How long dating before listing name on invite?

Personally, unless it was an established relationship (live together, engaged or married) I would not list the girl/boyfriend on the invitation. I would write the invitation as John Smith and guest.

I ran into a lot of that with doing my STD as well. I decided in the end to do all my STD by family even if the person was single. For example it would be Smith Family. I know it's weird if you single without kids, but I don't have many guest like that maybe one or two.

By the time your wedding comes around, they will have been together almost a year, so I'd list her name. That way it's clear that you're inviting them as a couple, but if they break up before then, it doesn't give your cousin free reign to bring a random date--unless that's OK with you. In general, I think if they are an established couple, both parties should be invited.

If you're sending STDs now, I would put John Smith and guest. If they're still dating by the time you're sending wedding invites, you might want to put her name on it too.

For the most part, I agree with KitandKaboodle, but there's a few couples i know who are dating and don't live together but have been together for a *very* long time and are serious. Example: My brother and his GF have been dating for almost 7 years but don't live together because of jobs/grad school, etc.

You don't need to indicate "and guest" on an std. Just address it to your friend. For invitations, all SO's should be named, no matter how long they have been dating.

Is this person close to you? If you haven't met the girl, INMHO you don't have to invite her... when it comes to wedding time and they are still dating I would invite her...but on save the date, you can just put his name. (nothing wrong with adding a "and guest" on the actual invite). But, taking the "and guest" away is considered rude...

If you have met her, I would put "and guest" on the save the date anyway.

Agree with Lori, you don't need to indicate guests on STDs.

If you haven't met her personally, I would just address the STD to him only. If they're still together when it comes time to send out invites then add her name to the invite.

For Out of Town Save the dates it's smart to put & Guest so the traveler can know in advance they will have that option.

Here's how I did it: if the couple was engaged, both names were on it OR if they are dating & living together and both guests would have been invited had they not been in a relationship then both names were put.

Other than those two cases it was "and guest"

I would address it to both or put & guest. I received a STD from a friend that didn't have FH's(boyfriend at the time) name on it. I thought that it was weird but I thought there is no way she wouldn't invite him because we lived together. Well come to find out, my first reaction was right and she didn't invite him and said they were only inviting "serious" couples...ummm, excuse me, I thought living together was serious. I think it could potentially leave a bad taste in some people's mouths if they have been together for awhile, living together, you have met them before, etc I think you should address it to both.

Thank you for all your input! I think I will put and guest and then if they are still dating at the time the ceremony invites go out I will include her name.

We have 2 friends in similar situations. I didn't include the gf's name on the STD (sent 6 months in advance) but will if they are still dating when we send out invites in May!

ETA: I just wrote his name on the invite, and did not include "and guest"

He always was getting a guest just didn't know if I should write guest or her name! I agree though I would not go to a wedding if my SO that I had been in a very long relationship with was not invited (unless family)

I would list the names just to be safe. If they end up breaking up, that is something to do deal with later on.

I think including "and guest" is important for guests that are single or you don't know their relationship status. To assume that single guests come alone to a wedding is rude to me. I wouldn't attend a friend's wedding alone of they didn't allow me to bring a date or let me know a date was invited....unless it's a family members wedding....just my opinion. I have planned for all friends that aren't married to come "plus one".