"Adults Only" Wedding Reception

[enginerd]

I got an invitation to my nephews wedding today. He is getting married in August and I have been planning on going for quite a while now. I notice that after the wedding is an "adults only" reception. This wedding is out of town so I am spending money on travel, two nights hotel and a wedding gift and now I am expected to somehow find a babysitter in another town. There is no mention that babysitting will be provided. Well that is not happening - I am not leaving my 11 yo with a stranger I don't know in another town. So I guess we will just be going to the wedding and skip the reception and go back to our hotel.:sad:

[chyilan]

What a dilemma...
Maybe you could just not go but send a gift, that is what I would have to do in your situation. You are right, you cannot leave your 11yo with a stranger to attend the adults only reception.

[CW&M Mom]

Would there be any other cousins old enough to help watch the 11 year old?...that are too young to go to the reception as well.

[Whispered]

well darlin, to be honest, its the "brides day". She gets that hopefully, once... Its really nice, of you to want to go.. but she shouldn't be responsible for childcare.
...

If i have a wedding.. someday.. its going to be the same.. absolutely
ADults only!! and esp for the wedding ceremony.
...

I've been to some beautiful, gorgeous ceremonies.. that have been practically ruined by a crying baby.. or out of control kid.
(Yours may be the best behaved, but if you make one exception.. she'd have to make all)..

I don't think you need to think of it as an "obligation".. its your choice.
like chyilan said.. you could just send a gift, or ask around your family and see if there are some older children or elderly people who might not go to the reception. Ask around.

I do feel bad, that you might miss a family event...but sometimes, as adults, we just want adults.. esp if we ourselves, don't have kids.
(as may or may not be, in this case).

good luck and i'm betting, that there will be someone in the family.. who can help or you guys can take turns~

[allison1887]

well darlin, to be honest, its the "brides day". She gets that hopefully, once... Its really nice, of you to want to go.. but she shouldn't be responsible for childcare.
...

If i have a wedding.. someday.. its going to be the same.. absolutely
ADults only!! and esp for the wedding ceremony.
...

I've been to some beautiful, gorgeous ceremonies.. that have been practically ruined by a crying baby.. or out of control kid.
(Yours may be the best behaved, but if you make one exception.. she'd have to make all)..

I don't think you need to think of it as an "obligation".. its your choice.
like chyilan said.. you could just send a gift, or ask around your family and see if there are some older children or elderly people who might not go to the reception. Ask around.

I do feel bad, that you might miss a family event...but sometimes, as adults, we just want adults.. esp if we ourselves, don't have kids.
(as may or may not be, in this case).

good luck and i'm betting, that there will be someone in the family.. who can help or you guys can take turns~

I agree with you. I have been to several wedding where a kid has ruined the event by crying or pitching a fit.

[taylordvd]

I'm assuming the wedding is where the bride is from. See if you can get some contact information for the bride's mother, the maid of honor, hometown bridesmaid, etc. Have one of them find you a babysitter. An 11 yo is old enough to report bad babysitter behavior at the end of the night.

[beth119]

I agree with the idea of "adults only". There are times and places for children, and IMO, wedding receptions aren't one of them.
ALthough, I tend to think more of small kids. 11 is a tweeny age, and I doubt that she will be crying or throwing tantrums or running all over the place ;) Double check and make sure that she can't come...

As far as child care... like other posters suggested. See if there is other family that can watch her. If she were really small, I could understand more about not leaving her with "strangers".

[mrsjschultz]

I agree. It's the brides day and if you do not want to look into childcare then don't go to the wedding. Problem solved. I'm sure they will understand if you cannot make it due to lack of childcare.

Good luck!

[lamezquita0308]

I got an invitation to my nephews wedding today. He is getting married in August and I have been planning on going for quite a while now. I notice that after the wedding is an "adults only" reception. This wedding is out of town so I am spending money on travel, two nights hotel and a wedding gift and now I am expected to somehow find a babysitter in another town. There is no mention that babysitting will be provided. Well that is not happening - I am not leaving my 11 yo with a stranger I don't know in another town. So I guess we will just be going to the wedding and skip the reception and go back to our hotel.:sad:

I would just send the gift and not go to the ceremony at all. I mean if they invite you they should at least have an area or place for childcare. I would not leave my kids with strangers in another city either.

[moxi]

Do you have a husband that is going with you? Could he stay with the 11yo while you go have a good time at the party? Sorry kids are excluded, they are usually the life of the party if you ask me. But, that is their wish, so, whatever. I would not find a stranger to babysit either. Maybe just make it a fun family night, pizza, swimming at the hotel, order a family movie and have a good time without the brides party!