Appropriate wording for "no children please" on invitation?

Question

I have read on numerous websites that "no children please" is highly inappropriate. Here is my dilema....althought MOST of us know that only the names on the invitation are those invited, my fiance has a family that invites others by word of mouth, and will bring along their children even if they are not listed on the wedding invitation. Most of them will be flying in from out of town, and I will feel horrible when I have to turn them away. It is not only I do not want children there, I have only paid for a certain amount of guests. If I go above that number of guests, I will be charged immensely, and I am paying for my own wedding. I feel as if we need to be inappropriate, and list "no children please" so they KNOW we are serious-- they need to make other arrangments. I can just see this situation becoming a disaster.

PLEASE HELP!! I have no idea what to do! And I need to order invitations within in the next couple days.

Answer 1

Saying "no children" is more exclusive than saying "adults only". Are you putting the reception info in your invitation? Try something along the lines of

"Adults-only reception to follow"

or

"Adults-only reception at _____"

Instead of just saying "reception".

Answer 2

No Children Please, is fine.  Some people need to have it shoved in their face.

I have been a parent for 26 years, of 4 children.  I have never had a problem with being told that something is an adult only party.  The host has every right to want adults only.  Furthermore, children inhibit the parents from enjoying the reception, that is unless they are the type of parent that thinks everyone loves their annoying little monster.

Answer 3

Put adult only ceremony and reception . Now with people coming out of town your numbers will probably be lower do to this unless you pay for a sitter. just make sure that every one know s no children are invited and stick to your guns.  

Answer 4

Seek a sitter for this event, there are no Minors allowed, thank you.

Answer 5

Put a printed note in invitations that are going to guests with children. Say If you need help with arrangements for sitters for your children please call...

Can one of your fiance's relatives open their house for the children and hire a couple of babysitters? If they are flying in, they won't know what to do with the kids.

Also start now by word of mouth that the wedding and reception is adult only. Your husband to be and his parents should be getting the word out to his family.

My cousin replied with an amount that included her children even though they were not listed on the invitation. I called her ASAP and just said we would love to see her children but no children were being invited to the reception. I gave no explanation why.  

Answer 6

Spell out the guest(s) name. i.e. Mr and Mrs Marco Lopez or

Ms. Terry Lopez and Mr. Marco Mendez

Answer 7

Since you seem sure there is trouble ahead, I agree this is a special situation requiring clarity for those who cant take the hint. I would write "Adults only" on the invitation.

If you want to take it a step further, you can fill in the RSVP card for the potential offenders, like this:

____Mary and Joe Smith (2)_____

__ Attending     __ Regrets

leaving only a box for them to check attending or not.

Answer 8

its your wedding. just put please no children on the invites and be done with it. the people that youre inviting are your friends, so they wont care if youre a little innaproppriate. in my opinion, its not inappropriate at all to put no children on an invite!

Answer 9

My friend wrote

"Absolutely no children"

on her invitations.

Answer 10

Have you checked to see if children will be included in the number of guests you paid for?

You could put it by the RSVP:

RSVP - Adults only please

RSVP - No children please

Good luck!

Answer 11

You should allow children at the reception, at least. then you are not excluding anyone from the festivities, especially friends and family that have children.  These days, it's hard to find good childcare with the cost of  everything else going up, some parents have to cut back on things that require extra childcare.  

Just be adamant about parents watching their own children while at the reception,but still, be kind.

Answer 12

keep it positive and funny...put something like

"for the health and sanity of all our guests, we would welcome you leaving children and animals at home"

Answer 13

"Adult only event"

"Adult only day"

"We love children, but this will be an adult only wedding"

Answer 14

Be sure to put "Adult Only" on the invites...

and when you address the invitation...be sure not to put and family...or they will think the kids are invited...

Answer 15

How about something that says "An adult only soiree" or "an adult only event (affair)"

Answer 16

well, if you have it addressed to just Mr. & Mrs. So-and-So

the should get the implication that the family isn't invited. you may want to put something like "No additional guests" or "adults only"

Answer 17

Polite people will realize that if the invitation only says "Mr. and Mrs. SMith", with no mention of "and Family" or their kids, that their kids are not invited. Some may still not get the hint and may write in or call in an extra RSVP, at which point you can explain that it is adult only.

It is also acceptable to put "Adult Reception" if you really think its necessary.

Do not feel bad for not inviting kids, they can either find a sitter or not come. If you really want you can arrange for a sitter at the wedding, but even then some people may be upset and the kids may not stay put. Its up to you, and since you are concerned with being polite I think you can pull it off.  

Answer 18

First of all congratulatios!!! I just recently got married. And I didnt want any childern at the wedding/reseption as well. So on my invitation I put, ~Please join us for an Adult reception~ It worked out great. No children came.

Also...what you could do is arrange for 1 or 2 people to come and babysit for the out of town guests. that works as well. then they can still come without an inconvienence to them.

Goood Luck!!!!!! :)

Answer 19

I dont see anything wrong with stating no children please.  Everyone knows this is an adult function.  Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks.  Its YOUR DAY!  =)