How to Tactfully Say “No Siblings, Please” on a Birthday Invitation

Lots of families simply can’t afford to take a “the more the merrier” approach to parties due to a limited budget or space restrictions. Parents count on RSVPs to provide them with an exact number of how many favors to purchase, how much food and cake to order and even how many kids to account for in activities (most venues these days require hosts to pay per kid). However, saying “no siblings” can sometimes come off a bit too direct and leave a negative feeling, and the last thing a busy birthday party host needs is another thing to stress them out!

Luckily, most guests will understand and respect your request, so it’s just a matter of being thoughtful in how you word your request.

4 Ways to Nicely Say “No Siblings” on a Kids’ Birthday Invitation

‍

1. Add a Brief Explanation + End on a High Note

‍

A simple “Due to space limitations at the party venue, we cannot accommodate siblings” note makes it clear that this is a practical decision and is in no way personal. But you can also opt for a more detailed message if you wish!

A few wording ideas to consider:

Although we love your little one’s siblings, we regretfully cannot accommodate them due to restricted numbers.

Limited guest list due to space and logistics. Parents are welcome, but unfortunately no additional siblings.

Due to event space size, we are unable to accommodate siblings at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience. We hope to see you there!

To ensure that we can provide the best experience for all the little ones attending, we kindly request that this event be for invited children only.

To help make the celebration extra special for everyone, we kindly request that this event be for invited children only.

‍

2. If You Think You May Have Space for Siblings, Let Guests Know (Without Promising Anything)

‍

If there’s a chance that you may be able to accommodate more guests (and want to), you can consider offering up the possibility of allowing siblings to attend. But make it clear that this isn’t a given.

A few wording ideas to consider:

We’ll let you know if there are any slots left over for siblings.

Once we receive a final headcount of our invited guests, we’ll let you know if we have room for siblings to attend, too.

We have a large guest list, but if some kids aren’t able to attend, we’ll let you know if there’s room for your child’s sibling(s) at the party.

‍

3. Consider Offering an “If Needed” Sibling Invitation to Parents Who Don’t Have Childcare

‍

Some parents may not be able to secure childcare for their child’s sibling(s). If you can, consider extending an invitation to the sibling in this situation so your child’s friend can attend.

A few wording ideas to consider:

Our headcount is limited. If you need a sibling to attend with your child, please let me know in advance. Thanks!

Due to limited space, we kindly ask that only the child who’s invited attend. If you need a sibling to attend, please reach out to me in advance. Thanks!

4. Try to Add Wording That Captures the Essence of the Party

‍

While clear and simple wording leaves no questions left unanswered, you can also take a softer approach and imply “no siblings” without explicitly stating that. This could result in additional guests showing up, so we recommend this direction only if you’re comfortable with that possibility occurring!

‍

A few wording ideas to consider:

‍

You're invited to an intimate party.

{Child’s name} is inviting all of their closest friends to their birthday party!

Join close family and friends for a small birthday party!

Party planning should be fun, not stressful (especially when it involves your amazing kiddo)! Letting guests know about your wishes ahead of time saves you from dealing with a lot of last-minute adjustments and unforeseen issues. It also makes things easier for them, too! Looking for more kids’ birthday party invitation wording tips and suggestions? Check out these birthday party message ideas before you send your birthday invites!