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It's a hard one. Even though she is a God parent to your child others there will see if as well that friend has her kid here so why couldn't we bring ours and with nieces and nephews it's pretty obvious why they are there and won't cause issues else where. Honestly either get someone you trust to babysit and enjoy a night off or don't go. I couldn't have even imagined my wedding as child free (we had 11 nieces and nephews when we got married, plus three adult nieces and nephews who weren't there and my cousins children, so 14 aged 3 months to 14 years at the wedding). However, it's costly and if it isn't something you want at your wedding its understandable. But you can't say no to nieces and nephews. Either accept it and go or don't go, just don't be like I'm not coming because my kid can't go as that will cause drama and stress the bride doesn't need.
Having Nieces and nephews at a ‘child free’ wedding is totally normal and very much a done thing. They usually are there for the ceremony/meal and then leave soon after. Ultimately it’s the bride and grooms choice, if you can’t respect it then don’t go.
@Wendi this is basically what upsets me, that she’s choosing my child specifically not to have there but framing it as a child free wedding and I’m maid of honour so can’t just choose not to go without it kicking up drama but also it doesn’t seem fair that I have to try and arrange childcare for an entire weekend away from my toddler when there’ll be children her age at the wedding anyway…
@Victoria I completely understand budget being an issue, but considering how many hundreds of pounds I’ll have to put in to the wedding as maid of honour, it feels a bit harsh making me exclude my toddler for an entire weekend that isn’t completely child free and in a completely different city to where I live xx
I was in the same position last year. My son was 2 so I was happy! But they clearly want to minimise children at the wedding and as we know families are exempt- mainly because lots of their childcare options would also be at the wedding! My best friend had her family’s children and her friends child as she didn’t have childcare either!
I think you’re taking this way too personally saying your child is being singled out to be excluded. If every single other parent there was allowed to take their kids but you weren’t then yes, that would be actively excluding your child. But she’s not, she’s having family there that happen to be children, there will always be exceptions for family at weddings.
I would try not to take it personally. When we got married we didn’t invite the children of couples we weren’t related to, mostly for budget reasons. Most weddings I’ve been to only have a limited number of children in attendance and go and try and have a nice child free day out! Xx