Are guests allowed to bring who they want in place of their spouse?

I had someone ask me if she could bring her sister instead of her husband because he is an OTR truck driver and I said yes. I would be upset if someone didn't bother asking me and RSVP'd for their spouse then brought someone else instead.. it's just kind of rude but I wouldn't make it a big problem at the wedding. I'm sure I wouldn't even mention it afterwards either if it didn't affect any aspect of my day.

I had one person do this and I was totally fine with it. However, you are well within your rights to say no, unfortunately invites aren't transferable. If this guest doesn't know many other people or has to travel a long way though - i would probably let them bring another guest.

I would say no. If we invite a specific couple, it would be because we want both of those people. I wouldn't be happy with (potentially) a stranger at our wedding that we werent planning on having. If it happens, I would call that couple and ask why they can't both make it. Once they've explained I would tell them that Mrs. Smith is more than welcome to come, but we would feel more comfortable having only our closest friends and family with us, therefore Mr. X would not be invited. The exception to this would be if they asked and cleared it with us beforehand.

I personally think it's fine. For example, I invited a former coworker and her husband to our wedding. Her husband couldn't come and she brought her daughter with her instead. I'm glad that she came and she had someone to have fun with. Didn't affect me one bit. I guess if they know ahead of time, it would be nice if they asked - but I wouldn't say no. At the end of the day that person is your guest and you want them to be comfortable and enjoy the wedding. The only person having a different date than invited affects is the person bringing them.

In my opinion, no. I would probably text/email/call and say "Hey! We got your RSVP, so excited you can make it! Unfortunately we have a set guest list and aren't including plus ones if they aren't originally invited or spouses/significant others of other guests. I hope you can still make it, just let me know!"

They shouldn’t do this, but “allowed” is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. If they show up day of with someone else, there really isn’t anything to be done. If they rsvp with someone else’s name , you would be within your right to say “I’m sorry if there was a misunderstanding— the invite was only meant for you and your husband. We are not able to accommodate other guests. We hope this won’t change you ability to attended , but please let us know if it does” ...but , in some cases that may be more drama than it is worth. If it was someone who wouldn’t know other people at the wedding, I’d always be inclined to honor their guest, since I just want everyone to be happy and comfortable so they can have a good time at my wedding.

That has happened two me twice but Mrs is bringing her adult daughter to accompany her in place of her husband and I was fine with it for two main reasons: 1- it doesn’t add to head count
and 2- She is coming from out of town and I can understand she doesn’t want to travel alone. So I guess it depends on who they want to invite, family Ok but a friend I never met, not so sure.

If you allocated 2 seats for them does it really matter? If the spouse can't make it I wouldn't mind if they brought someone else so they don't have to travel alone.

I don’t really see the big deal about it. Yeah, it’s not who you intended to be there, but you also had already budgeted for that seat. It’s not costing you any extra money, and chances are you’ll be so busy and in happy newly wedded bliss that you won’t even notice the stranger. While it may seem annoying, I don’t think it’s something worth causing drama about (not that you being annoyed is drama, I meant those who may be unhappy if you tell them their stranger guest can’t come).

I would only, possibly, allow it if they talked to me about it first. And it depends on what there relationship is. If they don't ask you first, I say automatic no, or make them pay for there extra guest themselves

I don’t see why it would a problem. If you invited 2 people, you already have this other person included in the estimated guest count, you won’t interact with them very much on your wedding day, plus going to a wedding alone is pretty boring.
If you are afraid of other cousins being upset, when they bring it up just explain the situation. You’ll never make everyone happy. Don’t let thins stress you. Let your Aunt bring your cousin (so long as she’s not adding to your guest count).

To be honest I wouldn't mind that but I can see how others are think it's rude

I think it is nice to maybe run it by the couple, but honestly I wouldn't care. It's never fun going solo to a wedding. I'm an introvert, and while I am not completely unable to engage in social conversations with others, I really do appreciate having someone I know with me at those types of events were I don't really know people. Small talk can be exhausting.

Wedding invitations are to specific individuals from the bride and groom; they aren't anonymous concert tickets that can be passed from hand to hand at whim.

It’s completely rude to assume and invite whoever they want without talking to the couple. HOWEVER, at my wedding I had two married couples who had a spouse who couldn’t come to the wedding. Both woman whose husbands couldn’t come wouldn’t have known many other people besides their husbands so I told them to bring a friend if it made them feel more comfortable. These woman were so relieved to know they could still attend without feeling uncomfortable. I didn’t feel like it was a big deal as I was already planning on my budget for the extra person to be there. Yes it was my day but I also wanted my guests to feel comfortable or I knew I wouldn’t have as much fun.

I wouldn’t care, unless their replacement was someone I really don’t like. Otherwise, it’s the same as a Plus One situation for me - I want all our guests to feel comfortable and to have fun at our wedding, and if it makes them happy by bringing someone else in lieu of their spouse who can’t attend, totally fine by me! Again with the asterisk that they don’t bring someone I don’t like. LOL

I would say it depends on who they’re bringing in their place. My mom has taken me in place of my dad to weddings they were invited to, but always with permission.

I had a few people do this as well. I don’t really mind, i see at the same as someone single bringing a plus one that you may not know

I get not wanting "strangers" at your wedding, but inevitably there might be some. I haven't met some of my cousins significant other's yet. Same with this. The spot is already planned to be accounted/payed for. It wouldn't matter to me especially if it a guest that is traveling.

Oh gosh, I'd hope they'd ask your permission first at the very least! You deserve to have that input. I wouldn't want a rando at my wedding, but I also know that in the grand scheme of things it wouldn't directly affect me on the day of--though I'd personally be salty about the $$ I could have saved on that one seat they took the initiative to fill themselves.