How Many Guests Do You Want to Have?

Before you make the decision on whether or not your guests can bring kids to the wedding, first decide on the total number of guests you want to invite. If you have a tight budget, a tiny venue, or just want to keep your guest list to a small number, determining that is a good first step. After that, you can write down the guests you want to invite and see if you have any room left to invite their kids.

Is Your Venue Good for Kids?

Examine your venue to see if it’s safe for kids. If it’s outdoors near water or has many different rooms or levels, it might be hard to have kids running around — especially if their parents can't supervise them closely. If you’re not sure, have a chat with your venue to see if they have a no-kids policy in place.

Will The Caterer Charge You?

When you’re working with a caterer, they will usually charge you a certain amount of money per person in attendance. Have a conversation with them to see if they are willing to charge less (or nothing) for kids who would be invited. If they can’t compromise, factor that price per kid into your budget and see if it’s something you can afford.

Do You Need to Hire a Babysitter?

If you’re open to inviting kids and find that you’ll have quite a few in attendance, consider hiring a babysitter (or two) to take care of them throughout the party. That way, the parents can enjoy the celebration and the kids can also have fun on their own.

Are You Okay With Interruptions?

With kids around, anything goes. Be prepared for unexpected sounds during the ceremony or even dance floor interruptions during more serious moments of your wedding reception (like speeches).

Can You Just Invite a Few Kids?

If you do decide to allow children, you don’t have to allow everyone to bring their kids. You can be selective and pick a few kids that you’re okay with inviting. Just make sure you have a response for guests when they ask why so-and-so was allowed to bring their toddler, but they weren’t!

Will That Be a Reason Why Some Friends Don’t Go?

If a lot of your friends have kids, would a no-kids wedding be a reason for them not to attend? While that shouldn’t pressure you into inviting their kids, it’s something to consider and it may help you decide to hire a babysitter.

Is the Party Kid-Friendly?

Are you planning a wedding that’s going to have a lot of people, alcohol, and moving pieces (such as a few different venues throughout the day)? Consider whether or not the party is appropriate for kids before making that decision.

Do You Want Them There the Whole Time?

Perhaps you’re okay with having kids at your wedding, but only for the first few hours. While it might not be ideal for the parents, you can set a time limit for how long you’d like the kids to attend and hire a babysitter to take care of them for the rest of the evening.

Do You Really Want Them There?

While it might not feel like a simple question to answer, sit down with your fiance and determine whether or not you really want kids there. If you don’t, then make the wedding a kid-free celebration and don’t feel bad about that decision. At the end of the day, it’s your party and you can invite whomever you want!

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