“This Is An Adult-Only Affair”: Couple Decides On A Child-Free Wedding, People Online Are Discussing Why They Agree Or Disagree With The Decision
A perfect wedding for different people can mean very different things. Some people might like the traditional ceremony with the bride in a white dress and the groom in a black suit taking place in a church. Others would prefer a beach wedding or a crazy wedding in Las Vegas. And that completely depends on the future husband and wife.
So if the guests want to participate in the important life event, they have to adapt to it. Even if it means to not take their kids with them, as not everyone wants them at their wedding. Like this TikToker, Lauren Ladouceur, who went viral for explaining how to address the issue and announce it to wedding guests.
More info: TikTok
A bride-to-be went viral on TikTok when she shared that she won’t be having kids at her wedding
Image credits: planwithlaur
Lauren Ladouceur introduces herself as a Type A BFF and a 2022 Bride. She works for Deloitte as one of their SHINE marketing associates and on social media, she likes to share planning and productivity tips. Recently her TikTok content became filled with wedding planning and one of the videos went viral with 1.5 million views.
In that video, Lauren wanted to share a tip on how to address not wanting children at the ceremony as it may be a question that other couples may have and it’s quite a sensitive topic.
She addressed the topic because a follower asked how to make it sound polite as it may be a sensitive matter to some
Image credits: planwithlaur
The topic came up when one of Lauren’s followers asked, “Do you have children at the wedding? If not, what did you include on the website to politely say ‘no children?’”
The future bride explained that she has a FAQ section on her wedding website and the wording she used to answer that question was “Although we love your little ones, this is an adult-only affair – except our ringbearer!”
The bride recommended approaching it the other way around and instead of saying you don’t want kids, describe the wedding as an adult-only event
Image credits: planwithlaur
She further explained that they decided to have a ringbearer who will be the only child at the ceremony and before the reception starts, someone will come and pick him up.
Lauren is very happy about the FAQ section because it is a good place for the couple to set their boundaries and expectations so the guests will be informed and the wedding will go as smoothly as possible.
Even though the advice might have been useful for some, for others it was quite offensive and they showed it in the comments
Image credits: planwithlaur
Even though the video was a response to a follower’s question and was not meant to give a verdict on whether children should be allowed at weddings or not, it still received a lot of opinions and created a discussion about children at weddings.
Firstly, there was quite a lot of backlash. People were asking where the parents should put their children and if the bride was going to pay for a babysitter. Others were saying that this would be unacceptable in their culture as weddings are a family celebration and children are a part of a family.
Image credits: planwithlaur
There were people who came to the bride’s defense as well. They explained that there is no need for children to be at a wedding where there is alcohol and it will last way past their bedtimes, and also because the parents won’t be fully enjoying themselves if they have children to look after.
Lauren also had a few words to say. In another video, she explained why other people don’t have a right to judge how other people decide to celebrate their wedding: “A wedding is two individuals coming together to create their own family. And you have to respect their boundaries and expectations surrounding their wedding.” If someone has a problem with the couple’s wishes, then they can choose not to go.
In response to the backlash, Lauren said that couples have the right to celebrate the start of their family in whatever way they want
Image credits: planwithlaur
Image credits: planwithlaur
Below you will find the viral video and can read through more comments yourself
@planwithlaurReply to @keniawyd how to tell people their kids aren’t invited 🙃##greenscreen ##weddingtiktok ##weddingtips101 ##weddingwebsitefaq♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
After all, if a couple imagines their perfect wedding without children because they believe they would be too much of a worry, guests should respect the bride’s and groom’s wishes even if they don’t agree with them.
Maybe you think otherwise? Share your reactions to the video and your thoughts on the topic in general in the comments!
Here are some of the different perspectives people have on not inviting children to weddings
We got married a decade ago and we're perfectly clear that it was adults only. We did not want interruptions during the service; pulling faces in photographs; a separate kids menu; climbing under the table during speeches; friends distracted by having to control the behaviour; children careering around the dance floor; fights and tears later on; guests leaving early to put the kids to bed. Our day and for what equates to about £1000 per hour, our damn rules as well! One of the most important days of your life, have it exactly as you want it. And if that means no children, you're entirely within your rights to state as much.
Fully, my memories of weddings as a child both as guest and flower girl - booooooring for kids 😂
Load More Replies...Her wedding her rules. End of story. Don't like it don't go...it's not an event that sells tickets wherein you have RIGHTS.
We had a child-free wedding. My brother got married the year before me and the kids at his reception ran around like ferel animals. Their parents refused to supervise them and they literally caused destruction. They pulled plugs out of the wall cutting off the music. They ran into people and some threw tantrums. It made the reception very unpleasant. All these kids would have been the ones at my wedding had I included children. So the decision not to invite them was not difficult at all. I got some flack, but stood my ground.
We got married a decade ago and we're perfectly clear that it was adults only. We did not want interruptions during the service; pulling faces in photographs; a separate kids menu; climbing under the table during speeches; friends distracted by having to control the behaviour; children careering around the dance floor; fights and tears later on; guests leaving early to put the kids to bed. Our day and for what equates to about £1000 per hour, our damn rules as well! One of the most important days of your life, have it exactly as you want it. And if that means no children, you're entirely within your rights to state as much.
Fully, my memories of weddings as a child both as guest and flower girl - booooooring for kids 😂
Load More Replies...Her wedding her rules. End of story. Don't like it don't go...it's not an event that sells tickets wherein you have RIGHTS.
We had a child-free wedding. My brother got married the year before me and the kids at his reception ran around like ferel animals. Their parents refused to supervise them and they literally caused destruction. They pulled plugs out of the wall cutting off the music. They ran into people and some threw tantrums. It made the reception very unpleasant. All these kids would have been the ones at my wedding had I included children. So the decision not to invite them was not difficult at all. I got some flack, but stood my ground.
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