How to nicely say no kids on the invitations?

Also, just to add, that if you do not mind about the etiquette rule I would still be careful with writing "Adult Reception" because people might think children can come to your ceremony. Not sure if you mind that but for me, I cared more about the ceremony than the reception due to noise/crying/tantrums.

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Lol, I now see this is from an old post and I can't delete my response...but I guess for those considering this, here are my two cents...lol!

I think this is tricky. It's much easier when its just family that are allowed to bring kids or the bridal party but to then add in non family/non bridal party families, it looks like favoritism. I don't think there is anything wrong with that, it makes complete sense if you're much closer to some children than other, I just more mean I would avoid addressing it because you can't say kids aren't invited bc clearly they are. I would advise just making it clear on the invitation who exactly is invited and make it clear on the RSVP card how many seats you are giving them. If anyone then tries to add their child just say you're sorry but unfortunately due to your numbers you can not accommodate them. If you say only certain kids are invited, it might be really awkward. Of course they will see there are other kids invited but it needs to not be made about children vs adults but just more if you're invited or not. Hopefully they will understand but just would avoid overly going into detail on how you decided who was invited and who wasn't.

Echoing WWLynnie, an invitation should only specify who *is* invited. This is accomplished by specifying the invitees on the envelope, rather than some sort of ambiguous phrasing as "The Johnsons." If you really want to get specific, you can have a line on your RSVP card with verbiage to the effect of "X seats have been reserved in your honor".

I would advise against even outright saying "no kids" on the wedding website but rather, suggesting as much including information on, say, on *off-site* babysitters.

I just addressed it to the adults only (Jane and John Smith for example), RSVP is done online on our website (non-traditional, I know) so they can only RSVP their own names, and we're sort of spreading by word of mouth.

I researched a lot online for polite wording to this, and this is what I put on my wedding website:

"Although we love to watch children run and play, this will be an adults only kind of day. We thank you for understanding."

So... does anyone have any ideas on how to tell certain people "no kids" when SOME kids will be there? (A-hem... it's to our family members who don't exactly have well-behaved kids... at ALL.) I know we can't say it'll be an adult-only party when SOME kids will attend - but these kids are our nieces & nephews & they are very well-behaved...

We are not having any children at our wedding! That was the one thing I was super adamant about, luckily the FH fully agreed!

We included an "informational" card with our invitations, where we blamed the "no children" thing on our venue lol That way no one would question our decision or try to bring their children anyway. We said, "Our venue asks that all attendees be 16 years of age or older. We love your little ones, but they'll have much more fun with a cool baby-sitter; we promise!"

You don't have to use the words No or Only. I had the wording "We have reserved X seat(s) in your honor" on the RSVP cards as well as listed on the Reception cards "Wile we love the little ones, this is an adults only affair." However, if I hadn't printed mine so early, I would've used the wording my friend did on the Reception card - "Adult Reception to Follow".

"Leave the kiddos at home"

From my experience, it doesn't matter. I clearly stated no children, and I still have people asking me if they can bring their kids because they can't find a baby sitter. Sorry not Sorry. I'm having a bar and they're will be plenty of drunk people and dancing. I don't want kids in the mix of that.

My guests had to RSVP online so on my website in the FAQ section I said due to the restriction of the venue, children are not invited. thank you for understanding... something like that. another friend wrote that they would like their guests to fully relax so it was an adult only event.

We're adding in the Q & A's section of our website the following:

Although we love all of your children, we have decided to make this an adult only event.

Equally in Spanish it would be : Aunque queremos a todos sus hijos, hemos decidido hacer este evento solo para adultos.

FH & I are both Latinos and not only am I doing this but we are personally making calls to those guests who have children, this is not some hate attack against children I just want to have a great time with our guests without anyone worrying about their kids running around in the outdoor terrace areas, up and down the concrete stairs, etc.

Good Luck!

Clearly address the invite to Mr. and Mrs. XXX or Mr. X and Guest or others like that. Don't use the word family. On the RSVP card, consider specifically putting their names.

Mr. XXX (accepts) (declines)

Mrs. XXX (accepts) (declines)

Instead of the traditional RSVP. That is clear who is invited and then, you aren't the bad guy if someone writes in their kid because they had to consciously choose to write in someone not invited.

We addressed our invitations specifically to the adults and adolescents, not to "John & family" or to "the Smiths". On our wedding website, we wrote:

"While young children are welcome at the ceremony, we ask that the reception remain a kid-free zone."

My toddler niece will be there, only because my brother and his wife are so hyper protective of her. My brother is one of my groomsmen, so we are framing it as "only members of the wedding party may bring children due to space limitations" if pushed.

I clarified it on the wedding website and we specifically informed the guests who have kids early on. On our wedding website, it states, "as much as we love our nephews, nieces, and all family little ones, the venue is not kid friendly."

I know it says only but we just said "please join us for an adult only reception"

I'm planning on having a few children at my wedding (kids of my MOH's) but that's it. I have no idea how to word this on invitations!

I would just be clear and do the following:

1. Invite -- John and Jane Smith. If single, and you want to give plus ones, indicate one adult guest. Definitely not and family.

2. Website -- indicate no children, or wedding party only or over 16 (or whatever your rule is).

3. Tell both mothers and wedding party, no other kids. Tell them twice. Tel them no exceptions. Tell them if they don't want to turn down anyone, have them call you.

4. Do not give a reason (budget or space), people will try to "solve" your problem. Just say no.

5 If your are doing STDs (not a good idea in my mind), be prepared to answer questions from that day forward, tell moms, and have website up. Put link to website on STDs. You don't want people booking a flight for four.

6. Do not indicate anything like for your enjoyment, date night, etc. The fact is you are not inviting kids because you don't want them there, not because you want them to have a better evening. You don't know what every guest wants.

7. If you are doing hotel block, look for hotels with sitting. I have never been disappointed with a Ritz for sitters.

I went around telling everyone it was adults only and put it on our website. Also on each invite I addressed it to Mr & Mrs, and on the RSVP card I put we have 2 seats in your honor.

I know people say that you shouldn't put it on the invites but I know someone who had to because some of their guests insisted on possibly bringing their children. They put something like "due to space we cannot accommodate children."

I am simply going to tell my friends that the venue does not accommodate children and on the invitation I will simply put adults only. Its my wedding so.. I do not care.