Photo: Audrey Hannah Photo
It might be spurred by budget constraints or you and your mate may simply prefer the company of grown ups. There's a host of reasons why you might want to designate your reception "adults only." If you're thinking about it, consider these pros and cons:
Pros
It can save you a little money.
Caterers usually charge per head, and even though you may be able to get a reduced cost for a littler head, it still might be more than your budget can bear. Eliminating children can significantly reduce the guest list, especially when budget or space is of concern.
Your guests will likely feel more relaxed.
This can be especially true for your guests who are parents. Kids are their own kind of fun, but it's definitely a lot harder to cut loose when you're keeping an eye on the wee ones.
See more: 4 Ways to Involve Kids in the Wedding
Cons
You will offend someone.
Someone, somehow will take umbrage with your decision, wondering how you could possibly not enjoy the company of his or her little angel. You know that the decision to restrict your list to adults isn't personal, but, inevitably, it will feel like that to someone.
Some guests won't be able to come.
Arranging for childcare isn't always easy particularly if it requires covering an entire weekend for guests who'll need to travel to your ceremony. If they can even get a sitter for that long, it might be prohibitively expensive. (Though not if you arrange for a sitter for the wedding night.)
Jolène M. Bouchon is a regular contributor to Brides.com and a freelance writer.