Bridesmaid w/ a new boyfriend-- invite him?

You should absolutely invite him. I think that the wedding party should always be given a plus one if they don't have an SO already.

Regardless of how long your other bridesmaids have been with their SO, they are still extended a "Plus One". Therefore, she deserves one as well.

Also, I wouldn't worry what he does during the time she's with you either... he's an adult and can fend for himself.

I agree with PPs. Rule of thumb is if a guest has a significant other they get invited by name on the invitation. Bridal party always gets a guest, regardless of if they’re dating. You can obviously do what you want, but personally if someone is important enough to be in my bridal party, then without a doubt they get option of brining someone.

I believe that the wedding party should always have the option to bring a plus one. Don't look at it as he's a stranger look at it as he's important to someone who's important to you!!

To be honest, I wouldn’t. You already feel iffy about it and it’s your wedding day. There’s some friends that we have that have a significant other and we have never met. I wouldn’t want to pay for an expensive plate for someone I don’t know. That’s just my personal opinion.

I've heard some people use a one year rule for plus ones. If they haven't been together for a year, they don't get the plus one. That being said, she is a member of your party, is it possible to gently explain to her your concerns? I wouldn't want someone I barely knew in my photos either.

Are you prepared for potential issues in your friendship with her if you choose not to invite him? IMO, if one of my closest friends decided my relationship was significant enough for my SO to be invited after I’ve spent tons of money to be in the wedding, I’d probably be rethinking how close of a friend that person really is.

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That is essentially the "rule" we've been abiding by for the whole wedding guest list. No one has an empty plus one. If someone has a significant other invited, they're invited by name and are a serious relationship. I don't think we put an exact cap on it, but there are pretty clear lines of serious relationships and not. As for my bridal party, I didn't know of and haven't abided by the rule of everyone gets a plus one. Had I known that, I wouldn't have asked 10 bridesmaids

I see on WW so frequently the idea of breaking traditions and outdated rules. I guess I'm starting to think if the whole bridal party getting plus ones is one I'm going to stick to. A lot of our bridal party is single and not dating anyone and if they did bring someone I think most would be random people just because they got the number. Obviously I'd be much more willing to invite a new boyfriend but allowing all members to bring anyone? That seems crazy to me, but it looks like I'm in the wrong.

Unless he is a groomsman or a member of the family, I don’t see why he would be in any photos. You do need to support your friend and invite him, and let them worry about the logistics of what he’ll do while his gf is getting ready. Maybe he doesn’t even want to go or will just see you guys at the ceremony, like the rest of your non-WP invited guests.

I suggest you allow her to bring him. She’ll be happier and I doubt his presence will effect you much. Also once dinner is over they’ll have plenty of time to hang out at the reception and if he’s anything like my FH he’ll be fine watching tv at the hotel while she’s busy doing wedding party things that day. I’m a big fan of giving out plus ones if you can afford it. People generally have a better time if they can bring someone. Especially if you don’t have a ton of single friends.

Significant others are not "plus ones." People in relationships (married or not) are a social unit and should be invited together. Who are you to judge the seriousness of her relationship? It should be even more reason to invite him since she won't know anyone else there so she feels more comfortable.

She is a bridesmaid so I say she should definitely get to bring him (if he wants to come along and spend the time you mentioned alone). People in the wedding party should always get to bring a guest.

She should get a plus one because she's also traveling and it's nice to have a traveling partner. Not only is she in your bridal party and paying for what is involved with that she's also traveling. Day of I'm guessing he'd probably just hang back in the hotel like most partners of the bridal party would do?

Thanks for the input! Feel like this definitely came across wrong, but that tends to happen since I have much more context about the situation than I'm writing. She goes through bouts of new boyfriends every few weeks, each one more serious than the next. She knows all of my other bridesmaids, but he doesn't know anyone here in the city they're traveling to, etc. It's good to know this is typically expected-- just something I didn't know when putting together my bridal party.

View Quoted Comment But if she’s still with him in September when your invitations go out, she’ll have been with him for nearly 4 months.

I think everyone should be able to bring their significant other, even if it's a new relationship. That person could end up being her fiance/husband.

My husband and I were engaged after 11 months, and I would have been really insulted if I got left off of a guest list because we hadn't been together for a year.

And by the time wedding invitation time rolls around, they would have been dating for 4 months which is approaching long term status.

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That's a good point! Why I mentioned we have some time to feel it out. Just was hoping for some input as I was thrown off guard at the question being asked right after meeting him.

If they are still together when invites go out he should be invited by name. Anyone invited to your wedding should be invited with their significant other regardless of the amount of time they have been together. Relationships all have different timelines and it isn't fair to judge the seriousness of their relationship based on the time which they've known each other. It is unfair to ask someone to support you in your commitment/relationship but, to devalue theirs by not inviting their partner.

Members of the bridal party should have a plus one anyway so, it shouldn't even be a problem.

View Quoted Comment So I wouldn't worry about it at all until you send your invitations. If she's still with him at that time, he gets the invite too. He can worry about himself while you all are getting ready. If he attends, I see no reason why he needs to be in any formal pictures.

Bridal party always get to bring a guest, it is their choice to bring someone or not... in my opinion. She may bring him, or the next boyfriend or be there solo. As long as she lets you know by the RSVP deadline.