Bride Asks Reddit If She’s Unreasonable To Charge Parents Who Brought Their Kids To Her "Child-Free" Wedding
The couple decided to make their day child-free, and they made their decision clear to their guests right from the beginning.
We all love kids, but there's no denying they can be a handful at times. So, when it comes to a momentous occasion like a wedding, it's entirely understandable that a couple may choose to make their special day "child-free."
After all, weddings are a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and every couple wants their day to go off without a hitch. Weddings are also extremely pricey, so there's absolutely no shame in a couple doing everything they can to cut the costs of their special day.
Recently, Reddit user u/AltruisticHapa shared her story on the AITA (Am I The A**hole?) subreddit. She wanted to know if she was wrong to charge some of her guests who insisted on bringing their kids along to her child-free wedding.
The Redditor explained that there were many children in her and her husband's families, and their wedding venue charged full price for any children over the age of two. That meant it would be an additional $250 per child in attendance.
For that reason, the couple decided to make their day child-free, and they made their decision clear to their guests right from the beginning. However, the couple received a lot of grief for their decision, so they decided to compromise.
They extended their reception the night before the wedding to include kids. For any of their guests who were traveling and hadn't been able to get a babysitter, the couple hired five sitters who could care for up to 30 children at the groom's parents' home.
But despite all of this, three couples still turned up to the wedding with their children in tow. There were nine children in total, and the groomsmen offered to drive them to the house, but the parents refused.
Of course, some of the kids misbehaved and ran amok during the ceremony and reception, which only added to the couple's frustration. So, after the wedding, they decided to send the three couples a bill, asking them to kindly pay the costs associated with their children attending the wedding.
Two of the couples were very understanding and apologetic, agreeing to pay without any issues. However, the couple with the misbehaving kids refused to pay because they didn't get cake. Yep!
As always, the Reddit community had plenty to say about our OP's situation, and they didn't hold back. Keep scrolling to read the story in full and find out how people reacted.
The Redditor asked, "AITA for charging parents who brought their kids to our child-free wedding and kicking the rowdy kids out?"
Reddit/AltruisticHapaShe explained that their wedding venue charged full price for any children over the age of two, which meant it would be an additional $250 per child in attendance.
Reddit/AltruisticHapaThe couple made their decision clear to their guests right from the beginning. However, they received a lot of grief for their decision, so they decided to compromise.
Reddit/AltruisticHapa
But despite all of this, three couples still turned up to the wedding with their children in tow. There were nine children in total, and the groomsmen offered to drive them to the house, but the parents refused.
Reddit/AltruisticHapa
Of course, some of the kids misbehaved and ran amok during the ceremony and reception, which only added to the couple's frustration.
Reddit/AltruisticHapa
The couple ended up asking the rowdy children and their parents to leave.
Reddit/AltruisticHapa
After the wedding, they decided to send the three couples a bill, asking them to kindly pay the costs associated with their children attending the wedding.
Reddit/AltruisticHapa
The couple with the misbehaving kids refused to pay and became nasty. So, our OP wondered if she and her husband were in the wrong.
Reddit/AltruisticHapa
Here's how people reacted.
Reddit/s1m0n_s3z
"NTA!"
Reddit/itsthelee
"Child-free means child-free."
Reddit/SolidEcho7597
"I will never understand people who bring their children where they are not wanted."
Reddit/RileyxDoll
"Secondhand fury."
Reddit/imjusthereforaita
"This makes me mad just reading it!"
Reddit/Initial_Garlic7876
Seriously, there was a free babysitter!
Reddit/Jallenrix
"Rich-ass family and friends."
Reddit/acgilmoregirl
"Unbelievably rude."
Reddit/countrybumpkin1969
"Toss them all."
Reddit/Traveling-Techie
"I would have turned them away."
Reddit/Arc_Sodium
"Real champs."
Reddit/TahiniInMyVeins
"Your wedding, your rules."
Reddit/MedicalStude
"These entitled parents need to pay up."
Reddit/Due-Compote375
"No kids means no kids."
Reddit/ProfessionalSir9978
"You went above and beyond."
Reddit/mypreciousssssssss
"It's your special day."
Reddit/Buttcavetroll
"It was a great compromise."
Reddit/sparkling467
"Enough rope to trip themselves."
Reddit/flashjesu
"Good on you."
Reddit/TheBgChungus1980
So, there you have it. What are your thoughts on this one?
Do you think our OP was being unreasonable to charge the parents, or do you think she was well within her rights to expect them to pay? Either way, surely people need to learn to respect boundaries when they're set.
We would love to hear your opinions on this. Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
