Unruly Children Cause Chaos At A Child-Free Wedding, Bride And Groom Bill Parents For Bringing Them, Drama Ensues
When your friends, colleagues, and the people you generally like in this whacky world send you an invite to their wedding, the polite thing to do is to follow the rules that they set. They might have a certain vision of how their guests dress, what gifts they bring, or… they might want a child-free wedding.
Whatever your personal feelings about this, just remember, it’s supposed to be the couple’s happiest day ever. And as guests, dear Pandas, we should do our best to accommodate reasonable requests.
Well, one bride saw firsthand what happens when some people don’t follow the rules. She turned to the AITA subreddit for their verdict on whether or not she was a jerk for billing three couples because they brought their kids to her wedding when she explicitly asked everyone not to. She also went into detail about the chaos that unfolded, spearheaded by the rowdy munchkins. Scroll down for the full story.
Kids might be awesome, but some folks choose to have child-free weddings for a variety of reasons
Image credits: shironosov (Not the actual photo)
However, when some guests don’t follow this rule, things can get very chaotic, as one bride explained on the AITA subreddit
Image credits: AltruisticHapa
The bride, redditor u/AltruisticHapa, explained that two of the couples were very apologetic and paid for their kids who were additional guests. One couple, however, refused. They felt very entitled and thought that they did nothing wrong. Even though their kids caused the most damage. Including having ruined the bride’s dress.
As the redditor put it, she and her husband concluded their friendship with that particular couple. And that was that. However, the bride was worried that she might have overreacted. Especially when she’d asked her husband to kick out the guests who had brought their children with them.
The AITA community was very sympathetic, however. They stressed that she had gone above and beyond to accommodate those guests who actually had children. She had extended the dinner before the wedding to include all the kids. She also hired 5 whole babysitters to take care of the munchkins while their parents went to the ceremony.
But what do you think, dear Pandas? Whose side are you on? How would you have solved the entire child-free drama? Let us know in the comments.
Anna and Sarah, team leaders at The Wedding Society, spoke to Bored Panda before about how it is important to respect the wishes of the marrying couple when it comes to children at the wedding. “Whether it be that kids of a certain age are welcome, only specific children of a few family and friends, or no kids at all.”
“Please don’t take the inclusion or exclusion of your little ones personally (especially if the couple don’t have kids of their own to fully understand your situation) and remember—as nice as it is to bring your babes along to the celebration, it’s also an awesome opportunity for a fun night off if you’re asked to leave them with a sitter!” they urged guests to look at the positives.
“For marrying couples, the etiquette can be trickier. Newborns really need to be with their parents so please don’t ask for any babies under a few months to be left at home. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask for parents of older children to take the night off and leave them with a sitter, but the fairest way to do this is to make a blanket rule for everyone rather than picking and choosing which kids can come and who can’t.”
Most internet users thought that the bride did nothing wrong and explained why
However, some people took it further and said that she was wrong for compromising at all
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I would have had that family turned away at the door. You aren't welcome here since you can't follow rules. On with our day :)
I'd put actual money on the line betting the following: Cwc Connie has kids. Cwc Connie thinks her reproduction is the most amazing thing ever accomplished and posts about this often on Facebook. Cwc Connie is/and has been TA at many events. Cwc Connie is oblivious to any of their AH behaviors or to the times they were TA. Cwc Connie lets her offspring run rampant and without interference (i.e. parenting) at restaurants - putting themselves, staff, and others in danger, ruining other's experience - and thinks that anyone who brings this to their attention is out of touch and that "kids will be kids" and people need to adapt to her presence and experience.
Load More Replies...Anyone else aghast at people paying $250 a PLATE for a wedding? It is a singular day, why would anyone in their right mind pay that?
The only time the cost is an issue is when people book venues/services they can't afford. If you can afford it and are happy to pay go for for it.
Load More Replies...Just because the bride and groom had a wedding venue that costs this much doesn't mean they should open the doors to all the self appointed pluses. I agree that she should cut ties with the moochers and charge accordingly. They are sharing their day with loved ones and don't want children present. If they are accommodating parents with free sitters and the parents don't want the free sitters, that doesn't mean the parents get to make up their own rules and their own invites. Stay home with your kids.
I have a memory of being a small child and going to a wedding reception with my mother. When they called our table up for the buffet, she said we couldn't go. I remember her scolding me for complaining that I was hungry, and for not understanding why we couldn't eat with everyone. Much later I learned that her friend had requested a child-free wedding because of the catering expense, and my mother had been offended by that, so she attempted to shame her friend by bringing me as her plus-1 but refusing to let me eat. My mother was very young at the time, and obviously very immature, but I am still floored by that story.
Wow. You should yell at your mom for that no matter how long ago that was. Using another human being, no matter how young they are, as a weapon and tormenting them to prove a point no one will pay attention to or care about.
Load More Replies...NTA, I have kids and love them. They're even well behaved according to the childless couple we know. But if I were told "no kids at our wedding" I'd either have found a way to have them taken care of or I would not have gone to the wedding.
I've heard people complain about child-free weddings but it really sounds like this couple tried to do it right. They had a good reason and explained it clearly, included kids the night before, and even provided childcare. The couple did all they could. It's easy to say "they should've just not let them in!" And sure maybe, but it's harder to actually do so and shift into confrontation mode when you're in the moment, trying to get everything ready, and these people you consider friends have already showed up. I'm glad the other two families realized and apologized, the last family acted horribly.
Take them to court. First, they knew your wedding was supposed to be child free and decided to disrespect that rule and bring their rowdy children anyway. Second, you & your husband were nice enough to be flexible as long as they agreed to pay for their children and not let them act up; both rules were broken for this one couple. Third, you had every right to bill them for their children being there as they agreed to pay for them. Fourth, when you requested payment, they attacked you and denied to fulfill their verbally agreed to responsibility. Fifth, as it was their children who caused damage to your gown, they should be held responsible. It all comes full circle: They broken your initial rule, broke both rules at the wedding, their children caused chaos and damaged to your gown, they refused to pay when they verbally agreed to & attacked you afterwards. File a civil suit for the cost of the children ($500), the dry cleaning due to the damage of your gown (however much it was), and e
Where TF were the parents while their kids were acting like feral animals? First, my kids would’ve been at home with an amply compensated babysitter, or at camp or whatever, because younger kids are bored at weddings and reception as there’s really nothing for kids there. Even if it was a children welcome wedding, my husband and I would’ve been mortified if our kids acted up, and would’ve been right on top of them the whole time, making sure they minded their manners. What takes the cake is the couple with the feral animal children not only refused to pay for anything, but had the gall to be completely mystified as to why the newlyweds told them not to come visit, as if none of the b******t with their kids at the wedding had ever even happened.
While I agree that if the hosts requested no children that the guest should not bring children, I cannot agree with you that younger kids are bored at weddings. I grew up at a itme when everyone had big families - and weddings were wonderful - and the events taught us all how to socialize and dance. And with my own children, they loved the weddings they went to as well - even when they were very young. But, I think, the difference is, that there are lots of cousins and aunts and uncles of all different ages - and everyone enjoys the kids, and the kids enjoy the adults. No one is bored ever. At my wife and my wedding 20 years ago, we married at a later age - so we had so many nieces and nephews - that we wanted them all in the ceremony. And you add all the kids of our friends - we had over 70 kids meals ordered. It's not a wedding for everyone, and I get the adult only affairs. But, a kid-friendly event can be a lot of fun, too.
Load More Replies...I would have had that family turned away at the door. You aren't welcome here since you can't follow rules. On with our day :)
I'd put actual money on the line betting the following: Cwc Connie has kids. Cwc Connie thinks her reproduction is the most amazing thing ever accomplished and posts about this often on Facebook. Cwc Connie is/and has been TA at many events. Cwc Connie is oblivious to any of their AH behaviors or to the times they were TA. Cwc Connie lets her offspring run rampant and without interference (i.e. parenting) at restaurants - putting themselves, staff, and others in danger, ruining other's experience - and thinks that anyone who brings this to their attention is out of touch and that "kids will be kids" and people need to adapt to her presence and experience.
Load More Replies...Anyone else aghast at people paying $250 a PLATE for a wedding? It is a singular day, why would anyone in their right mind pay that?
The only time the cost is an issue is when people book venues/services they can't afford. If you can afford it and are happy to pay go for for it.
Load More Replies...Just because the bride and groom had a wedding venue that costs this much doesn't mean they should open the doors to all the self appointed pluses. I agree that she should cut ties with the moochers and charge accordingly. They are sharing their day with loved ones and don't want children present. If they are accommodating parents with free sitters and the parents don't want the free sitters, that doesn't mean the parents get to make up their own rules and their own invites. Stay home with your kids.
I have a memory of being a small child and going to a wedding reception with my mother. When they called our table up for the buffet, she said we couldn't go. I remember her scolding me for complaining that I was hungry, and for not understanding why we couldn't eat with everyone. Much later I learned that her friend had requested a child-free wedding because of the catering expense, and my mother had been offended by that, so she attempted to shame her friend by bringing me as her plus-1 but refusing to let me eat. My mother was very young at the time, and obviously very immature, but I am still floored by that story.
Wow. You should yell at your mom for that no matter how long ago that was. Using another human being, no matter how young they are, as a weapon and tormenting them to prove a point no one will pay attention to or care about.
Load More Replies...NTA, I have kids and love them. They're even well behaved according to the childless couple we know. But if I were told "no kids at our wedding" I'd either have found a way to have them taken care of or I would not have gone to the wedding.
I've heard people complain about child-free weddings but it really sounds like this couple tried to do it right. They had a good reason and explained it clearly, included kids the night before, and even provided childcare. The couple did all they could. It's easy to say "they should've just not let them in!" And sure maybe, but it's harder to actually do so and shift into confrontation mode when you're in the moment, trying to get everything ready, and these people you consider friends have already showed up. I'm glad the other two families realized and apologized, the last family acted horribly.
Take them to court. First, they knew your wedding was supposed to be child free and decided to disrespect that rule and bring their rowdy children anyway. Second, you & your husband were nice enough to be flexible as long as they agreed to pay for their children and not let them act up; both rules were broken for this one couple. Third, you had every right to bill them for their children being there as they agreed to pay for them. Fourth, when you requested payment, they attacked you and denied to fulfill their verbally agreed to responsibility. Fifth, as it was their children who caused damage to your gown, they should be held responsible. It all comes full circle: They broken your initial rule, broke both rules at the wedding, their children caused chaos and damaged to your gown, they refused to pay when they verbally agreed to & attacked you afterwards. File a civil suit for the cost of the children ($500), the dry cleaning due to the damage of your gown (however much it was), and e
Where TF were the parents while their kids were acting like feral animals? First, my kids would’ve been at home with an amply compensated babysitter, or at camp or whatever, because younger kids are bored at weddings and reception as there’s really nothing for kids there. Even if it was a children welcome wedding, my husband and I would’ve been mortified if our kids acted up, and would’ve been right on top of them the whole time, making sure they minded their manners. What takes the cake is the couple with the feral animal children not only refused to pay for anything, but had the gall to be completely mystified as to why the newlyweds told them not to come visit, as if none of the b******t with their kids at the wedding had ever even happened.
While I agree that if the hosts requested no children that the guest should not bring children, I cannot agree with you that younger kids are bored at weddings. I grew up at a itme when everyone had big families - and weddings were wonderful - and the events taught us all how to socialize and dance. And with my own children, they loved the weddings they went to as well - even when they were very young. But, I think, the difference is, that there are lots of cousins and aunts and uncles of all different ages - and everyone enjoys the kids, and the kids enjoy the adults. No one is bored ever. At my wife and my wedding 20 years ago, we married at a later age - so we had so many nieces and nephews - that we wanted them all in the ceremony. And you add all the kids of our friends - we had over 70 kids meals ordered. It's not a wedding for everyone, and I get the adult only affairs. But, a kid-friendly event can be a lot of fun, too.
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