Single Friends...how to address on invite?

Island_Bride2011

Hey ladies!

So I have about 5 or 6 single girlfriends that aren't in relationships, aren't dating anyone and no dates on the horizon.  How should I address invites?  Friend + Guest and let them figure out if they are bringing someone OR is that horribly rude and like: You should have a BOYFRIEND!  Some of my friends are really sad that they aren't dating anyone currently, so I don't want to rub salt in the wounds.  2 of my single friends are BMs and about 3 aren't.

amygirl78

I'm not adding the "and guest" to my single friends invite. Since all of them are friends with each other, its not like they will be alone.
I'm drawing the line at only inviting significant others of friends that are dating already. I just don't have the room on the invite list to invite too many extra guest's since my B list is really long.

JadeW24

I've been to probably at least 20 weddings as a "single guest"... sometimes they were addressed Miss Firstname Lastname and Guest, others were simply Miss Firstname Lastname.  I didn't take any offense at all to either method of addressing.  I simply took it as and understanding that they had an extra slot I could use if I wanted (or not).

Likewise, my wedding guests will have to be content with whatever we pick.  In short, I think it's up to your personal preference and/or budget.  GL!

i2012do

I dont think anyone will be insulted to see "and guest"
its an option you are extending to them- not a wish that they need to have a boyfriend.

My mom is adament that anyone I invite should be invitied with a guest or its rude- which I understand-- like we're adults. But I have some friends that have brought what every tom or sally they are dating to a wedding-- just because they had "and guest" and it was some guy or gal they dumped a week later. ... and honestly, i think thats kind of rude. I mean I understand an out of town guest that is bringining a date or friend because they are traveling etc... but I dont want to pay $100+ for your saturday night hook up to come...so i am kind of doing an "and guest" at a discreition of myself- knowing how the person would react.

Honestly, I am going to be  27 this year and engaged- but if I wasnt I would kind of think ti was rude if i wasnt invited to a wedding with a guest if it was like a family member- -but if it was a wedding with all my friends and all the single gals were invited alone-- i would think it was fine...

the only thing is-- there could at some point be someone significant to that person in their life between now and your wedding--so you might want to take that into consideration.

I was invited alone to a wedding and I had been living with my fiance for a year but we werent engaged. It was kinda awkward that I got ready to go to this wedding alone and he didin't come with me.... but the person invitiing us had a rule "no guests unless you are married or engaged" and we werent yet... and that was her rule...

Everyone is allowed their own rules- its your wedding. honestly, do what you think is right. you cant worry if one of your friends will be insulted by the word "and guest " or not.. you will drive yourself crazy trying to make everyone happy.

cicconesp

I agree that if you have the ability to do it, you should allow singles to bring a guest.  I believe this is a measure of courtesy you share with your guests.  Hopefully they will honor your invitation with equal graciousness and only bring a guest if it’s truly meaningful to them.
You never know, just because someone has been with a 'significant other' for a long  time doesn't mean their relationship might not end shortly after your wedding, and someone else who just started dating someone, could end up get married.   
We trusted our guests to make the decisions for themselves.  Most did not bring a guest and of those who did several were newly dating but we were happy that they were happy, and in the end that's all that mattered.
I also don't think the "& Guest" will make them sad, I think they'll be happy you gave them the option.

Magdala

The correct thing to do is to talk to them in person and ask them the correct spelling of their date's name.   Some will tell you outright that they are not bringing a date. 

On the envelope, the modern thing is to address the couple alphabetically.  i.e

Ms. Katherine Brown and Mr. Carlos Riveria.

or 

Mr. Jonathon Brown and Ms. Ana Rivera. 

This also works for same-sex couples.   

The traditional thing to do is to address the gentleman first.

Island_Bride2011

All great advice!  Thanks, ladies!

SummerBoston10

You do not use the word "and" between unmarried people.  So for the example used above, you would address it like this:

Ms. Katherine Brown
Mr. Carlos Riveria.

or 

Mr. Jonathon Brown
Ms. Ana Rivera. 

I always thought that it was improper to include "and guest" on the invitation so we did not address any of our invitations this way.  We invited all of our friends who had boyfriends/girlfriends with their SO by name.  We had a few guests who were unattached and I communicated with them and let them know that they were more than welcome to bring a guest and to just let me know the name.  They all declined and said they would have more fun coming solo so they did.  I would just talk to your friends about it and get their thoughts on it.