Planning
My wedding
Track your progress and access all of your wedding planning tools in one place.
To Do List
A step - by - step checklist of things to be done before your big day.
Guest List
See which guests are coming and which aren't at a glance.
Budget Calculator
Keep track of all spending associated with your big day.
Seating Planner
Organise your guest seating arrangements for all your events.
Gift Registry
Share your registry so guests can start contributing funds to your wishing well!
Competition
Enquire with and book your suppliers to go into the draw.
Wedding Venues
Popular
Regions
All Wedding VenuesSydneyMelbourneBrisbanePerthGold CoastCanberraHobartAdelaideDarwinWedding Venue ReviewsDestination WeddingsBook a Hotel
Popular Styles
Beach
Garden
Luxury
Rustic / Country
Warehouse / Industrial
Waterview
Winery
Destination Wedding
Find Trusted Suppliers
Choose from 5,000+ wedding venues, services and providers across Australia.
in
Find Suppliers
Suppliers
Popular Categories
Wedding VenuesDressesPhotographyCelebrantsCarsHair and Makeup
Find SUPPLIERS By Location
SydneyMelbourneBrisbanePerthGold CoastHunter Valley
Explore All Categories
Ceremony
CelebrantsDecorationsFlowers
Reception
BomboniereCakesCaterersDecorationsWedding Hire
Fashion
AccessoriesBeauty ServicesBridesmaidDress DesignersFlower GirlsFormal WearHair and MakeupJewelleryWedding DressesLingerieShoes
Services
Hens Nights and Bucks PartiesInvitationsMusic, Bands & DJsPhoto Booth HirePhotographyPlannersSpecialty ServicesStylistsTransport and CarsVideography
Accommodation
Book a HotelAccommodationDestination WeddingsHoneymoons
Engagement
Engagement Venues
Reviews
Wedding ReviewsSubmit your reviews
Want to save time, money and stress? Use our online supplier package builder, and team of experts, to help you design and book your key wedding suppliers. The best price in one easy package. Built by us, designed by you!
Get my custom proposal ⟶
Packages
Destination Weddings
Articles
Wedding Guide
All articlesWedding InspirationWedding Venue Ideas
Real Weddings
Real WeddingsSubmit your Wedding
Expert Advice
Wedding Venue AdvicePhotography AdviceCelebrant AdviceAsk a Question
Wedding Resources
Wedding SongsExpos & EventsCeremony LocationsWedding Polls
Wedding Pages
Wishing Well
Join the Community
FacebookTikTokInstagramPinterestYoutube

Wedding Cash Giveaway

Enter here for a chance to win a $2,500 boost to your wedding budget

Advertise
  1. Easy Weddings
  2. Articles
  3. Wedding Planning
  4. Children at weddings: Real couples share their experiences

Children at weddings: Real couples share their experiences

By:
Ellie

Ellie

Ellie Hargreaves is a former content creator at Easy Weddings.
/
Updated on: July 29, 2022

Are you still deciding whether your wedding will be a family-friendly celebration or an adults-only affair? Here’s what you need to know about having children at weddings, according to real couples.

Kids at weddings can be a delicate topic, and if you’re currently in the process of finalising your guest list, you might be wondering what the go is when it comes to inviting little ones. While we know this is an entirely personal decision, we thought we’d share some insights from real couples to help you make the right call for your wedding.

To get the low-down on having kids at your wedding, we took to Instagram to ask our lovely followers about their experiences, and the results did not disappoint. If you’re deciding whether or not to have children at your wedding or how to keep them entertained if you do, keep reading!

Children at weddings Samuel White Photography
Samuel White Photography

Why did you decide not to have children at your wedding?

  • We wanted our guests to enjoy themselves and not have to keep an eye on their kids
  • Parents with children generally leave early, potentially spoiling a real party vibe in the evening
  • I don’t need kids running around and people worrying about them — there’s enough going on as it is!
  • I’ve been to weddings with family’s kids, and we spent most of it trying to keep them quiet and entertained
  • We’re hosting our wedding on a large property and don’t want anyone getting lost or hurt
  • Not all people attending will be mindful with their kids, especially during formalities
  • I will have only “close” kids. The rest = unnecessary extra costs
  • We’re keeping our guest capacity limit pretty small, and this doesn’t allow for children
Children at weddings My Scandi Style Photography
My Scandi Style Photography

How did you keep children entertained at your wedding?

  • We gave the kids cheap digital cameras and a list of photos they had to take — they loved it!
  • We had a magician for the children at our wedding
  • Arts and crafts table to “make gifts for the bride and groom”
  • I set up a Polaroid table so the children could make their own scrapbook with photos of the wedding day
  • We organised a dress-up area with fun costumes and props for the kids to play with
  • Little activity boxes instead of bonbonnieres with colouring books, lolly bags, stickers and toys
  • We’ve got a rhythmic gymnastics/ribbon performer coming to our wedding for the children’s entertainment
  • We set up giant Jenga and a board game station
  • Colouring table with personalised colouring books as wedding favours
  • We hired three babysitters to keep them entertained; that way, the parents could have fun
  • We had a DJ and a large grassed area in a beer garden — the kids had a ball!
Keeping children at weddings entertained My Scandi Style Photography
Mini treats and customised craft kits from Artful Splodgers – See the real wedding here
Children at weddings Carly Rose Weddings and Events
An adorable safari-themed kids’ corner by Carly Rose Weddings & Events – See the real wedding here
read more kids wedding ideas here

What’s the etiquette of planning a kid-free wedding?

Whether or not you invite children to your wedding is entirely up to you and your partner; it is your day and should be exactly the way you want it. If you do choose not to have kids there, we suggest keeping these tips in mind for planning a child-free wedding while also being considerate of your loved ones:

  • Let guests know early. By making the call as early as possible, you can let guests know on your invitations or website that your wedding day will be an adults-only event. This way, they have plenty of time to organise childcare arrangements.
  • Communicate clearly and politely. We’d recommend including a polite “no kids” message on your wedding invitations or website to give your guests the heads up. Try to frame it in a positive light and be as respectful as possible — for example: “As much as we adore your little ones, we’ve decided to have an adults-only celebration for our wedding. We hope this gives you the opportunity to relax, let your hair down and enjoy the evening!”
  • Be consistent. If you tell one guest you aren’t inviting children and then allow others to bring them, you might cause upset. We suggest communicating with guests openly and honestly if you’re planning to have immediate family members like nieces and nephews at your wedding by saying something like: “Our special day will be an adults-only celebration, with the exception of our immediate family members.”
  • Consider special exceptions. Even if you’ve decided to have a child-free wedding, you’ll still need to think about making some exceptions. For example, it’s important to consider those with newborn babies who need to breastfeed or parents who will be travelling a long distance to attend your wedding.

For more tips on communicating with friends and family about having a child-free wedding, check out these expert advice answers from some of our amazing celebrants.

Children at weddings - My Scandi Style Photography
My Scandi Style Photography

Need a hand planning an incredible wedding (kids or not)? Our wedding supplier specialists are here to help! Chat to them today to get the ball rolling on your perfect day.

Chat to a wedding expert

Ellie Hargreaves

Suppliers you'll love


View Local Suppliers

Tags / Categories

Categories: Wedding Planning

Tags: children at weddings, kid-free weddings, wedding planning advice

Related articles

25 years of wedding trends

25 years of wedding planning: trends we once loved, love now, and will always love

By Content Team

June 19, 2025

Wedding Planning 9 min to read
personalise your wedding

Tiny detail, big meaning: How to personalise your wedding day

By Liv Croagh

June 16, 2025

General 5 min to read
something blue

8 creative ways to include ‘something blue’ in your wedding

By Maree Mikhaiel

June 19, 2025

Wedding Planning 5 min to read
Planning Tools
  • To Do List
  • Guest List
  • Seating Planner
  • Budget Calculator
Suppliers
  • Wedding Venues
  • Dresses
  • Photography
  • Celebrants
  • Cars
  • Hair and Makeup
  • Wedding Packages
Packages
  • Wedding Packages
  • Destination Weddings
Help
  • Advice & Ideas
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us
Download the Easy Weddings app
iOS app store link
Android play store link
Are you a wedding vendor?Join Australia's largest and most trusted wedding destination today and connect with more couples to book more weddings.
List your business
Easyweddings logo
© 2025 Easy Weddings Pty Ltd.·Sitemap·Privacy·Legal