How to word your adult-only wedding invitations

Etiquette states that the best way to communicate an adult-only wedding is by properly addressing the inner envelopes of your wedding invitation. What’s an inner envelope? Good question. An inner envelope holds the invitation ensemble and is tucked inside the outer mailing envelope. The sole purpose of the inner envelope is to address, by name, each person invited to the wedding. However, not all wedding invitations come with both an inner and outer envelope anymore and guests are no longer accustomed to looking at the inner envelope to know who is invited.

You might think the next step is to address it on the wedding invitations but proper wedding invitation etiquette does not approve of mentioning “no children” in the wedding invitation wording. The invitation’s wording is meant to communicate all the basic details guests need to know about your wedding. Anything more can add clutter and confusion, and you want to keep your wedding invitations as pristine as possible.

What’s a couple to do?
We suggest using your response cards and/or reception cards to communicate an adults-only wedding. The nice thing about this is that the message won’t get lost in the invitation’s wording and you’re able to create wording that fits your personalities and wedding style. What do we mean by that? Here are a few examples of how you might word your response cards:

Go ahead and be straight-forward.
The favor of a reply is requested
by March 12, 2020
Name ____________________
Accepts _____ Regrets _____
Adults Only Reception

Perhaps you prefer a gentler approach.
We’ve reserved [X] seats for you!
Please reply on or before
March 12, 2020
Name ____________________
Accepts _____ Regrets _____

If you’d like to get a little more creative or detailed with your wording, we suggest using the reception cards to share the message.

Be lighthearted if that’s your style.
Although we love to watch the children
run and play, this is going to be
an adults only kind of day.

Politely explain the situation.
Although we love your children,
we regretfully cannot accommodate
them due to limited seating. We hope
you are able to join us anyway and enjoy
a relaxed evening with friends and family!

Share a few guidelines.
Due to restrictions at our venue,
children under the age of 16
are not able to attend.