Plus one for one?

If he’s the officiant he should have a plus one. I mean anyone in a long term relationship should get a plus one unless u have a strict capacity. i would not attend a wedding if my fiance wasnt invited and i know he wouldnt either

I would grant him the plus one. It's really not about you knowing her, it's about him having someone to talk to besides you and your FH...he can't be glued to your side for the entire reception. I would say the same for anyone else attending the wedding. Unless you have a strict capacity issue, it's really not for anyone else to decide how serious a relationship is and you want people to mingle, not feel out of place because the two of you are the only people they know at the wedding.

She's not considered a plus one as she is his girlfriend and they are considered a social unit. They should have been invited together the first time, regardless if you have met her or not. I would absolutely extend the invitation to her; not only is it polite, but he's your officiant! As Queen Cone said above, I would be very hurt and would not attend a wedding in which my fiance was not invited.

I think since he's a close friend and has been with his SO for over a year he should get a plus one. One of my best friends from college is in a long term relationship and I've never met him but she still is getting a plus one because it's not like they want it just to bring a random date

Girlfriends aren't considered plus ones. Plus ones are for people who aren't in relationship. His girlfriend should definitely be invited as they are a couple and should be invited as a social unit. You are asking him to come and celebrate your relationship while ignoring his. All of your guests that are in relationships should be able to attend with their significant. It doesn't matter if they live together or not.

I agree since he's the officiant i would just give it to him - though i kind of think it's weird he didn't say anything beforehand

Plus Ones are for single people. He is not single, and his girlfriend should be included. Your fiance is approaching it correctly.

Like everyone else said, a girl friend is not a "plus one"; they should have originally been invited as a social unit. It's completely irrelevant that you haven't met her or that they don't live together. Not to mention you wouldn't even be getting married without this man's help (since he's officiating), the very least you can do is respect his relationship.

"No one else is getting a plus one so that's where I'm torn, because that's not fair to anyone else."

This statement makes me want to ask you how many other people on your guest list are you not allowing to bring their partners?

This is very confusing. I'm not sure why you're considering this person a plus one, if they are in a relationship and have been dating for a year and a half. This sounds like a serious relationship. I think you should definitely invite your officiant's girlfriend

They’re in a relationship, she isn’t a plus one. All couples should be invited together.

I would definitely grant the plus one for the officiant. Because he's your friend and officiant.

View Quoted Comment Exactly this!!!

Unless you're paying him to officiate your wedding, he gets to bring his girlfriend. They've been together a long time, and they're a couple, so it's not a "plus one." If you have told other close friends that they can't bring their S.O.'s then that's a pretty large etiquette blunder. Unless your guest is really and truly single (in which case it is a plus one) they should be invited together. He deserves someone to talk to and hang out with. Again, unless you're hiring him in a professional capacity she needs to come. If he's your close enough friend to officiate your wedding then you should want her there to make him happy!

I was told that we were to invite the officiant and his/her significant other. That that was the common practice. It doesnt hurt to invite her.

Couples are a social unit, and they've been together a long time. It doesn't matter that they're not living together. On top of that, he's also involved in the ceremony. It's good etiquette to give everyone in the bridal party a plus one regardless of relationship status, and there's no reason not to extend that to the officiant, especially when that person is a friend. It's also clearly very important to him since he brought it up. I agree with the others who said she should have been invited from the start. If he's important enough to officiate, his feelings and relationship should be important enough to respect. Not including a friend's girlfriend is hurtful. If someone were to invite me to a wedding and not my significant other, I would wonder why they disliked him so much (especially having never met him), be hurt and angry, and not attend. I give him a lot of credit for asking you at all. The answer should've been an immediate yes along with an apology.

View Quoted Comment

I missed that part when I first read the post, but I absolutely echo this question! Significant others are not plus ones. They're partners and one half of a social unit. They need to be invited together. Excluding one partner is incredibly rude and insulting to both parts of the couple.

Of course she should be invited. They've been dating for a year and a half! She's not a plus one, she's a SO (significant other). You're using the term plus one wrong. A plus one is what you give a single person, allowing them to bring a guest of their choosing so that they have a companion for the event. They're nice to do but not required. A SO, however, is always required to be invited. People in a relationship are considered a social unit and should always be invited together for social events. She should have already been invited. It does not matter whether or not you have met her. She is important to him and is part of his social unit, therefore she gets invited with him. The fact that he's also your officiant and doing you the honor of marrying you is just an extra reason his partner needs to be invited to the wedding.

We didn’t do a lot of plus ones. A plus one is for single people to bring a date or friend so they aren’t alone. We invited everyone’s partners / significant others because they’re couples. We met a few girlfriends and boyfriends on the day which was honestly nice. I’ve been the “girlfriend we haven’t met” left of the invite before and trust me, it’s no fun. I would definitely invite his girlfriend. He’s playing an important role in your wedding I think it’s beyond fair to acknowledge his relationship too by including his partner.

She should be invited! They are a couple that have been in a long term relationship and it would rude to not invite her as well. Plus, your officiant is your best friend so I’m confused on why you were caught off guard of him wanting to bring his girlfriend?