring-bearers in those tiny little dresses and boys suits. If you give them some assignments and keep them entertained, they can be surprisingly well-behaved.

Some people will take offence. Parents are usually quite touchy about their children. Some will simply not understand how you could not enjoy the company of their little angel. Others will find that insulting, even more than not being invited themselves.

Some guests won’t be able to come. Arranging for childcare is not always easy nor cheap. Especially if your guests would have to travel to your ceremony for a few days. Hiring a sitter for that long is expensive. But not only that – some parents just don’t feel comfortable leaving their child with a sitter for such a long time.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that it is your special day, you are paying for it, and it should be your decision whom you’re going to include.