I think its a great idea. When I got married, my son (then 2yrs) was at the ceremony being looked after by friends. There were no other kids there as none of our friends had any yet. After the ceremony, a family friend who wasnt staying for the reception, took my son home and watched him until my mum got home to take over. I didn't want my son there for reception as I wanted to be able to enjoy my wedding without worrying about keeping Jordan amused or worrying about what he was up to. Nor would I have been able to really keep an eye out for him. Anyway, how is one able to chase a 2yr old around when you are wearing a bloody great big wedding dress with a hoop and all? Best left to the babysitters I say!!

I think this is an awesome idea. Everyone should be able to have the wedding that they want.. I think it's really nice of them to have hired babysitters so noone has to miss out on the cermony because they can't find one. There aren't alot of 4 or 5 year olds that want (or that are even able to) sit still and quiet for and hour, especially if they don't know the people getting married very well.
But I guess no matter what you do, be it for your wedding or for anything else, there are going to be people who are offended by your choices and they are going to complain about it. Personally, I would do the same thing, if I was to ever get married, and I would probably try to get the young kids to leave the reception at a reasonable time to the adults can celebrate and let loose!

Hi when I got married my sister in-law brought her 2 kids (she now has 3) to the ceremony & the reception.

During the ceremony I could hear the baby crying over the celebrant for the first 5 mins & at the reception the eldest boy who was I think about 5 or 6 at the time ran a muck & almost knocked over the cake, so in my opinion I would not have kids at a wedding because they really don't understand that it is a special day for the 2 people getting married.

It's not there fault because they are just being kids but I would ask to have no kids at my wedding if I could go back & do it again because you want to enjoy yourselves & your guests to enjoy themselves instead of having to run around after there children.

I think it is a fabulous idea about the cares at the wedding but you still have to get through the reception which is also a very important of the day, this is just my opinion I hope I haven’t offended anyone.

I think it's great that they have organised cares for their guests kids, I've not heard of that being done before.  I would think that to be very thoughtful.  I was a Nanny and had 18 kids on the go at the time I was married.  Kids were allowed at the ceremony but not at the reception for two reasons.  I wanted to be able to enjoy myself, get drunk, swear if I wanted to etc. which I wouldn't have done around MY kids and 2, a lot of our friends (that started off being hubby's mining mates) say the F-word as if it were Um.  The environment was not going to be child friendly as far as I was concerned and not one parent (and they all came) complained about it, they all understood, and I have a lovely photo of me with my kids at the ceremony.  It was Easter Saturday so we had an choc egg scramble not long after the I Do's for the kids.  They got to dress up, they got to run around and eat chocolate, they were all happy.

I personally think this is a little rude. I mean everyone with kids (which is usually quite a few couples) has to find a babysitter in order to attend this wedding? Would you rather them not come, b/c that is what is to happen if they can't find a sitter. We are all children of someone, children should be welcome at weddings.

I don't mind kids at the wedding itself, but didn't have any at the reception. I worked in hospitality for 15 years, doing weddings every weekend and beleive me it is very difficult from the staff point of view when you are trying to serve food and kids running around. I also agree that for a lot of people (myself included) it is a time to relax and have fun without constantly wondering where the kids are and what they are doing - even if they are sitting quietly, it is very hard. My sister got married a year and a half ago, and even tho she invited the kids, I found a babysitter for the night (which I might add was extremely difficult as she got married on New Years Eve). She was quite angry at me for it, but I wanted to enjoy the night. Leisa

Hi

I feel pretty strongly about this only because i have experience on this score however everyone is different and don't mean this heavy handid way. We got married last year and had a 7month old daughter at the time. I didn't want to be holding her during our service or any close family/friend even though they did'nt mind. I wanted them to be able to relax and take in the ceremony. We also had lots of friend with babieds her age 9 in all. In the end the solution was to hire a mobile creche run by nannies. In fact our baby wasn't at our ceremony. Which i'm sure some people think is terrible. Our priest was great and included her in the ceremony a lot, it wasn't like we were denying her existance we were just very keen to be able to enjoy our vows knowing she was being looked after well and knew we could concentrate and what we felt was the most special and vital part of the day. This worked really well for us and all our friends were great about it. I just believe there are very few moments as special as exchanging your vows and we were adamant it would be uninterupted. We also felt it was unfair on little ones who don't understand and didn't want people leaving half way through. I am about to attend my brothers wedding and i have got a babysitter too. Hubby can't make it and my now 18mnth old is very active, i'm doing a reading, My other point is that for the rest of the day kids were very much welcome and involved in the day whats half an hour to ask for. However i have to say here not everyone understood and it was a very expensive solution.Best of luck. Everyone is entitled to the wedding they want!

For our wedding we had no children except for my two as they were in the ceremony, however guests from out of town with chn were able to bring theirs as I think it is unfair for them to find alternative arrangements in a strange town. Our guests were fine and they all came without any probs. In total there was only about 10 chn including mine and they were all perfectly well behaved.

 

I think it's selfish if the bride and groom don't invite the children. What's a wedding with out children. I personally prefer children at a wedding.

I had children at my wedding and i welcomed them with open arms.

i agree with that, breastfed baby's should be able to attend though obviously, but i wouldn't want children running around at my wedding, i just think it is a time for adults, plus they are drinking and celebrateing, i don't think weddings are kid friendly, but that is just my opinion, if they had child minders there that would be great, otherwise i don't see anything wrong with the newly weds to be asking for there wedding to be child free, its there big day it should be up to them

i have been to both recently and i rathered the no children only because i relaxed and had so much fun where taking the kids i ran around never relaxed and never enjoyed myself

i do like the sound of that, i think its great how they considered getting a carer for the children and still invited them all to reception :) i think its a great gesture and it would save alot of people from saying no (because they cant get a babysitter)

xx channy

I think as long as they have carers looking after the kids it's a great idea......I just know from my point of view it's hard if everyone you know is going to the wedding and you can't get someone to look after your kids.

i love the idea though......if I wasn't already married i'd use it myself......

that is a great idea.

I didnt want kids at my wedding due to their lack of knowledge and i did want the noise during the ceremony, so i asked for no kids please. i had a few ppl who i wanted there didnt show because of it. but i didnt care.

I think with them supplying the child care its a fantastic idea. No stressing about keeping them quiet and sitting. Totally stress free ceremony!

i went to my BIL wedding just recently and there  were no kids under 12 allowed (apart from breastfeed) at the reception or ceremony and i must admit it was so much better you don't have to find things to occupy the kids with at the reception or worry about them whinging at the ceremony. i must admit it was good for all parents to have a break to. mark and i had a ball not having to worry about sienna for a night first time in i don't know how long we got to let our hair down.

but i must admit for some ti would be hard as we have my mum who i know loks after sienna brilliantly some people don't have that so i guess you need to weigh the pros and cons.

each to there own i think

Brittxx