I Don't Want To Offend Anybody But I Really Don't Want Children At My Wedding. How Can I Let People Know Without Hurting Their Feelings?

You are going to hurt someone by this but there hasn't been a wedding yet where someone hasn't beeen hurt and offended, that's part of the whole thing about weddings.
At the end of the day it's your wedding, your day and it's what you want and what makes you and your aprtner happpy.
You can try explaining that you haven't got the money to accomodate all the guests and children too. You can be tactfully truthful and explain that you want a quite day and children get tired and start playing up as the day goes on. You may not have anywhere where they can go and sleep etc.
If people are not happy with that they will turn your invite down. It depends on how many friends you have with children. I think you'll find alot of other uests will be relieved if children are omitted but you'll have to accept thta you will offend a few people who may not contact you again after the wedding. It happens all the time!

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Unfortunately the reality is that you are more than likely going to hurt somebody's feelings by banning children from the wedding. However, this is your day and most people should understand the reason you don't want any children there. After all, who wants a baby screaming, or a toddler playing up while you are just about to say 'I Do?'

You really aren't alone in your feelings on this issue and while it is perfectly understandable, sometimes if you ban children from the wedding, it sometimes becomes impossible for the parents of those children to come too. They might not be able to get a babysitter for example, so then you will be left with fewer guests than you originally planned. On the whole you should have the final say as to who you want at the wedding as the day is all about you. Put your foot down and also state your reasons for not wanting children there. Most parents should understand and you could still let them come to the reception.

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A compromise solution would be to hire babysitters and ask the church if you could use their Youth Room during the service and reception. The same could work if you have your reception at a hotel or other place with multiple rooms. Then people could leave all children under a certain age in the Youth Room while the adults are elsewhere.

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I suggest taking an opposite approach. Apologize to parents, that the ceremony will be so long that the children will be extremely bored. I totally agree you should pay someone to sit with the children, that show up. I am a parent and sometimes it's down right imposable to find a sitter, no matter what you try. It's always,always a good idea to have a back up plan. If you open with an apology, you appear sympathetic instead of rude. Also through in any other excuse you can think of, I wouldn't use more than 2 or 3 at a time. Never ever make it seem like you don't want the kids ther, you can end up isolating, or angering some close friends and family (not good) it may also affect your wedding gifts. Me and my husband just got married 5 days ago, we didn't invite anyone, we had too get a young guy fishing to be a witness, our second witness was our photographer. I have small children, he has grown children. It was awesome, absolutely no drama.

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Just tell them I am sure they will understand... After all it is your wedding, not theirs

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