To avoid confusion for guests who don't have a plus-one, you could also include the phrase “We have reserved 1 seat in your honour” or “Number of guests attending: 1” on your RSVP card.
Therefore, we regretfully our guests to please not bring a plus one, unless they are specifically named on the invitation. Thank you so much for understanding! This should provide a clear message for those who were previously planning to bring a plus one.
If they still bring up the topic of a plus one, be polite but firm: “I'm so sorry but due to budget limitations/venue capacity, I'm afraid we can't justify plus ones.” If you want to add additional reasoning, such as 'plus ones we don't know well' etc.
If it's your name alone, they are not offering a plus-one. If it is for you and a guest, it will say so,” Harrison says. This is not always the case, particularly with more modern invitations. If you're only including one envelope or sending an online invitation, be sure to address all invitees clearly and up-front.
Choosing not to invite any long-term partners can be seen as an etiquette faux pas, so keep this in mind as you begin creating your wedding guest list. It's also considered common courtesy to extend a plus-one to any members of your wedding party.
If your invitation did not include a plus-one, under no circumstances should you arrive at a wedding with an uninvited guest. If the person who was originally going to attend with you is not coming, ask the couple if you can bring someone else instead.
What is a plus-one? A plus-one is an additional guest or date brought to a wedding, typically by an unmarried guest. At some weddings, single friends and family members are given permission to bring a plus-one, while at other weddings with more limited space, only certain or no guests are allowed to bring a plus-one.
Below are some examples of how to address a plus one on wedding invitations. Simply write “Mr. Smith & Guest”- Once they confirm that they are coming, you then can go ahead and change the “plus one” to the guest's name on the seating chart, escort cards, etc.
While it might seem like an offensive thing to say on an invitation, a “no-kids at the wedding” policy is often appreciated, as it gives family or friends with small children an excuse to get a sitter and enjoy a night out as a couple.
If someone asks you why they were not invited to your party, you might explain those limitations if they are indeed the case. If you had other reasons for not inviting this particular person, I don't think it is polite to point them out. A simple “I am sorry, but I was limited as to my guest list” should suffice.
When you meet up (or call) the person you're going to uninvite, don't beat around the bush. Yes, it's awkward to have to retract an invitation, but be clear and straightforward. Just politely explain that, unfortunately, you can no longer accommodate this person at your wedding.
Traditional etiquette would imply that you don't need to invite the new partners of your wedding guests, especially if they've been together for 6 months or less. However, if you can afford to, it is a really nice thing to do. Guests that don't know anyone at your wedding will be much happier with their partner there.
"The plus-one is not expected to get a gift for the couple at the wedding," explains Elaine Swann. "The gift given by the individual who has been invited is sufficient. They are the invitee. Therefore, they would be responsible for bringing that gift.
Traditionally, a plus one is often a date or romantic interest. However, it can also include a family member escorting an older guest who may need assistance or a close friend accompanying a single person. It's a topic that sparks frequent discussions about wedding invitation etiquette.
“Your presence at our wedding is enough of a gift, but should you wish to buy us something, we'd greatly appreciate a contribution towards our dream honeymoon/house deposit/renovation.” “Please do not feel obliged to buy us a gift, all that we are expecting is you.
"Given our planned resources, we have decided to limit the number of guests." "Our goal is to keep our very special weekend (or day) as intimate as possible, we are choosing to celebrate with only our closest family and friends.
Put A Note On Your Wedding Website. Something to the effect of “We're so excited to celebrate this day with our nearest and dearest, and are hoping to keep the guest list limited. Thank you for not bringing a guest” should make it clear. Make It Clear On The RSVP.
Whatever the reason, it's how you handle your RSVP status that counts. Regardless of how close you are to the couple, no-showing is NEVER appropriate. Brides and grooms pay per head at their wedding, so you ghosting them would cost a couple hundred bucks or more.
Consider saying something like, “I know you've got a lot of important work on your agenda, and I'd like to keep you off of this upcoming project so that you can focus on what you've already got. What do you think?” Or “I noticed that a couple of deadlines have slipped recently and that's pretty unusual for you.