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Navigating the potentially difficult conversation of Kids at Weddings (from a near New Bern Wedding Venue!

Butterfly Kisses Pavilion, A (near) New Bern Wedding Venue, dives into having or not having children at your wedding.

New Bern Wedding Venue, Bride and groom standing together under pergola, Outdoor wedding venue, wedding planning
Photo Credit: Beaufort Photography Co.

Planning a wedding is an exciting time, but it potentially has its fair share of challenges. Often a sensitive topics that many engaged couples have to tackle is whether or not to allow children at their wedding. While some couples are more than happy to have little ones present on their special day, At Butterfly Kisses Pavilion , we are seeing many others prefer a more adult-only affair. If you fall into the kid-free wedding category and are unsure of how to communicate this to your wedding guests, fear not! In this blog post, we will share a few helpful tips on how to kindly and respectfully let your family 7 friends know that children are not invited.



An engaged couple's first step to address this issue is to make sure that your wedding invitations clearly communicate who is invited. Try not to use vague term such as “and family” or “plus guest,” as this can lead to confusion. Instead, be specific and list out only the names of those who are invited to attend your wedding. To maintain standard invitation etiquette, you can also include a note on the RSVP card or your personal wedding website indicating that the event is adults-only. Transparent communication at the beginning can help avoid any misunderstandings later on.



Next, it's best to reach out personally to your guest that this may affect. Connect with close family or friends with young children who may have assumed that kids were welcome at the wedding. A phone call or face-to-face conversation can go a long way in explaining your reasoning behind wanting an adults-only celebration and ease the burden of any tension you may experience if you just sent an invitation without explanation. Be honest and open about your preferences while also expressing your excitement for them to still be a part of your big day.

If you expect possible pushback or tension from certain guests about your no-kids policy, it may be helpful to research and provide alternative childcare options during the wedding day. You could find and offer local babysitting services or even create a designated kids’ space at the venue where parents can drop off their children with supervision. Coming prepared to the conversation with potential solutions to having their children cared for during the adult only wedding!


New Bern Wedding Venue, Bride and Groom dancing under a pergola,  wedding planning,  wedding reception wedding venue
Photo Credit: Beaufort Photography Co.

When it comes time to actually inform your guests about the no-kids rule, be considerate and sensitive to those you have to chat with about this. You, as an engaged couple, can include a personal note in your invitations that includes an explanation of this decision and expressing gratitude to them for their understanding. Don't Forget it is YOUR day and it is perfectly acceptable to set and maintain boundaries as you plan your wedding. Most of your guest attending your wedding will appreciate sharing the details and expectations.

Addressing the topic of kids at weddings is always a delicate process but when you are transparent and considerate, you can successfully address your expectations with relieving any potential tension. By being upfront from the start, giving other options for solutions for childcare at weddings, and communicating with kindness, you can ensure that everyone feels included while still honoring your vision for an adults-only celebration. Planning a wedding is all about creating an event that reflects you as a couple, so embrace what you want in your big day even if it may seem "tricky."



New Bern Wedding Venue, a rustic wedding pavilion landscaped with trees and grass, wedding planning, outdoor wedding venue
Butterfly Kisses Pavilion, Photo credit: Beaufort Photography Co.


Thank you so much for stopping by our blog, we hope you found this information helpful. We want to use our blog to increase awareness and support for locally owned wedding venues. Locally owned wedding venues tend to provide a higher level of expertise, service and dedication. As you plan your wedding we hope you will consider a locally owned wedding venue like ours. While Butterfly Kisses Pavilion is a New Bern Wedding Venue, You can find locally owned wedding venues on this wedding venue map across the United States. Below is a shout out to fellow locally owned wedding venues around the country!


Here at Butterfly Kisses Pavilion, we also love & support our local professionals within the wedding industry! Thank you to Beaufort Photography Co. for capturing these beautiful moments & images at our wedding venue in the Crystal Coast area & New Bern area of North Carolina!


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