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Charlene
Dedicated May 2022
Charlene, on August 3, 2020 at 8:38 AM

Posted in Etiquette and Advice 28

plain and simple, do I have to let everyone bring a plus one? My mil said I should only let married couples and people in long term relationships bring plus ones, also those elderly who may need a caretaker.
Plain and simple, do I have to let everyone bring a plus one? My mil said I should only let married couples and people in long term relationships bring plus ones, also those elderly who may need a caretaker.

28 Comments

  • J
    Master October 2022
    Jana ·
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    A significant other or spouse is not a plus one. They are an automatic invite. Not all elderly guests have caretakers. Plus ones are completely optional and usually only given if the couple has extra money they can afford an a ton of extra guests. When they are invited, it's under the assumption that the single guests don't know another soul at the party and can't enjoy themselves without a date.


    Skip plus ones for single guests. Also keep in mind that the ceremony is for you and the reception is about your guests' comfort.
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  • JJ12
    Savvy April 2021
    JJ12 ·
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    Agreed- a significant other is not a plus one, they are a unit. My friend has been with her SO for several years and was left off an invite because they weren't married. =( Anyone who doesn't know anyone else at the wedding should also get a plus one (ie. co-workers). I think you can get away with no plus ones for very new relationships and single guests who are family or know other guests. I, personally, would feel terrible if I knew my guests were uncomfortable at my wedding. I'm inviting someone because I care about our friendship/ relationship and want them to have an amazing time celebrating my marriage. That said... don't go into crazy debt with plus ones! Just come at it from a fair perspective.

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  • Hanna
    VIP June 2019
    Hanna ·
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    We did not invite plus ones. But we DID invite all significant others of guests in a relationship. Most of them we knew well and had met before, but there were a number who we met at the wedding for the first time (these were mostly out of town friends, so we never had the opportunity to meet their significant others before). I would definitely recommend inviting all significant others, whether you've met the person or not, but it's perfectly fine to not invite true plus ones, as long as you're consistent and don't grant plus to some and not others.

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  • A
    Super October 2021
    Ashley ·
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    Significant others are not plus ones. Couples are a social unit, and it’s extremely rude to invite one half of a couple. Spouses, fiancé(e)s, boyfriends, and girlfriends should all be invited by name on the invitations.


    Plus ones are given to single guests so that they can have a friend or a date to keep them company. You can skip plus ones. There are exceptions, though. Anyone in the bridal party should get a plus one, and you should consider it for any guests who won’t know anyone else present aside from the bride and/or groom.
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  • Katie
    VIP August 2021
    Katie ·
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    You don't have to let people who are single or in a new relationship bring a plus one. It is nice to let everyone bring plus ones but it's not a requirement especially in these times. If you don't want someone bringing some random person to your wedding then you have every right not to give them a plus one. We are letting all are guests bring someone if they want unless we can only have a certain amount of people do to covid. If we are only allowed a certain amount then single people and people who aren't in a serious relationship will not be getting a plus one. I'd rather some people be a little annoyed because they aren't allowed to bring their flavor of the week to the wedding so I can have all the people there I really want there, then to waste spots on people I don't even know. But that's only if by next year we are still at 50 people max for our wedding do to covid.
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  • KiwiDerbyBride
    VIP May 2015
    KiwiDerbyBride ·
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    Because the reception is literally to thank your guests for coming to your wedding ceremony. You don’t have to give someone’s latest hookup or fling an invitation, but if it’s a committed relationship then they’re not a plus one, the couple is a social unit and both need to be invited. You’re asking people to come and celebrate with you at expense to themselves (it’s not just you - by the time your guests have bought a gift, possibly a new dress and/or shoes, paid for a babysitter and maybe a hotel room for the night, it adds up quickly) and so they need to be hosted properly.

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  • Katie
    VIP August 2021
    Katie ·
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    I agree with this to, but I don't think she is talking about a serious relationship like that. I think she is just only talking about people who bring the fling of the week. But I feel like If you respect and love the people you are inviting then you should care about them being comfortable. Guest give you gifts not only at your wedding but at the bridal shower as well and the least you could do is try and make them feel comfortable at the wedding. You don't need to include a plus one for everyone but you should include a plus one for people you know won't know anyone at the wedding besides you and your husband. Like I said before You don't have to include plus ones for anyone, but it is a nice gesture.
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  • Diane
    Savvy October 2022
    Diane ·
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    I’ve seen the issue of plus ones/extra guests turn into serious drama. It’s a nice gesture but it’s not mandatory. If you know someone is in a LTR then you should allow them to bring a plus one.


    We decided no to plus ones, with a couple exceptions (my Bridesmaid and any of our adult children if they are in a LTR when the invitations go out). My fiancé has a friend who if we allowed plus ones would bring some stripper he finds. And I’m not trying to disparage anyone but we want to keep the Guest list under control (about 60), if his friend can bring some random stripper then that’s one less person we care about that has to come off the guest list.
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