Does every guest get a plus 1?

We didn't have a very fancy wedding, so we let people bring 1 if they wished. They asked me first, but I did not address it as "Ms.X and Guest" officially on most of them.

I invited kids...so yeah I included almost everyone for my wedding.

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But of course, if it was an expensive venue and out of my budget, no, I would not invite plus ones, unless they were married, engaged, or living together, or serious bf/gf (on a case by case basis).

This is why if most of my coworkers were already married, I know I'd have to invite all or none...but I would not invite their kids. There has to be a line drawn somewhere.

You should invite in groups and not invite in groups, as it is less likely that you will offend people accidentally.

Ok, so how do you put it on the invite that there is no plus 1 unless it's serious?

I would be a little miffed if I got invited to a wedding and couldn't bring a guest. That's just me though.

I came across a post today on this very thing!

http://2000dollarwedding.com/2010/02/q-turning-away-1-guests.html

I can see it both ways though. If I wanted to go to a wedding and I couldn't bring a date, I might feel "alone".

I am still deciding...I think we are going to add plus ones esp for FH's side of the guest list, bc his friends are more established in their relationships, then most of my friends.

I had a friend who didn't originally invite plus ones, bc she wasn't sure how her guest list was going to work out but then when she got some declines, she went back to some of her single friends and told us we could bring someone. I thought that worked out fine. I didn't end up bringing FH and I had a blast with my other friends.

Ok, so how do you put it on the invite that there is no plus 1 unless it's serious?

You don't. You address the invitation to the people you are inviting. If the person is in a relationship, you add their SO's name. If they aren't, you don't put "guest."

We don't want people thinking they have to find a date so what we are doing is long term relationships. Both names will be on the invite and we won't be putting "and guest" on any of them.

If you know the plus one well enough to put them on the invitation, then they should be invited. Your our to town guests should have the option too. But I agree; just inviting everyone to bring someone, 'serious' or not raises your cost in a huge way and includes a whole bunch of people in your wedding that you don't even know!

A wedding is an event for your family and friends, not a dating outing. Invite those you want to; if they have a signifcant partner, invite them too. Besides that? You have no obligation.

HPFanatic-Thanks!

There really isn't a right or wrong answer here - it's up to you and your fiance (and perhaps whoever is footing the bill for your wedding). Many wedding planners will tell you that people enjoy themselves more at weddings if they have someone else there to enjoy it with. While there's probably a lot of truth to this, we are only allowing our friends/cousins/etc. to bring guests if they are 1) over 21 and 2) in a serious relationship.

It would be ideal to allow every guest to bring a guest, but the reality is that most budgets just don't allow for this (like ours). Just use common sense and look at each person on a case-by-case basis. You do not have to do the same for everyone, given that all your guests likely have very different situations relationship-wise.

We are giving plus ones to all single adult guests. It brought our guest list pretty high and we had to cut off some people we would have liked to invite if we had the budget, but it was more important to us that the people who were there felt completely comfortable, even if the plus one they brought was just a good friend. From a guest standpoint, I've had much more fun at weddings I brought a guest too (even just a same-gender buddy) than when I was invited as a single only. I think it's worth considering how outgoing your single invitees are. If they are too shy to just start partying with everyone else, they're likely to feel very uncomfortable during the reception.

I was told, and it makes sense that you do whatever is in your heart and your wallet

That said, it is really nice and almost important to give anyone who won't know anyone else a plus one.

Other than that, most people understand.

I have a few friends from college who have moved away, hardly talk anymore but I still consider them to be great friends plus they now have boyfriends who I have never met. Personally, I knew if I just invite my college friends and not their dates, they will still have a great time because there will be other guests from college that they know as well. If they are angry, they will get over it. Is it wrong to not invite their date? (Basically I don't want to pay an arm and a leg for someone I have never met and will never be close to).