Bridal Party - They don't WANT a plus one?

You can't force someone to bring a plus one. It is polite to leave the option open for them just incase something changes before the wedding. Some people may not want to bring a plus one, and that's ok. It's just important that the option be there should that change.

I have two MOH, but are married. Neither are bringing their husbands. FH's BM is not dating anyone, so is not bringing anyone either. The only two co-workers that are invited, who are sort of honorary BP, but not standing up with us are also not bringing dates. They know our budget is very tight and volunteered that information (I was prepared for plus ones.).

A lot can change in 11 months. Maybe now they can't imagine bringing a date who doesn't know anyone, but they could start dating someone who they can't imagine going without, and that someone may even have time to meet your other friends. Scattered around the Poconos isn't so far that it's inconceivable that you all could meet each other's potential SOs. It's best if you keep the option open for them to bring a plus one, but of course it's fine if they choose not to do so.

I think leave the door open for them if they want to great if they don't that's fine too. This past August I went to a wedding where my FH was a groomsmen and I new absolutely no one it was so awkward for me. I really would have loved to stay home since I'm not good at small talk with people I don't know. They also had a head a table with the bridal party so I spent most of the night alone just observing the party. That's me though some people are great with socializing and love meeting new people so I say leave the option open

I am leaving the door open - if any of them start to date ANYONE I am usually the gatekeeper who gets introduced first - then I start introducing them to the rest of the folks. I love people and meeting people so having a stranger at the wedding would be more fun for me than not (though my the bank account would protest).

I would LOVE for them to all bring someone but I obviously can't/won't force them.

I just wasn't sure if their was a prevailing attitude or not among single friends/ BP folks. =)

I had a lot say the same thing, and I love them for it. I told them, if anything changes in the 6 months to let me know and we will get their guest on the list.

This actually sounds very smart of them! Still leave them the option, but if they don't want to bring anyone that's totally fine. I've been to some looonely weddings where FH was a groomsman but I didn't know very many people there, lots of hanging out in the hotel room by myself and awkwardly going alone to the ceremony!

Most of mine said this as well. The single ones pretty much said the same thing - they didn't want to have to be busy all day and leave their date to do things on their own while they were busy all day until they could finally hang out at the reception. Keep the option open but don't worry about it. Sometimes people have more fun without it.

That's pretty common, I extended all my guests a plus one, and only about 25% accepted. I'm confused at what you're asking, this happens quite frequently.

When I was a MOH, myself and another BM said we didn't want a plus 1 and then the bride was able to invite a couple of our friends from high school who otherwise would not have made the list. I can't imagine having to pay attention to a date that day in addition to helping my friend get married. I wasn't seeing anyone, and neither was the other BM. We didn't think anything of it.

Give them the plus ones and count their potential dates in your numbers just in case. You never know, they could change their minds. All 4 of our groomsmen were single at the time of creating the guest list and 2 were in serious relationships by the time of the wedding. They still didn't end up bringing dates, but they seriously considered it and we'd always counted on them doing so, so it wouldn't have been a problem if they did.

All my BMs declined their plus ones too'. For four of them it was a long trip here - 3 flew in, one drove all the way from Wisconsin. So their spouses/boyfriends chose not to spend that much money or time. And my SIL is local but didn't want to bring a date because she wouldn't be able to sit with him, and whoever it was, he wouldn't have known most of our guests.

Bonus. Don't make them.

I mean honestly when you're in the BP you don't see your date for much of the evening. So if I were single I certainly wouldn't want to bring a date that I would feel I was ignoring for so much of the time. The only possibility would be if someone was traveling a long ways to be there I could see wanting a travel buddy so in that spot I would likely bring one of my parents because they are fun to hang out with and wouldn't mind being ignored for a bit plus would really enjoy the traveling part (I mean personally, I could easily just come alone but I could see that being an option). Overall, I think your BMs just realize whoever they brought would be left to entertain themselves for quite a while and so they don't see a point. I would do the same in their shoes.

Yeah this is quite common. I extended a plus one to everyone at my wedding and the only people that brought someone were the ones in serious relationships. I would still give them a plus one. Like some PP said, a lot can change in 11 months. If they don't use it, great!

We had 6 groomsmen and 3 bridesmaids. None of them brought a plus one. Win-win all around.

Back in my single days, a wedding was a great place to meet someone, or at least have a little fun for a night. At the very least, when you're a bridesmaid it's fun to hang out with all the other single bridesmaids. I never brought a plus one unless I had a boyfriend. I still think it's nice to give the bridal party the option.

@SugarTango - I honestly think your friends are being incredibly logical. I was in two weddings this summer for a couple of my closest friends. I was newly single and it didn't make any sense to me to bring along a date who would need to fend for themselves for the majority of the wedding. These were weddings where I had tons of friends / knew the families, so I also wanted to be able to dance and have fun with them! That sounds like what your friends are thinking ~

Thanks everyone - I didn't really have a question. I just wanted to gauge if this was a common attitude among wedding goers!

I'm pretty sure that if they don't want plus ones, you can't make them do it. LOL