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Savvy June 2023

First Cousin Plus One

Kara, on April 24, 2019 at 7:37 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 14

Wondering if you guys could give me some insight on this plus one situation. We're having a pretty large wedding (250 people) and are really tight on the numbers (we're about to be over already). We haven't sent out invitations yet. I have about 7 first cousins total, all of whom I grew up with (we have many events during the years) although we were never extremely close as to actually hangout outside of these. I'm a lot older than some of them.


Does every first cousin need a plus one? I'm giving plus ones to everyone who is in a serious relationship (living together), but my one cousin is 21 years old and while she has been dating someone for almost 3 years (and talks about marriage), they're still in college and don't technically live together. Keep in mind that this family (my aunt and uncle) have been VERY generous to me over the years. Should she get to bring this boyfriend? There's another cousin who is the exact same age as her but isn't dating anyone - if we invite her boyfriend do we need to give my other cousin a plus one?

14 Comments

Latest activity by Lady, on April 25, 2019 at 2:04 PM
  • Jenna
    Super October 2019
    Jenna ·
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    The cousin's boyfriend should definitely be included (by name on the invitation). The single cousin who is the same age (or any age) does not need a plus one.

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  • LB
    Champion November 2016
    LB ·
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    Significant others are not plus ones. They should be invited by name. I can't imagine not inviting a SO who has been with my guest for THREE YEARS. Really you should be inviting anyone in a relationship regardless of if they live together or how long they've been together. It's not your job to judge how serious someone else's relationship is...
    As far as the other cousin and anyone else not in a relationship, it is your choice whether you want to extend the plus one. If they dont know a lot of people I would 100% give them a plus one. But if they'll know a lot of people it's a little more of a grey area.
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  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    Anyone in a relationship should be invited with their s/o. You don’t get to decide whose relationship is serious and whose isn’t.
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  • Colleen
    Dedicated May 2020
    Colleen ·
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    If you have met her boyfriend and spent time with him (birthdays, holidays, etc) then I think you should. Other cousins the same age who are not in relationships do not need plus ones.
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  • Jordan
    Expert September 2019
    Jordan ·
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    I would give a plus one to the cousin in a relationship but not the one who is single. That’s our rule, at least.
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  • Courtney
    Master December 2019
    Courtney ·
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    We're adhering to the "no ring, no bring" rule for our cousins. Even though yes some cousins may be in serious relationships, we've never met them. For example one of my cousins (who is local to me) had been dating a guy for over 5 years and I've never met him, I don't even know the guy's last name!

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  • karen
    Master October 2017
    karen ·
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    I think you have to invite spouses and fiances. anything else is optional

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  • Cara
    Expert July 2019
    Cara ·
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    If she’s been in a serious relationship for that long I would invite her significant other (with his name on the invitation). I wouldn’t consider that a plus one since they have been together for an extended period of time. Any cousins that are not in a relationship I don’t think require a +1 at all. We invited significant others but did not give any family members a +1 if they weren’t in a relationship.
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  • CDickman
    VIP September 2019
    CDickman ·
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    Yes 3 years is serious he needs a plus one. People choose not to live together for man reasons,
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  • Mandi
    Master October 2020
    Mandi ·
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    I've been engaged for 2 months and I've only been with my fiance for 2.5 years.
    I would absolutely be offended if he or I were left out of a family event because we aren't living together yet.
    Put his name on that invite.
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  • Sarah
    Dedicated September 2019
    Sarah ·
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    Definitely invite him! I was in a smilie situation when I was with my ex. We had been dating about 8 months and were what I considered pretty serious. He had met my entire family and had been a part of holidays, birthday parties etc. We had a family member get married and did not offer me a plus one, but offered one to my first cousin who was not engaged or living with his girlfriend either, they had just been dating a year or two at the time. I didn’t even end up going to the wedding.

    Its not up to you to judge the seriousness of their relationship. If all the other cousins get to bring significant others, I would imagine this one would be pretty hurt if she couldn’t bring her boyfriend of three years just because they don’t live together yet. They could end up engaged soon and her boyfriend will be part of your family It’s not worse the tension that could arise honestly.
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  • Paige
    Beginner May 2019
    Paige ·
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    I'm going to go against the majority here and tell you that no, you don't have to invite their significant others because they can attend the wedding with their families. We are in the same boat as you. Our guest list was maxed out at 220 and both myself and my fiance have large families. I did the math and if we gave every cousin a "plus one" that would be an additional 27 people. We addressed the invitations to our aunts and uncles as "The Jones Family" even for adult cousins. I get that this might be an unpopular opinion but its what we did. If it came down to choosing my 19 year old cousins boyfriend who I've never met or my college roommate, I picked the person I actually knew. We are getting some flack for it, so just be prepared.

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  • Talia
    Super October 2020
    Talia ·
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    Tough choice, so my first cousins, I have 2 I've known my whole life. When we get married we they will be 15 and 20. The 15 year old most definitely will not get any plus or guest and the 20 year old has been with her BF for a very long time and he's invited. Two years ago, we found out my poppop, my dad's father, had another daughter which she has 2 daughters. We've all gotten together recently except my poppop since he passed away 2 years ago. I was thinking of inviting his daughter, her bf and then the daughters 2 daughters with the one's husband and the other daughter who ever she's dating, if dating anybody. Since they really don't know anybody there, that would be great giving them a plus one. I would say just go for inviting their significant other unless they're really young like my cousin haha.

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  • L
    Lady ·
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    You should definitely invite the boyfriend (by name...he is not a "plus one"). you do not need to give the single cousin a plus one.

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