I totally get where you're coming from! Kids bring so much joy and energy to any gathering. When I visited [url=https://www.sofitelgoldcoast.com.au]broadbeach accommodation[/url] recently, it was heartwarming to see families enjoying themselves together.

Everyone deserves to experience those adorable and funny moments kids create—it's part of what makes life so rich. It's sad when places exclude them. Hopefully, attitudes will shift because kids definitely add to the fun and community spirit.

Just to add, my husband just reminded me that he missed one of his best mate's wedding as we had an unwell newborn who had spent time in hospital and I reminded him that it didn't really matter as they ended up getting a divorce!!

Well said @VitMac, couldn't agree with you more 

My children are not babies anymore, but I have not and will not forgot how hard it was, @Stickysitck is in la la land and has obviously forgotten or has no idea if they think there is a straight forward easy solution.  I would never leave a young baby with someone else at night, they can fall ill so quickly, unless a close family member e.g my Mum was available to stay with me for the night, and in this case it sounds as though the parents are attending the wedding.

 

[i]A man spends the entire weekend at a party, leaving his partner, who recently gave birth and is still readjusting her hormone levels, to care for a newborn who needs six diaper changes a day, cries constantly, and wakes up multiple times during the night. Alongside the baby, she also has to look after an energetic preschooler, who until recently had exclusive attention and is likely struggling with the arrival of a new sibling.[/i]

Of course, this is not necessarilly this specific situation, but as a father of two kids not that different in age, I've been there and I'd risk to say this scenario might be more common than not. My wife would be furious with me when I returned, and she’d be completely justified. Beyond any sense of "sacred duty," it simply takes empathy and a bit of common sense to rule out the choice of mommy staying behind, in my humble opinion.

[quote=Stickystick post_id=297565 time=1718006112 user_id=38360]

Oh for heavens sake - this really is overdoing it. How do you think single parents manage? Or parents who work?

There are lots of good options here which don’t involve ridiculous handwringing about sacred bonds.
[/quote]

This isn’t about putting food on the table, mate. It's about leaving the kids locked in a room all weekend while you're off partying. A two-month-old baby is very young and demands a lot from the mother. The baby literally depends on her for feeding. So, yeah, to me, it's a sacred bond, even if you think it's ridiculous. In my humble opinion, the least a man should do is to be there to help with everything else.

I’m not here to tell anyone what to do. I’m just sharing my opinion, which I think the OP wanted to hear from people. I'd rather not go at all than ignore the bride’s request and bring the kids to the hotel and pool, as one of your suggestions.

I am with many others here. I think that it is ridiculous to expect your children to be kept inside for the duration. Other non wedding families won't be doing what she is asking so I don't think it is a fair request at all.

Agree.
Nanny was agreed, but swim session was not the idea bride had and shattered her image of her day :)

I would forget that and go swimming another day.
Or wait til the couple have left for honeymoon.
Play it by ear, it depends on the location of everything inside the hotel too.
Yes if it doesnt work just spend one night. They aren't 'locked in'.

[quote=VitMac post_id=297349 time=1717194493 user_id=63127]

Likewise, the mother of a baby that young needs the father close in every sense—physically, psychologically, and emotionally.
[/quote]

Oh for heavens sake - this really is overdoing it. How do you think single parents manage? Or parents who work?

There are lots of good options here which don’t involve ridiculous handwringing about sacred bonds.

1) Best man attends, his family stays at home
2) Best man attends but plays best man card and demands an exception for his family
3) Best man and partner agree to bride’s wishes but discreetly ignores them eg Nanny and children go to the pool while the wedding ceremony is happening, in which case nobody will be around to see them anyway.
4) Best man attends whole thing but family only go for one night, in which case opportunities for roaming around will be limited anyway (could be combined with option 3 as well).

Well spotted Chorister😂 my thoughts exactly.
What a total bore though not wanting kids there, surely this just adds to the fun and the hilarious/cute/ awwww moments. I find it utterly bizarre, this is such weird attitude to kids, would never happen in other cultures and certainly many in this country too. Children play an integral part of families and communities, very sad. Should never be shut away!!

If the heading to this conversation is correct then it's not an unreasonable request, as the children would probably make an awful mess of the weeding!

I appreciate all of your replies and suggestions very much.

I do want to be respectful of her wedding day and no children request. My husband would like us to go together which is why we thought about getting a nanny to come with us to help. I don't feel comfortable leaving a newish baby at home wen we aren't on the doorstep.

I think that I will go to see her on my own and explain that we don't feel it is ok to lock up the children, they can easily be kept out of sight and if that can't work for her then I will have to stay home.

Glad that I wan't getting it all out of proportion. Thank you everyone.

.

Let them do what they want at their wedding. Your kids will not know the difference and will probably have just as much fun running up and down the hotel corridor. As soon as there is a small child near a pool the whole atmosphere changes with people watching, checking, being on alert. It’s definitely more relaxed without. For you, too!

I speak from experience as at the age of three, as a heavily supervised bridesmaid at a relative’s wedding, I still managed to fall in the pool, and someone had to ruin his suit and his day to fish me out, and it completely changed the atmosphere and focus of the day - so I am told.

Use your brain, a 2 month old needs her Mum for feeding and settling, you clearly have no brain!!!

Definitely don’t go, she’s being massively unreasonable and a complete bridezilla, save yourself the stress and money and stay well away!