Bride Stood Firm on Her No-Kids Policy. Then All Her Relatives Changed Their RSVP Within Minutes of Each Other

A bride is dealing with unexpected family drama after standing firm on her decision to host a child-free wedding.

In a post on Reddit’s Wedding forum, she explained that she and her fiancé wanted to “keep the guest count tight” for their upcoming celebration. To achieve this, they decided on a strict no-kids rule for both the ceremony and the reception.

However, when her extended family learned about the policy, things quickly took a turn. According to the bride, after the RSVP deadline passed, “each aunt, uncle and cousin proceeded to decline the wedding after each other within minutes of each other.”

Originally, all of them had RSVP’d “yes” and told her they were excited to attend. But once one family member asked if their children could come — and another requested a plus-one — the couple had to say no due to space limitations. “We didn’t have the room for them so we told them that politely,” the bride wrote.

Now, she’s unsure how to handle the resulting tension. Expanding the guest list isn’t an option, and she feels caught between maintaining her boundaries and repairing family relationships.

In the comments, many Reddit users sympathized with her and suggested that the situation might actually be for the best. They noted that since the couple wanted a smaller wedding, the family’s collective decline helps meet that goal.

While some found it “hurtful” that her relatives all backed out at once, others advised her not to stress about it. “You don’t do anything,” one commenter wrote. “They didn’t want to come without a date or their kids. Most understand why you limit, but that doesn’t mean they will want to come without them — especially if any travel is needed.”

Another user added, “There’s no need for a response from you. They asked a question, you gave an answer, and they made a choice. The end. It was an RSVP, not a summons.”