28-year-old threatens to call off wedding after fiancé's family insists on bringing kids to a "no kids" wedding

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Feb 5, 2026 4:00 PM EST

There is nothing wrong with not wanting a bunch of screaming, uncontrollable children at your wedding.

There seems to be a divided response regarding the appropriateness of inviting kids to a wedding. Your mileage may vary on this issue, depending on family expectations and your own perceptions of how a wedding should or shouldn't be. The truth of the matter is that, at the end of the day, you should not really have much of a say in the matter unless it's your wedding that we're talking about. Otherwise, you might be better off keeping your opinions to yourself and allowing the people who are actually getting married to do whatever they want.

In this instance, however, the central disagreement created conflict between the bride and groom. Previously, they had agreed that they didn't want misbehaving kids running around during their 30-minute ceremony. However, the groom's family had far more children than her family did, and they were all under eight years old.

At first, they thought they reached a compromise that would be mutually beneficial. They arranged to have a children's room in their church with babysitters so that the kids could be properly taken care of during the ceremony. This way, family members could be reunited with their kids and could take them to the reception. Unfortunately, this solution did not seem to satisfy the groom's family, and the consequences ended up driving a wedge between the couple.

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  • The fact that the couple ultimately threatened to cancel the ceremony and elope instead should have gotten the groom's family members to calm down… but it didn't. They dug their heels into the ground, and in the end, so did the bride. They ended up actually eloping. 

    Sounds like her in-laws stirred up all this trouble, only for everyone to miss out on the ceremony and reception. Our guess is that numerous parties in this conflict will be able to forgive each other moving forward. The bride and groom will always feel like they were unable to have the wedding of their dreams because of his family's ridiculous needs. At the same time, you know this family is never going to be able to forgive the groom's wife after this either.

    All I can say is thank goodness I'm not a part of this extended family!

  • A flower girl walking down the aisle.
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "[Am I wrong for] not allowing children at our wedding?"

    Me (F-28) an my Fiancé (M-30) are getting married in 2028. We are having a small wedding.
    via travelouseagle
  • 60-70 people. Our church holds 70. We are having no children (besides our 1 kid) at the ceremony, we are allowing children at our reception.
    via travelouseagle
  • We both have children on each side, so we set up children care. Its only 30 minutes for our ceremony.
    via travelouseagle
  • Our church has a child's floor, so if they need child care we have someone set up down there.
    via travelouseagle
  • Now the issue. His family only has 6 kids all from 1 person. I have 3 from 3 differnet familys.
    via travelouseagle
  • Im being told my side isn't as important because were not bld. I grew up with those kids an I'm the god parent to 2 of them.
    via travelouseagle
  • (Were not allowing them there either) so since the others are blad we should allow them there.
    via travelouseagle
  • Now the person with 6 kids, said our engagement was a mistake, we shouldn't do it.
    via travelouseagle
  • Never said congrats. Threw a fit if anyone mentioned it to us. I said they shouldnt be there regardless if they aren't supportive.
    via travelouseagle
  • My fiancé wants them there. So im trying to br supportive in that sense. I am being blammed for a joint choice.
    via travelouseagle
  • We both had out reasons. Kids cant sit still. The kids dont listen. All kids are under 8.
    via travelouseagle
  • The kids would throw our guest list for the seating in the chapel higher then we can have.
    via travelouseagle
  • A bride and groom walk down the aisle in a church.
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • So we would have to cut adults out that want to be there. We have the child care, they dont want that, we suggested having them in the far back incase they need to step out (random chairs an stick them in a corner).
    via travelouseagle
  • My fiancé doesnt want his family leaving in the middle. Which is valid. We have had 4 conversation with the family.
    via travelouseagle
  • Nothing is getting through. My fiancé thinks lucky number 5 will do it. Their being aggressive, passive some times, talking sh\*t about us, or just cold shoulder.
    via travelouseagle
  • Its to the point im thinking about canceling the wedding. So AITA for sticking to our gs an saying no kids an taking the L for who ever decides not to go.
    via travelouseagle
  • Or should we figure a way for children to magically be there. Update- i have decided to call it off the wedd8ng.
    via travelouseagle
  • If we do decided to still get married. We will be eloping an no one will know.
    via travelouseagle
  • Besides personal family an friends that were/are truly happy for usb
    via travelouseagle
  • Weak-Year2333 Wasn't allowed at my parents wedding either. Parents to this day wish we had been there to share their special moments.
    via travelouseagle
  • Jantares99 I think that's a good idea. Although I'm sorry if you two end up breaking up, but it's your decision on how you want things to go. Too many cooks in the kitchen.
    via travelouseagle
  • lilies 117 Have it, but only invite those who actually care about you guys and support you guys. Step #1 is recognizing you are a team and you don't have to yield to other people's demands on your wedding. Nta
    via travelouseagle

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aita marriage wedding party wedding drama kids family children
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