A wedding is often a celebration of love and commitment between two adults, but for some, it's also a chance to throw a party with friends and enjoy themselves. However, not everyone wants to attend such an event, particularly if children are present.
Some couples are now considering asking guests to leave their kids at home, citing reasons ranging from wanting to keep the party going late into the night to simply avoiding interruptions during the ceremony. While this idea may seem harmless, it has sparked a heated debate online, with many people weighing in on both sides of the issue.
But who do you think should make the final decision: the couple or their guests? Or is there someone else entirely that should have a say in this matter?
To get to the bottom of things, I spoke to three kids - Ronan, 8; Rafi, 5; and Ellie, 5. When asked if they knew what a wedding was, all three replied with confidence: "Yes!"
But then the question came up: would you ever want to attend a wedding? The answers were varied.
Ronan said that he might attend if it wasn't just him, implying that being the only kid at the party wouldn't be much fun. Rafi took it a step further, saying that he'd skip the party altogether if no other kids were there, instead opting to hang out with his friends. And Ellie was quite clear: she'd run away and play with other kids rather than attend.
So what does this tell us? It seems like children don't actually want to attend weddings without any of their friends around, which makes sense when you think about it. Being the only kid at a party full of adults can be pretty intimidating.
As for why some people think it's okay to leave kids behind at a wedding, one thing is clear: grown-ups often have a very different experience than children do in social situations. According to etiquette experts like The Knot and Emily Post, once the child-free decree is sent out, there should be no exceptions made, because doing so could create favoritism and more feelings.
Ultimately, though, it's up to the couple getting married to decide who gets to come and go as they please. And if their guests don't want to attend a wedding without kids, that's okay too - after all, they can always stay home.
Some couples are now considering asking guests to leave their kids at home, citing reasons ranging from wanting to keep the party going late into the night to simply avoiding interruptions during the ceremony. While this idea may seem harmless, it has sparked a heated debate online, with many people weighing in on both sides of the issue.
But who do you think should make the final decision: the couple or their guests? Or is there someone else entirely that should have a say in this matter?
To get to the bottom of things, I spoke to three kids - Ronan, 8; Rafi, 5; and Ellie, 5. When asked if they knew what a wedding was, all three replied with confidence: "Yes!"
But then the question came up: would you ever want to attend a wedding? The answers were varied.
Ronan said that he might attend if it wasn't just him, implying that being the only kid at the party wouldn't be much fun. Rafi took it a step further, saying that he'd skip the party altogether if no other kids were there, instead opting to hang out with his friends. And Ellie was quite clear: she'd run away and play with other kids rather than attend.
So what does this tell us? It seems like children don't actually want to attend weddings without any of their friends around, which makes sense when you think about it. Being the only kid at a party full of adults can be pretty intimidating.
As for why some people think it's okay to leave kids behind at a wedding, one thing is clear: grown-ups often have a very different experience than children do in social situations. According to etiquette experts like The Knot and Emily Post, once the child-free decree is sent out, there should be no exceptions made, because doing so could create favoritism and more feelings.
Ultimately, though, it's up to the couple getting married to decide who gets to come and go as they please. And if their guests don't want to attend a wedding without kids, that's okay too - after all, they can always stay home.
I think its not really about making some rule thats set in stone, like "its your party so you decide" but also thinking about how everyone feels, its about being considerate and understanding of each other. 
! Who knew asking people to leave their kiddos at home would be such a big deal? It's actually kinda funny how the kids were like "eh, no thanks, gotta stick with my squad" 
. And btw, isn't it wild that some grown-ups think it's okay to be all "only the adults can party" and not consider the little ones' feelings? 
It's all about finding a balance, you know?
Easy peasy, right?
. As for the couple, yeah, they should get to decide who comes in and who goes, but they should also be aware of how their little ones might feel 
ronan's answer about wanting to attend if there were other kids is so relatable i'd probs wanna do the same 
maybe a wedding with a kid-friendly area or activities would be a better way to include little ones 
I'm like totally surprised that people are even debating this. It's not like couples are asking to lock up the whole party for themselves. Can you imagine being an 8-year-old and having to sit alone at a wedding? 
Ronan is right, it would be super lame. And what about all the kids who might be left behind because their parents can't get babysitters? 
. I mean who wants 2 b seen as the kid 2 many people are tryna get rid 2? Not me, that's 4 sho!