11-06-2018
Children at a wedding. It's a topic that's become increasingly popular and increasingly debated about.
To have children at a wedding or to have a child-free celebration. A simple question that can (and does, I'm sure) cause a conflict of opinion.
I don't think there's ever been a traditional rule where children were or weren't invited. It's always been down to personal preference. Less children were seen at weddings in previous years for a number of reasons: couples got married younger, to have children before wedlock was frowned upon and weddings weren't as extravagant as they are nowadays.
We now live in a society where couples have children before they get married so a child becomes part of the main wedding party as a flower girl or a pageboy. We now have a lot more destination weddings" where the couple choose the venue based on its location, rather than it being because they grew up there or previous family married there so travelling further afield means childcare becomes an issue.
As a Bride & Groom we make that choice based on our personal circumstances and whether having children as part of your day is something you envisage. There are so many ways to entertain children at a wedding nowadays; lawn games, activity books, heart shaped bubbles – those encompassed with music in the evening surely would keep any child amused and of no trouble? Families are larger, children no longer are to be "seen and not heard", people want everyone to be included in those precious moments.
Equally Brides & Grooms who opt for a child free celebration have as much right to make this choice as those who invite children. There may be a number of factors that made them come to that decision; location of the venue, cost of guests, amount of guests that can be invited. Ultimately, it's their wedding and it's their choice. Surely you can't begrudge them for that?
So what would you do, or what have you done? Did you invite children to your wedding; include them in the family celebration, or did you opt for an adult-only occasion?
Would you be offended if your children weren't invited? Or instead would you embrace a child-free celebration; a day off from being in parent-mode?
Personally I enjoy both types of wedding. I'm not offended if somebody doesn't invite my children nor am I dreading a wedding where I take them with me. I had children at my wedding because I had children before I got married. Would I have invited children if I didn't have my own? Probably not. But again, that's personal preference.
