1. Money doesn't grow on trees — and kids usually aren't free.
Back in the day there may have been a time where the father of the bride saddled up and paid for his daughter's wedding in full. But according to my friends and social media, that's not exactly common place anymore. While many couple's parents happily pitch in to offset the cost of a wedding — which is absolutely astronomical no matter how you slice it — the bride and groom are often left with a hell of a lot of bills.
While some venues let little ones in for free, many still charge. My venue, for example, charges $50 a head for kids over the age of 2 — and that can add up pretty damn quickly — especially when it's for chicken fingers they may not even eat.
2. Some people have enormous families — I'm one of them – which only adds to the financial burden.
When your mom is the second youngest of eight kids — hello, Irish families! — there are a lot of people on the guest list to begin with. And while I'm definitely amped to invite all twenty-something of my first cousins on her side alone for the big day, coughing it up for everyone's kids tacks on a lot more money. Will I invite my cousins' children who will actually remember the event? Of course! But it's hard to justify the headcount for guests who can barely walk. And don't even get me started on the rest of the guest list!