Weddings with no kids...

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I'm not offended if DS isn't invited - I just can't attend. No babysitters. I also think it's a bit rude to ask DH to take 3 days off work, attend a weekday wedding 300-oddkm away from my home and NOT bring a 4-month-old with me. But I couldn't attend that one because DH couldn't get the time off, not because of DS (well, not soley because DS wasn't invited).

I can understand not wanting children around. I HATE having kids running riot, running under tables, making a mess, a noise during speeches... that's the 7-year-olds, mind, not the babies and toddlers!

I had over 150 family attend my wedding and that was with no young children - the young ie under teenage children of my parents' cousins were not invited. Then friends on top of that. It's not a bad thing to want an adult day, especially if you don't have children of your own. But you also have to see that travelling a long distance with a tiny baby just after a car crash and then the baby isn't invited and you have no babysitters you can trust... not going to happen.

[paradise lost]

Yeah i think "boycott" is a little strong! If she can't go then i can't go. That's all. Same as Ryn - no babysitters. It's not as if i think them saying "no kids" is an insult to me, i just don't get it and also can't really get round it, since i have a kid. If she was old enough to stay home alone it'd be no problem but i'm sure if she WAS then she'd be invited...

Ryn i can see what you mean, people without kids are a family too. I didn't mean to offend, i just meant that most families are continued (not made) by the married (or not) couple having children. I also can't see how it's a family event if one is going to exclude all the members of the family who are too small to "count". I mean, imagine at the other end of the scale having to tell granny she's just too plain old to come! But then i suppose "family" is such a loose term anyway - if i was going to limit numbers i'd start with the cousins i never see before axeing dearest friends' kids i see twice a week from my invite list!

I actually think it's really sad that lack of space for highchairs are given as an excuse for a venue not to have kids. You can buy safe boosters good for any child old enough to go in a normal highchair that fit on pretty much ANY dining chair, Starbucks over here have them in every shop. Venue's could very easily buy them. Just another symptom of a child-unfriendly society making life difficult for those of us who have or enjoy the company of kids.

I agree that a bit of grown-up time is nice, but i prefer it on my own terms. I would literally NEVER choose to go to a wedding or do the things one does as a wedding guest with my time off!

Bx

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Aaaaah, to be in charge of your own guest list! That would mean spending money though.

I've never had a problem with seating taking DS to a wedding. High chairs are better than booster seats because you get more people around a table! But the last wedding, no food provided for DS, just a chair. I asked for a plate and we shared our dinners with the poor lad.

[Pandora]

Aaaaah, to be in charge of your own guest list! That would mean spending money though...

that was the other problem I had - very little say in who was to be invited.

[briggsy's girl]

that was the other problem I had - very little say in who was to be invited.

ahhhh being a stubborn red head has it's advantages! NO ONE was brave enough to try stepping on my toes as to guest list!

we had one family say they'd not have their kids with them, but at the last minute their babysitter fell through (4 kids) - we'd over catered though just in case - and put a few more chairs around for kids

i think a lot of it is just about how people perceive their perfect day - for us, it was spit roast smorgasboard, so it was easy to over cater - for other's it's a set three course menu, so no so easy for catering. for some, the perfect wedding venue for their ceremony has a reception venue attached so they have to cater to numbers that way.

i don't think i'd have felt right not having kidlets there to be honest! but it really is a very personal thing...

[Pandora]

our issue was my parents paid for it and we stupidly let them
I got to pick the groom, rings and dress, and had virtually no say in anything else.
If anyone cant afford a wedding or to elope, Id suggest a registry office any day of the week - you can always celebrate the way you want later on.

[Pretty Butterfly]

I had a child free wedding, except for the bridal party, purely after going to a wedding when I was 17.....

It was just awlful!!! The kids were running, screaming and knocked over the wedding cake... They were just so hyped up.. and I can still remember the bride hitching up her dress, walking over to the kids table and just going off at them....

From that minute I promised myself I would never be THAT bride, or have unruly kids ruin my day.....

I had 2 breastfed bubs at mine and dont think a b/f bub should or could be excluded...

[Rouge]

Yeah I actually WELCOME kid free events Time out for me (providing I can get a babysitter) but I think its a bit harsh to assume just because you have children you are all invited or its a no go, or offensive to your family. And often when kids aren't invited its in the best interest of a child. Weddings are boring for kids, quite simply. This is one day in a person's life that cannot be done again.