Adults-only wedding: how to tell your guests

Decide and communicate early

The most important thing is early clarity. If guests only find out at the last minute that children aren't invited, you risk awkwardness and cancellations. State it in the invitation or the FAQs.

Kind wording frames the choice as a wish for a relaxed celebration, not as a ban.

Ready, gentle wording

• “With love, we've planned an adults-only celebration. We hope you'll understand and can fully enjoy the evening.”
• “This will be an adults-only celebration: a chance to relax and celebrate with us.”
• “As much as we love your children, we've chosen a grown-ups' party. Thank you for understanding.”

Where to write it

Avoid writing it in big letters on the main invitation. The best place is a dedicated FAQ or a discreet note, where guests with children find the answer without it becoming the invitation's central theme.

If you manage different guest groups, you can even personalise the message: for example, make an exception for the closest family's children.

Handling exceptions

It's perfectly fine to allow a few exceptions (nieces and nephews, the witnesses' children). The key is to be consistent and handle them privately, talking directly with the families involved, without writing it in the general invitation.

Anticipate the questions

Expect a few practical questions: is there a babysitting service? Until what time? Answering in advance, perhaps in a FAQ, cuts down on calls and makes guests feel considered.