We promised the same child-free wedding rule to everyone. How do we explain a baby exception now?
Weddings"I've already paid the sitter," my cousin said. "You told me there were no exceptions." I had. Those were my exact words when she asked about bringing her four- and six-year-old children.
Now my sister says she won't attend without her baby, who will be about eight weeks old at the wedding. She isn't demanding a place; she says that's what attending would involve for her. I want her there, and my partner is comfortable with the baby coming.
My cousin heard about it when Mum mentioned buying a small outfit. She thinks being close family has won my sister an exception that nobody else was allowed to discuss. I said a newborn was different, which didn't answer why I'd been so definite with her.
We aren't considering opening the reception to all children. It's a small evening meal followed by dancing, and several parents have arranged an adult night out. I also don't want to turn my sister's feeding arrangements into a family debate.
How do we change what we said honestly? I can accept that my cousin may still be annoyed. I don't know whether offering to contribute to her sitter would acknowledge the inconvenience or make this feel like a dispute we're trying to pay away.