Weddingbee Blog

The practice of law, and thus my everyday life, is quite boring on a daily basis, so I try to spice up the perception of my professional life and my everyday wedding decisions with elaborate made-up scenes. Indulge me, please.

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A weary judge enters the courtroom for the final arguments in a hotly contested case. As the spectators sit at his request, a deafening quiet fills the room. In a tone that can only be described as disinterested nothingness, the judge breaks the silence.

The Court: We are back in open court on case number 11 W 101. The attorneys and jury members are present. Are you prepared to proceed with closing argument?

Attorneys: Yes, Your Honor.

The Court: Mr. Kidd, you may proceed.

Mr. Kidd: Thank you, Your Honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this is not an easy issue to decide, which is why we ask you to listen to all the arguments and facts before making any decisions.

We have heard a lot of evidence in this case, but I just want to remind you of a few key reasons why you should side with us and invite kids to your wedding.

First off, and most obviously, kids are cute. At weddings, kids get dressed up, they dance, and they make everyone smile. Their joy and happiness is contagious and will positively affect each of your wedding guests.

But, if you don’t believe me, just take a look at some of the exhibits we saw during the trial:

Exhibit #1

{Photo by Daryl Chan via Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Assn.}

Exhibit #2

{Photo by Raymond Phang via Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Assn.}

Exhibit #3

{Photo by Frank Amodo via Bridal Banter}

I also want to bring up a point that we heard about a lot from opposing counsel throughout the trial. You heard countless times that inviting kids will add mightily to the overall cost of your wedding. However, a vast majority of caterers do not charge for children’s meals or provide hefty discounts. Additionally, the monetary costs of including children are far outweighed by the social good that will come from including children in your wedding.

For example, think about the memories the little ones at your wedding will be creating and remembering for years to come. You might inspire some little boy or girl with the details of your wedding that they will be dreaming about far into the future.

To illustrate this point, I implore you to look at Exhibits 4 and 5 and imagine having this moment with a special child on your wedding day.

Exhibit #4

{Photo by Taras Omelchenko via Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Assn.}

Exhibit #5

{Photo by Sandra von Riekhoff via Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Assn.}

Finally, I want to leave you with one thought. Weddings are about love. They are about sharing that love with those around you, including those children that are close to you.

So I ask that when you make you decision, you think about all of the reasons I have mentioned, but mostly think about sharing love with the children in your lives. Thank you for your time and attention.

The Court: Thank you, Mr. Kidd. Ms. Realle, do you have any response?

Ms. Realle: Yes, you honor. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Kidd just painted you a lovely picture of how children can be included in your wedding, but I am here to bring you back to reality. The reality that kids can and will ruin everything they get their hands on, including your wedding.

First, I want to point out that people wanting an adult-only reception do not dislike children; to the contrary, most of us love children. But, we recognize that a wedding, with alcohol and dancing until the wee hours of the morning, may not be an appropriate place for children.

Next, I want you to think about experiences in your own life where a child has made a scene or caused trouble at an inappropriate time. Perhaps it was a family dinner at a restaurant, or at that movie you wanted to see, or maybe it was at a wedding where all you remember about the ceremony is the child behind you screaming or crying.

Children are unpredictable by nature. Why risk an epic meltdown ruining the wedding you have planned for over a year and have given up indulgences for so that you could afford the party?

I can give many examples, but these exhibits tell the real story of how children will behave throughout your wedding:

Exhibit #6

{Photo by Jamie Reichman via Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Assn.}

Exhibit #7

{Photo by Carolynn Shelby via Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Assn.}

Furthermore, children are inherently curious and tend to touch things they shouldn’t. Kids cannot control themselves from exploring the most important, expensive, and dangerous elements of a wedding.

As you see in Exhibit 8, kids naturally gravitate toward the things that are breakable:

Exhibit #8

{Photo by Kenny Nakai via Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Assn.}

Or, kids may try to sneak a lick of that beautiful and delicious cake you’ve dreamed about for months:

Exhibit #9

{Photo by Anna Kuperberg via Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Assn.}

What’s worse is when the parents don’t pay the attention they should and allow their kids to get into anything and everything at a wedding, including the booze:

Exhibit #10

{Photo by Bartosz Jastal via Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Assn.}

Without constant vigilance, kids have a tendency to get their little hands on everything. Their parents do not want to spend the entire wedding watching and disciplining their children and neither do you. That is why children are better left at home, where they are in their natural environment of chaos and destruction.

Finally, I want to leave you with these images in Exhibits 6 though 10 and let you imagine how you would feel if these were from your wedding day—your ceremony or your reception. Think about the hard-earned money and countless hours you have spent planning a day that you hope to be perfect.

The Court: Thank you, Ms. Realle. Any rebuttal, Mr. Kidd?

Mr. Kidd: Yes, very briefly, Judge. Ladies and gentlemen, I just want to leave you with one thought. Every wedding will have small imperfections happen throughout the day. One of these moments, as captured wonderfully in Exhibit 11, was only possible because of the curious heart of a child.

Exhibit #11

{Photo by David Murray via Facebook}

You cannot control everything on your wedding day and, when something does go wrong, I hope you can smile and appreciate that in the grand scheme of things, you still married the person of your dreams. I want you to embrace these moments, and when you relive them with your family and friends for years to come, you can think back on your wedding day and its youngest guests with a smile. Thank you again.

The Court: Thank you, Counsel. The jury instructions are as follows: use common sense and do what you think is best for your wedding day. The jury is now dismissed to commence deliberations.

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Who would you side with in this case? Which side do you think we chose?