A woman who has been invited to seven weddings over the last 12 months says each and every invite specified a child-free rule - and she's now reached the end of her tether.
The exasperated mum, who has a five-year-old and a second baby on the way, has just received her seventh child-free invite of the year, and is beginning to wonder whether children will ever be allowed at weddings again.
Two recent invitations stated that the stressed-out parents could bring along their newborn but would have to leave their eldest at home. They've also had to decline ones where the baby wouldn't be welcome, knowing they would be still too young to leave with someone else.
Unfortunately, the couple doesn't have many readily available childcare options, so making the two-hour trip for this next wedding would take a fair bit of planning.
In the past, they've alternated it between them, where one person attends the wedding and the other stays at home with their little one. Neither of them finds this set-up particularly enjoyable.
Taking to Mumsnet, the fed-up parent wrote: "I understand that everyone can make their own decision regarding their weddings but it really it a shame missing out on events because of this, especially when in most circumstances, the bride and groom have children themselves so know how tricky childcare can be.
"It is the decision of the bride and groom for their wedding day, it does just mean that some guests will decline to attend, or attend but possibly not stay for the reception."
She continued: "Light hearted thread but will children ever be invited to weddings again? We had them at ours and many of them brightened up the day, making people laugh or getting involved, there were no issues regarding behaviour of children and parents were sensible with keeping them occupied during the ceremony.
"I can't remember the last time I received a wedding invitation that didn't cause some level of stress."
The post left many fellow Mumsnet users divided. While many sympathised with her all too relatable plight, others argued that the decision whether or not to have children in attendance was ultimately up to the couple getting married.
One person wrote: "I never understand the mindset of people who prefer no children at weddings - even their own. Must have some very badly behaved children in their lives."
Another commented: "I'd guess it was a cost thing. People tend to get married later now which means a lot of their friends will have kids. If you are doubling your guest list to cater to kids, that's a huge chunk of extra money."
A third remarked: "It wouldn't have bothered me if people couldn't have attended our wedding due to childcare. I didn't want children there, and now we have our own I stand by that."
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