Children At Weddings
My daughter is having a wedding soon, unfortuneatly I am finding out now that we are having quite a few children under six at the wedding. I`m not happy about this at all, as the wedding is in the evening and I don`t reallyfeel children belong at a wedding at this time. The children belong to the grooms side....so I really do feel up against the wall. . Any suggestions?
I also have a problem with a brides maid who`s children were not listed on the invitation. She was told only family memembers were allowed to have children. Now this bridemaids children are totaly out of control, loud, and just plain unruly. Their ages are 4 and 6. I was thinking of writing her and telling her she will have to find back up in case the baby sitter she plans to use falls through. She told my daughter that if that happened she was bringing her kids. I think this is totaly rude. HELP!!!!
Posted by Suzi; updated 09/27/03
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What about the CHILDREN who have been asked to be in a "destination" wedding party? Shouldn`t they be invited to the wedding reception as well?
Posted by denise; updated 09/27/03
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Suzi,
This particular topic tends to bring as much fighting as a few other topics on this site. Hopefully I can shed some thoughts on this subject without offending anyone. It seems that people are pretty touchy about things lately.
Here`s my take on children at the reception situation. Many couples and families do not feel children should be invited to attend wedding receptions -- that is their right to feel that way as it`s essentially their party they are hosting. On the other hand there are the same amount of people who feel that a wedding is a family celebration and that children are part of the family and have a right to be there -- and that is their opinion.
You are in a tough situation as it`s the other side of the family who is opting to bring children - although it sounds like they weren`t invited. Now it sounds like the bridesmaids want to bring their children.
I don`t know if I`d write the bridesmaid a letter but I would somehow find a tactful way of reminding this person that it is an adult affair. As for the groom`s family bringing children -- I`d talk with your daughter who could hopefully find a kind way of letting her fiance`s family knw that it is an Adult Affair.
Again, this topic tends to start WWIII with some people. However, it comes down to what the bride, groom, and the hosting parents want to do (whether that is just the bride`s family or both the bride`s and the groom`s). If both families are helping to pay for the event then everyone should agree on how to do things.
When things are all said and done, there probably will be people who still bring their kids although they weren`t invited. But if you can, and feel the need to, you can always `spread the word` in a tactful way that the reception is indeed an Adult Affair. Some people go as far as putting that on the reception card in the invite.
Good luck and I hope all turns out well for you!
Posted by Kay; updated 09/27/03
