Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast #168: Kids or No Kids? Charting A Course For A Child-Free Wedding
Have you made the ‘Kids or No Kids’ decision yet?
The Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast
Recognized as one of the Top 60 Wedding Planning Podcasts by Millionpodcasts.com
Meet Sal and Sam, your hosts for The Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast. Additionally, this podcast is for engaged couples who feel overwhelmed with wedding planning and family expectations but want a memorable and fun wedding day.
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Sal and Sam are your hosts, two professional DJs with over 80 years of combined wedding expertise and thousands of happy couples. Furthermore, they’ll guide you through planning your wedding. As a result, taking you from concern and being overwhelmed, to a memorable, fun, and stress-free wedding.
Also, listen for engaging interviews from event professionals and insightful topics.
In This Edition
This edition features shared expert advice on how to handle both family-friendly and child-free weddings.
Plus, we explore how to create the perfect atmosphere, whether it’s bouncing kids at a lively ceremony or a serene adults-only reception.
Most importantly, we discuss the pros and cons of each choice, offer practical tips for implementation, and provide creative solutions and compromises.
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Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast #168: Kids or No Kids? Charting A Course For A Child-Free Wedding
Host: Sal & Sam
Music: “Sam’s Tune” by Rick Anthony
Join our community for free tips and suggestions – Stress-free Wedding Planning Community
Produced by Atmosphere Productions in association with After Hours Events of New England
Transcript
Kids or No Kids? Charting A Course For A Child-Free Wedding
Sylvester: today’s hot topic kids or no kids at your wedding. This one stirs up a lot of opinions. Some good, some bad. Some couples want all the little cousins twirling on the dance floor, catching bubbles in their formal wear while others are dreaming of a grown-up celebration where no-one’s calling under tables or screaming during the vows.
That’s right. This question has sparked more family group chat drama than seating charts ever could. Whether you are planning a full on family friendly affair or leaning toward a kid-free zone with signature cocktails and a late night dance party, we are here to help you sort it all out.
DJ Sal Fusco: Welcome to another edition of our podcast. Hi, I’m Sal from After Hours Events of New England. Listen now and discover kids or no kids, charting a course of a child-free wedding.
These are the wedding Insider secrets for a Stress-free, fun and memorable day. [00:01:00] Our podcast helps engage couples navigate wedding planning complexities while addressing family expectations.
We’ll guide you through the journey of creating the perfect wedding day without unnecessary stress. By the end of this edition, you’ll get concise tips on budgeting, wedding party management, ceremony, reception planning, and more. Perfect for anyone planning a wedding all in 30 minutes or less. Trust us, you’re not gonna wanna miss this.
Speaker: Welcome to Stress-free Wedding Planning, the podcast that will transform your wedding planning journey from chaotic to enchanting, Sal and Sam bring over 80 years of combined wedding expertise and exclusive insider information to the table. If you’re recently engaged, feeling the pressure of wedding planning.
Struggling with family expectations, but still dreaming of a joy-filled wedding. You’ve come to the right place. Get ready to unveil the best-kept wedding secrets. Discover practical tips and strategies and learn life-changing lessons for a stress-free wedding. Your unforgettable wedding day awaits.
We’re here to [00:02:00] take you on a transformative journey of love, laughter, and memories, so don’t miss out on the podcast. That just might change your life. This is the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam.
Sylvester: Thank you for listening, and because of you. We are now ranked at number 15 in the Top 60 Wedding Planning podcast by Million Podcasts.com. On today’s podcast, we’re talking about kids or no kids charting a course for a child-free wedding.
Hi, I’m Sam from Atmosphere Productions. Wedding Entertainment with expert knowledge and the difference in quality, specializing in live ceremony musicians and cocktail hour string musicians plus lighting, and an elegant and classy presentation. We have exactly what you need.
Visit us at Atmosphere hyphen Productions dot com. That’s atmosphere hyphen productions dot com. Learn more about our experience and the journey to help you with stress-free wedding planning in the trailer [00:03:00] or pilot of this podcast.
DJ Sal Fusco: Having a kid-free wedding isn’t always an easy decision. You’re juggling traditions, expectations, family dynamics, and let’s face it, that thing called the budget.
We’ve seen it all, and we’re going to walk you through how to approach this topic with confidence, kindness, and clarity. Because at the end of the day, it is your wedding, and we want to make sure whatever choice you make, you can communicate it with grace and avoid unnecessary drama. And most importantly, still have the celebration you’ve been dreaming of.
Hi, I’m Sal from After Hours Events of New England. The experts in creating a stress-free unforgettable wedding experience. We bring energy, professionalism, and a passion to making every couple’s big day truly special. Visit us at After Hours Events Of N.E. dot com.. Again, that’s After Hours Events Of N.E dot com.
But first, I [00:04:00] have to say congratulations to our listeners, Danny and Steven, who’ll be getting married next August at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville, Connecticut. Again, congratulations, Danny and Steven, and thanks for listening to the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast.
Sylvester: So let’s start with why it’s such a big deal, kids or no kids at a wedding. Weddings are about bringing people together. And many families of course include kids. Of course, they’re adorable in tuxedos. And with those flower crowns, they add energy and joy. But at the same time, kids also cry, around wild, spill drinks on rented linens, mess with photographer’s equipment, play with DJ’s equipment, and they tend to take over the dance floor. And that’s why it becomes a matter of vision. That may not be your vision. Are you going for a relaxed backyard or picnic vibe then maybe [00:05:00] yes. Or if you’re going for an elegant black tie evening wedding, uh, when you spend a ton of money, that may not be what you want. Plus, some venues aren’t safe or even suitable for children. Think about, cliffside or an oceanfront ceremony. Uh, Open fire pits or chic spaces with lots of fragile decor. That can upturn your vision of what you want for your wedding.
DJ Sal Fusco: So let me have you imagine this. You’re having your first dance, that big romantic moment where you hired a professional photographer and videographer, and here they are, they’re recording that special moment, and then kids run right onto the dance floor in the middle of things, maybe even running right at you, and kind of interrupting that very special moment.
Now, one of the problems with having kids at a wedding is, parents tend to forget. They need to take care of their own children. They automatically think, [00:06:00] “Hey, the village will take care of them. I don’t have to worry about a thing.” Unfortunately, that happens often. So this is something that you may want to consider if you want kids or no kids. If it’s gonna ruin your vision, you may not want to have them there.
Sylvester: Just as a reminder, us on our YouTube channel. Just search for the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam. Like, comment, subscribe, and get it first.
DJ Sal Fusco: Now if you’re going all in with a kid-friendly wedding, awesome. Let’s talk about how to make that work smoothly.
Start with logistics. You’ll want to plan. You have to plan, everyone. So plan for these things such as kids meals. Think chicken fingers or mac and cheese. High chairs and booster seats for the younger children. A kid-friendly space with activities, coloring books, puzzles, even a movie corner. And a big must, planned for a nap time. This will help you not have those meltdowns [00:07:00] or early exits. Give ’em a chance to rest, rejuvenate, and be on their best behavior.
Sylvester: You might also want to hire a babysitter or two for the night. I recently did a wedding where the clien t hired my daughter to be a babysitter for four or five kids that were there. That’s great, but not everybody can do it. If you can hire the babysitter, it gives parents a break and offer kids a safe space to unwind.
We’ve even seen couples set up an entire room with bean bags, tablets, snacks. This is really a game-changer. This is planning ahead. Younger kids tend to fizzle out by eight or nine o’clock. So plan your significant moments like speeches and first dances a bit earlier if you want them to be part of the experience.
Don’t forget to communicate with parents ahead of time. Of course, if they don’t know you’re gonna provide a babysitter or a separate room. They’re [00:08:00] not gonna do anything about it, so let them know. Obviously, if you’ve got your, cousins and your brothers and sisters, uh, let them know what the plan is and what’s available for their kids. Trust me, the more prepared everyone is, the smoother things go for the kids and for the parents.
DJ Sal Fusco: We’ve just explained why the subject of kids or no kids is such a big deal and what you need to do if you choose to have a kid-friendly wedding.
Sylvester: Coming up next what you need to keep in mind if you decide on a kid-free wedding, and we’ll also explain compromises and creative solutions. But first, if you have a question or concern, go now to Facebook and join us on the Stress-Free Wedding Planning Community. And now in the Connecticut Wedding Advice Community. You can also join us on our YouTube channel. Just search for the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam like. Comment, subscribe and get it first.
JR: This is thee Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with [00:09:00] Sal and Sam. A podcast for engaged couples concerned about wedding planning and family expectations, but who want a stress-free, fun and unforgettable wedding.
DJ Sal Fusco: Here’s another Wedding Tip Wednesday. But first, if your wife says “she’ll be ready in five minutes”, she’s using the same timescale as you when you say “the game only has five minutes left.”
Sylvester: On today’s Wedding Tip Wednesday create a wedding vendor team.
So for a stress-free and fun wedding, we suggest you find vendors that know each other and have worked together before at your venue. Once booked, send each of them an email to let them know who they’re working with on your special day. Include phone numbers and emails so that they can contact each other before your event.
DJ Sal Fusco: And that’s another wedding tip from Sal and Sam.
Wedding Tip Wednesday is available on the Stress-free Wedding Planning Facebook group page every Wednesday. Join the group for free.
Speaker 2: Experience the magic of your special day with Fitzner [00:10:00] Productions, a premier wedding videography company based in Middletown, Connecticut. Fitzner Productions dot com Our mission is to capture your love story candidly and authentically creating stunning high quality videos that you can cherish for years to come.
Our founder, Carson Fitzner combines technical expertise with a passion of storytelling. Ensuring every moment from the excitement of getting ready to the heartfelt ceremony is beautifully documented. We offer a range of customizable packages, including drone footage and multi-location shoots tailored to fit your unique vision.
Let us help you relive the romance, laughter, and tears of your wedding day. Visit Fitzner Productions dot com. That’s F-I-T-Z-N-E-R Productions dot com.
This is the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam.
Sylvester: Welcome back to our discussion about the decision to have kids or no kids? I’m Sam from Atmosphere Productions.
DJ Sal Fusco: I am Sal from After Hours Events of New England. We’ve already discussed [00:11:00] why the subject of kids or no kids is such a big deal and what you need to do if you choose to have a kid-friendly wedding. Now it’s time to go in the other direction. What do you do if you decide to have a child-free wedding?
All right, let’s go there. Look, first rule, you need to be clear. Be kind. And most of all be consistent. And we mean you need to be clear in every platform possible from save the date to your website to your invitations. You don’t wanna assume people will get it. You kind of have to say it a few times before people actually understand.
So now, how can you word this in a way that, you know, they’re not gonna take it wrong. Uh, And you can use graceful things like “We kindly request an adult only celebration.” That’s very clear. It’s adults only. There’s no kids that are gonna be there, or “As much as we love your little ones, this will be a grown-up [00:12:00] affair.”
That’s another way of saying this is gonna be adults only and no children at all. You could also add some humor, but it has to fit your personality. You can’t force this. Okay? So if this is your personality, go for it. “We love your kids, but we thought you may want a night off, too.”
Sylvester: Excellent wording suggestions there, Sal. I also suggest you go to Google and Google “kid-free wedding wording”. And there’s loads of suggestions there that might be able to help you. But no matter what you do, don’t make exceptions unless it’s absolutely necessary. For instance, you can set exceptions like if you’re having a ring bearer or a flower girl, and even then set limits on that. Allowing one cousin to have a kid and then saying no to another, is a guaranteed way to start a family feud. And yes, yeah, you will get some pushback, but be ready and respond with [00:13:00] empathy.
Here’s something you can say, “We totally understand, if that means you can’t make it, but we’d really hope you can join us.” Ya see what you did there. You turned it back on them to make the choice. You just need to stand and be polite in your decision. And if someone really needs to bring their child, be it for travel or health reasons, you can handle that privately without opening the door for everyone.
DJ Sal Fusco: Now let’s talk about compromises and creative solutions. For those of you on the fence or trying to please both sides, there are some compromise options. Like inviting kids to the ceremony, but not the reception or hosting a kid’s table with childcare provided nearby during dinner and dancing.
Sylvester: Or, Sal, setting an age limit, only kids 10 and up or invited. That eliminates babies and toddlers, but it also [00:14:00] includes older kids who can hang out by themselves. It’s a choice that you have to make, by setting that age limit. You can also have a destination wedding act as a built in filter. So if you were planning on having a destination wedding anyway, most parents can’t or just won’t bring their kids to a tropical resort or across the country. So the guest list stays adults only without you having to say anything.
At the end of the day, your guests are there to support you and celebrate your love, and the ones who matter the most will respect your wishes, kids or no kids.
DJ Sal Fusco: So here are some final thoughts about kids or no kids. Whether you go full kid-friendly or adults only, the key is being intentional. Make a decision based on what feels right for you, not what others expect. Communicate it clearly. Be consistent and stand by it with [00:15:00] confidence. Stay calm, plan on, and remember, it’s your day, your way!
Sylvester: Now as you spend the next week planning your wedding, if you want me, Sal, or our community of stress-free engaged couples and wedding experts to answer any wedding-related questions, then join us in the Stress-free Wedding Planning Facebook
DJ Sal Fusco: group. Once you’re in, go ahead and share your concerns and worries, and we’ll let you know if you are on the right track or if there are.
Things you need to work on. The link to join us is in the show notes of this edition, or go to Facebook and search for the Stress-Free Wedding Planning community.
Sylvester: Remember to do something nice for someone today, and if you can’t, then do something nice for yourself. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve just heard, leave a review and share it with a friend or someone who would benefit from this information.
Until next time, it’s. TTFN, Tah Tah For Now!
DJ Sal Fusco: Thank you for listening to this edition. A new edition is released every Wednesday. Subscribe and get it first. We’ll catch you then. Ciao!
Wayne: The Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast is [00:16:00] produced and copyrighted by Atmosphere Productions in association with After Hours Events of New England.
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