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A video appearing to show several children gatecrashing a bride and groom's first dance has been held up online as further proof of why kids should be excluded from weddings.
The footage was posted to TikTok by DJ Maniak, who is regularly hired to play at social events like weddings. The caption accompanying the clip read: "It's okay to say no kids trust me." Watch it here.
The video has already been watched over 2.8 million times with many viewing it as a perfect example of why children should be kept away.
They aren't alone in expressing that sentiment either. Joy, a digital wedding planning platform, recently surveyed over 1,300 users and found that 74 percent felt it was totally normal for couples to want a kid-free wedding. Interestingly, 72 percent also agreed it was normal for couples planning a wedding to compromise on a "no kids" rule for family or very close friends.
However, if the comments attached to DJ Maniak's video are anything to go by, most appear in favor of a blanket ban. In the video, at least 10 different children can be seen interrupting the happy couple's first dance. While the kids largely stay around the edges of the dance floor, they can be seen moving in on several occasions to interact with the smoke generated by a nearby machine.
As the newlyweds dance on, oblivious, the situation worsens with several boys filmed jumping around them. Another larger group of young girls can also be seen attempting to play with the smoke, while some child noise is audible in the footage.
It's difficult to know what any official video of the couple's first dance will look like, but, based on the DJ's view of things, any footage is likely to have been disrupted.
Whatever the case, viewers on social media were quick to slam the idea of having kids at a wedding. Jennifer Giuffre388 said "This is the exact reason we had an adult only wedding" with Outtpig writing: "No children weddings are my favorite."
MaddieMaddie0732 commented "As someone who has kids, i will not be having them at my wedding" while jqb18 wrote: "I'm so embarrassed for the parents...people need to do better."
Elsewhere, Jaymtz562 responded: "My fiancé and I aren't having kids at our wedding. People are mad but at the end of the day we paid for it with OUR own money Weddings ain't cheap."
But while those commenting on the clip appeared vehemently opposed to having children at weddings, Gloria Darko, founder of U.K.-based My Wedding Fixer, believes there is definitely a place for kids at events of this kind.
Darko told Newsweek: "Children bring joy and can add a huge amount of fun to the atmosphere of a wedding day."
"I personally love the additional touch of having kids play a part in the wedding day, whether as part of the bridal party walking down the aisle or assigning them smaller roles such as handing out the confetti," she said.
Darko believes the key to successfully integrating kids into a wedding day is planning.
"If children are to attend it is recommended you make some special provisions for them to avoid any mishaps," she said. "Having kid-friendly entertainment, a creche or designated play area tends to work well in keeping kids occupied and therefore parents happy."
Even so, she said it's ultimately the choice of the happy couple.
"Over the years I have encountered multiple reasons why people choose not to involve kids in a wedding: lack of space, tight budget or even wanting to have it as an opportunity for adults to let their hair down without the kids in tow," Darko said.
"Whatever you decide as a couple it must be right for you and the type of the day you choose to have."
About the writer
Jack Beresford is a Newsweek Senior Internet Culture & Trends Reporter, based in London, UK. His focus is reporting on ... Read more