Don’t Be Offended If A Bride Requests You Not Bring Kids to Wedding Reception

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - With Fall here, wedding season is back in full swing across South Louisiana, and some wedding guests may be shocked when they receive an invitation to a wedding ceremony and reception.

I have been DJing weddings across South Louisiana for welll over 20 years, and I can tell you I have seen every trend there is, including receptions getting smaller.

Look, it's not a secret: hosting a wedding reception is expensive now, and that is one reason you are seeing smaller receptions. I can recall attending and working receptions in the late 90s and early 2000s with 400-500 guests; well, those days are gone.

Brides have to be much more selective now because it is so expensive, and one change in recent years is eliminating kids from attending. Yes, I know that it may sound rude, but I'll do my best to explain why brides are requesting that you leave your kiids at home on her big night.

Venues now charge couples by the head, meaning by the number of people attending. That's because food costs are astronomical, and venues simply can't accommodate as many people. So, if you bring three kids to the reception, whoever is paying for the celebration must pay for all three, whether they eat or not.

Another reason brides ask you not to bring your kids to their reception is that kids can be a distraction. As harsh as it may sound, I have seen small kids take over a dance floor at a reception and totally discourage others from enjoying themselves.

I actually had a bride years ago ask me to tell parents they needed to remove their kids from the dance floor so adult guests could enjoy the evening. Yes, the dance floor looked like a daycare center's playtime, and the bride was visibly upset.

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Lastly, some brides try to do you a favor by requesting no kids at their reception. A few weeks back, a bride explained that she has friends with kids, and they never get to go out and enjoy themselves. She said she was having a kid-free reception so her friends could have a night out to celebrate without kids.

Again, I share this trend because I see more kid-free wedding receptions, and I don't want to be shocked when you get an invitation asking you to leave the kids at home. It's not personal, but brides just want what's best for their big night, and we should all respect their wishes.