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Family Turns Couple’s Dream Wedding Into A Nightmare, Won’t Leave Kids At Home Despite Request
They say weddings bring people together, but sometimes they do the exact opposite, shining a spotlight on just how different everyone’s priorities can be. Throw in a little family tension, a few different opinions, and a touch of stubbornness, and suddenly you’ve got the perfect recipe for a not-so-happily-ever-after, before the vows are even exchanged.
When one Redditor shared her story, the internet was quick to rally behind her bold decision to gently uninvite her parents and siblings from her upcoming wedding. Why? Because they insisted on bringing their kids to her child-free event.
More info: Reddit
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They say weddings bring joy, but sometimes they bring more drama than a reality TV reunion
Image credits: Jonathan Borba / Pexels (not the actual photo)
One woman decided to uninvite her family from her own wedding after they insisted on bringing their small kids to the event, despite being told that kids are not invited
Image credits:Maahid Photos / Pexels (not the actual photo)
The couple doesn’t want any kids at their wedding, but the bride’s family doesn’t care, saying their nieces and nephews will be there, despite the couple’s wishes
Image credits: Alex Green / Pexels (not the actual photo)
The woman and her fiancé are paying for the entire wedding, so they don’t want to sacrifice on their wishes for their big day
Image credits: Sad_Subject2779
The woman wants to uninvite her entire family from her wedding as they have insisted on bringing small kids to the event, despite specifically being told not to
Our 25-year-old bride and her fiancé were planning a dreamy, intimate wedding set in the wild. It was a plan for a fairytale ceremony, vows exchanged amid free-roaming wildlife, and a backdrop of untamed nature. But there was a strict venue rule – no one under 16 allowed. Makes sense, right? Kids and wild animals? Not exactly a Disney movie.
But the couple’s “no kids” policy wasn’t just about safety. They wanted their day to feel like a celebration, not a babysitting bonanza. Let’s be real, we’ve all seen weddings where someone ends up chasing a toddler mid-toast. It’s adorable until it becomes exhausting. I have to be honest, I’m with the bride and groom on this one.
The bride’s family, however, seemed to think the OP’s (original poster) wedding was a democracy, and they were holding the majority vote. Her dad flat-out said if her nephew couldn’t attend, he wouldn’t be going either. And her brothers? Even bolder. They declared, “I don’t care what she wants; my kids WILL be there.” That’s the emotional equivalent of stomping on the cake before the reception even starts.
Meanwhile, her fiancé’s family was supporting their “no kids” stance and arranging babysitters like champs. Talk about in-law goals.
So, what’s a bride to do? Well, our OP was leaning toward telling her family that if they couldn’t respect her wishes, and celebrate her big day with her, they might as well stay home. And honestly? Can you blame her? After all, it’s the couple’s day, not the family’s. If Auntie Millie wants a kid-packed wedding, she’d better get married herself.
Besides, telling your child (or sibling) you couldn’t care less about what they want is just next-level emotional invalidation – it’s dismissive, hurtful, and often leaves the person feeling unseen and unheard. It’s basically like a slap in the face but with words.
Image credits: Freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)
When family members brush off your wishes or tell you your feelings don’t matter, it can cut deeper than the surface-level disagreements. For this bride, having her family prioritize their preferences over her big day wasn’t just frustrating—it was a blatant dismissal of her autonomy.
The solution? Boundaries, baby! If someone tries to steamroll your feelings, you’ve got to hold your ground. No one should have to compromise their happiness to appease someone else’s ego, especially on their wedding day.
Planning a wedding is already stressful enough, even when you don’t have to deal with selfish relatives who are suddenly self-appointed experts on “how weddings should be done.” It’s basically a crash course in people-pleasing—or, better yet, not people-pleasing.
The pros say that the secret to surviving this circus and handling family pressure is learning to diplomatically stand your ground. Smile, nod, and then do whatever you were going to do anyway. Politely remind your family that this is your love story, not theirs. And hey, if Aunt Millie keeps pushing for a polka band, maybe hand her a clipboard and tell her to organize the cocktail napkins instead. That should keep her busy.
At the end of the day, weddings are about love—not just between the couple but also from those who show up to support them. If a guest, family or not, can’t respect your wishes, maybe they don’t deserve a seat at the table, or even a slice of the cake.
What do you think of this wild story? Drop your comments below!
Netizens side with the woman, saying she is not a jerk for uninviting her family from the wedding, as they should respect the couple’s wishes for their big day
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What do you think ?
Apatheist Account2 11 months ago
If it's the venue's rules, it doesn't matter what the family thinks.
The Other Guest 11 months ago
Don't think you're going to get any. The original post is two years old, and in one of the comments the OP says she'll give an update after the wedding, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Personally I hope she went ahead & left the invites as-is, and got to watch aaaaaall those people get turned away by the venue. Although I am a bit confused on it - she mentioned the venue in a comment (Elephant Whispers), and their FAQ clearly states that children *are* allowed with certain age limits & provisions (eg must be at least 5 years old to walk with the elephants, must be accompanied by parent or guardian, etc), so either the rules have changed; the OP misunderstood the policy; or she had a special package which does not allow children & I just wasn't able to find that particular package. They even have bookings/tours specifically for school events.
Load More Replies... Mark Childers 11 months ago
I've never been married, but I've read a lot of these stories. From my point of view as a reader, it seems like the bride's family always gives her a hard time, while the groom's family also gives the bride a hard time. No wonder weddings are so stressful.
Meagan Glaser 11 months ago
There's no coming back from blatantly stating that you *don't care what the bride wants* . Especially when you see that OP is the one that's been babysitting these kids at every other wedding. The parents don't want to be there with the kid, they just find it a personal insult to not have their kids invited. They're trying to torpedo their sister's wedding /their daugther's wedding for the pure high of getting their own way, not for any actual reason.
Ruth Watry 10 months ago
Missing option is to invite them and let them know that the venue has told you that they will not allow anybody below the age of 16 to enter the venue. Let the venue know what is going on so that they can have a second security guard at the gate. Let your family know that the venue has told you that if they don't turn around when they are told that the kids cannot come in, law enforcement will be called.
KatSaidWhat 11 months ago
If they INSIST, let them arrive with their kids and be turned away having told them the rules of the venue.
Bookworm 11 months ago
Unfortunately there's no update after the wedding. The most recent comment I found from OP is: "For now no. My Fiance and I had to move the wedding due to the loss of a family member so we are just sorting out some of these issues first. We were able to move it with no hassle. I have spoken to my parents indirectly about everything and they still standing firm. I think they think I wont go through with everything haha. So I am just letting the loss of a beloved family member settle first and then I will be informing my family member listen hey... so either you can come to my qedding and bring no children or i will be celebrating the day without you. I will go as far as to say I will ask my future BIL to walk me down the isle because I aint dealing with their s**t.... But Ill let you know once that happens :)"
Michael Largey 11 months ago
This won't end with the wedding. Go low/no contact with them now.
Apatheist Account2 11 months ago
If it's the venue's rules, it doesn't matter what the family thinks.
The Other Guest 11 months ago
Don't think you're going to get any. The original post is two years old, and in one of the comments the OP says she'll give an update after the wedding, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Personally I hope she went ahead & left the invites as-is, and got to watch aaaaaall those people get turned away by the venue. Although I am a bit confused on it - she mentioned the venue in a comment (Elephant Whispers), and their FAQ clearly states that children *are* allowed with certain age limits & provisions (eg must be at least 5 years old to walk with the elephants, must be accompanied by parent or guardian, etc), so either the rules have changed; the OP misunderstood the policy; or she had a special package which does not allow children & I just wasn't able to find that particular package. They even have bookings/tours specifically for school events.
Load More Replies... Mark Childers 11 months ago
I've never been married, but I've read a lot of these stories. From my point of view as a reader, it seems like the bride's family always gives her a hard time, while the groom's family also gives the bride a hard time. No wonder weddings are so stressful.
Meagan Glaser 11 months ago
There's no coming back from blatantly stating that you *don't care what the bride wants* . Especially when you see that OP is the one that's been babysitting these kids at every other wedding. The parents don't want to be there with the kid, they just find it a personal insult to not have their kids invited. They're trying to torpedo their sister's wedding /their daugther's wedding for the pure high of getting their own way, not for any actual reason.
Ruth Watry 10 months ago
Missing option is to invite them and let them know that the venue has told you that they will not allow anybody below the age of 16 to enter the venue. Let the venue know what is going on so that they can have a second security guard at the gate. Let your family know that the venue has told you that if they don't turn around when they are told that the kids cannot come in, law enforcement will be called.
KatSaidWhat 11 months ago
If they INSIST, let them arrive with their kids and be turned away having told them the rules of the venue.
Bookworm 11 months ago
Unfortunately there's no update after the wedding. The most recent comment I found from OP is: "For now no. My Fiance and I had to move the wedding due to the loss of a family member so we are just sorting out some of these issues first. We were able to move it with no hassle. I have spoken to my parents indirectly about everything and they still standing firm. I think they think I wont go through with everything haha. So I am just letting the loss of a beloved family member settle first and then I will be informing my family member listen hey... so either you can come to my qedding and bring no children or i will be celebrating the day without you. I will go as far as to say I will ask my future BIL to walk me down the isle because I aint dealing with their s**t.... But Ill let you know once that happens :)"
Michael Largey 11 months ago
This won't end with the wedding. Go low/no contact with them now.
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