Wording
How to politely say no kids and no phones on a wedding card
Published 6 min read
Knowing how to politely say no kids at a wedding — or no phones, or a dress code — matters more in the UAE than almost anywhere, because so many weddings here mix families from different traditions. An Emirati ladies' hall where cameras are not allowed, a Pakistani walima with three hundred guests, a British couple's adults-only dinner: each has its rules, and the card is where guests first meet them. Below is wording that sets those rules without sounding cold, in English and Arabic, with where each line belongs and how to handle exceptions.
In this article
- Why Gulf wedding cards carry these notes
- How to politely say no kids on a wedding invite
- Exceptions: babies, family children and the flower girl
- No phones and no photos: unplugged wedding wording
- Dress code wording samples
- Where to put the rules: card, message or invitation page
- A complete card with notes
- How to say it in Arabic
- Putting the notes on your card
Why Gulf wedding cards carry these notes
In Gulf weddings the ladies' celebration is held separately from the men's, and inside the ladies' hall many women take off their abayas and veils. That is why cameras and phones are often not allowed there: it protects the privacy of every guest, not only the bride. Children are often not invited because halls are booked by headcount and the evening runs late.
Expat families meet the same questions for other reasons — a venue's capacity, a budget per head, a formal dinner. The wording differs, but the principle is the same: say it once, kindly, on the card, so nobody has to say it at the door.
If you are sending separate men's and ladies' cards, the notes usually differ between them; see men's and ladies' wedding invitations.
How to politely say no kids on a wedding invite
Three tones, from most formal to warmest. Pick the one that matches the rest of your card.
We kindly request an adults-only celebration.
While we love your little ones, our wedding will be an adults-only evening.
We have reserved [2] seats in your honour. Please note that this is an adults-only celebration.
Please enjoy a night off — our celebration is for adults only.
Exceptions: babies, family children and the flower girl
Most families make some exceptions. Say so, or a guest who sees a child at the wedding will wonder why theirs was not welcome.
- “Babies in arms are welcome.”
- “With the exception of immediate family, this will be an adults-only celebration.”
- “We are only able to accommodate children who are part of the wedding party.”
For guests who must bring a nursing baby, a private word beats a public line. The card sets the rule; the exception can be a phone call.
No phones and no photos: unplugged wedding wording
In the Gulf, “no phones” is mostly about the ladies' hall; for Western couples, it is about an “unplugged” ceremony where guests are present rather than filming. The lines differ accordingly.
To protect the privacy of our guests, photography and phones with cameras are not permitted in the ladies' hall.
We invite you to be fully present with us. Please keep phones and cameras away during the ceremony — our photographer will share the memories.
Kindly hand in camera phones at the entrance; they will be returned as you leave.
Photos are welcome at the reception — but please, none during the vows.
If phones are collected at the door, say so on the card; it is far easier for a guest to read it at home than to hear it at a desk in front of a queue.
Dress code wording samples
| Dress code | How to write it | What guests understand |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | “Dress code: Formal / Black tie” | Gowns and dark suits or national dress |
| Colour theme | “Colour of the evening: champagne and gold” | Wear that colour, or close to it |
| Modest | “Modest dress, please” | Covered shoulders and knees; a scarf for a mosque |
| National dress | “National dress welcome” | Kandura, abaya, sari, shalwar kameez are all fine |
| Ladies' hall | “Evening dresses — abayas may be removed inside” | The hall is private and women-only |
Write one dress line, not three. If the code needs explaining, put the explanation on the guest's invitation page instead of the card.
Where to put the rules: card, message or invitation page
The notes belong at the foot of the card, smaller than the details, in the same language as the rest of the card. Keep them to one or two lines; a card with five rules reads like a list of complaints.
- On the card: the essentials — ladies only, adults only, no photos.
- In the WhatsApp message: nothing. The message greets and invites; let the card carry the rules.
- On the invitation page: the details — dress code, where phones are handed in, parking. With Send invitations, each guest gets their own invitation page with room for a personal message from you and a dress code line.
The studio has fine-line icons you can place next to a rule — a “no photos” camera, a child, a coat hanger for the dress code — so the line reads at a glance on a phone screen.
A complete card with notes
Mr. and Mrs. Rashid Al Suwaidi invite you to the wedding of their daughter Latifa Friday, 18 December 2026 · 8:00 pm Al Jawaher Reception Hall, Sharjah Ladies only · Photography is not permitted in the hall We kindly request an adults-only celebration
Together with their families Priya & Arjun invite you to celebrate their wedding Saturday, 12 December 2026 · 6:00 pm The Westin Mina Seyahi, Dubai Dress code: Indian formal We love your little ones, but this is an adults-only evening
How to say it in Arabic
For an Arabic card the usual lines are «نعتذر عن اصطحاب الأطفال» (we apologise, no children) and «يمنع التصوير» (no photography). The Arabic version of this article has many more, from the formal «يُمنع اصطحاب الأطفال والجوالات ذات الكاميرا» to softer, Gulf-style wording — switch the language at the top of the page.
نعتذر عن اصطحاب الأطفال We kindly request an adults-only celebration
Putting the notes on your card
- Choose a design in the studio and write the details.
- Add one or two notes in a smaller line at the foot of the card.
- Place a fine-line icon beside the line if you like.
- Download the card, or send it with Send invitations and put the longer explanations on the guest's invitation page.
Ready when you are
Questions people ask
How do you politely say no kids at a wedding?
Describe the evening rather than give an order: “We kindly request an adults-only celebration.” Naming the seats reserved for the guest (“We have reserved 2 seats in your honour”) makes it clearer still.
Is it rude to say no children on a wedding invitation?
No — it is ruder to leave it unsaid and turn families away at the door. One kind line at the foot of the card is enough.
How do I ask guests not to use phones at my wedding?
Give the reason: privacy in the ladies' hall, or being present for the vows. “To protect the privacy of our guests, photography is not permitted in the ladies' hall.”
Where should the no-kids line go on the card?
At the foot, smaller than the date and venue, in the same language as the rest of the card.
How do I write “no kids” in Arabic?
The polite form is «نعتذر عن اصطحاب الأطفال». The formal form is «يُمنع اصطحاب الأطفال».
Should the dress code go on the card or the invitation page?
One short line on the card; any explanation on the invitation page.
