invitation names etiquette

mrsnilescrane

Hello. I have a question about invitation etiquette. When my partner and I sent out STDs back in January, we found out that a cousin of his up in northern British Columbia (far, far away) had a girlfriend.We originally send the STD to him only assuming he was single. We heard he in fact has a girlfriend and  "they were both excited" or something to that effect. So, now we are sending out invitations and nobody has told me his girlfriend's name. I repeatedly asked, but nobody can tell me. Nobody seems to know or care. Strange that they know him and his girlfriend were happy to get our mail, but can't get a hold of him to ask her name. So... I titled their invitation as "John Doe and partner"(name has been changed obviously) I hope that's good enough. What do you think? She won't be offended, right?
thanks for your responses in advance!

crash2729

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invitation-names-etiquette?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0a6360d9-3b0e-460b-bc91-446116e4bf0bPost:24d115a5-d289-4a8b-b9aa-dd0b3eccbeaa">invitation names etiquette</a>:
[QUOTE]Hello. I have a question about invitation etiquette. When my partner and I sent out STDs back in January, we found out that a cousin of his up in northern British Columbia (far, far away) had a girlfriend.We originally send the STD to him only assuming he was single. We heard he in fact has a girlfriend and  "they were both excited" or something to that effect. So, now we are sending out invitations and nobody has told me his girlfriend's name. I repeatedly asked, but nobody can tell me. Nobody seems to know or care. Strange that they know him and his girlfriend were happy to get our mail, but can't get a hold of him to ask her name. So... I titled their invitation as "John Doe and partner"(name has been changed obviously) I hope that's good enough. What do you think? She won't be offended, right? thanks for your responses in advance!
Posted by mrsnilescrane[/QUOTE]
I would use "and Guest".
He probably knows you've been trying to get a hold of him to find out the GF's name, so I think that would be appropriate.  

brilibby4

I would use "and guest".

mrsnilescrane

I thought that partner was a more personal word. For example, guest could be anyone, but partner refers specifically to his girlfriend. Am I wrong?

Knittibell

I'd also use guest. The only way I'd *maybe* use "partner" is if it was to a gay couple in a state that doesn't allow marriage, and I only knew one name. Even then, I'd probably go with "Guest"

anniversaryontheway

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invitation-names-etiquette?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0a6360d9-3b0e-460b-bc91-446116e4bf0bPost:e29b01a1-667d-43a8-9c34-15489f828335">Re: invitation names etiquette</a>:
[QUOTE]I'd also use guest. The only way I'd *maybe* use "partner" is if it was to a gay couple in a state that doesn't allow marriage, and I only knew one name. Even then, I'd probably go with "Guest"
Posted by Knittibell[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I have a few straight friends who are in committed relationships and use the word "partner." Usually they are real grown ups, and girlfriend seems too young to reflect where they are in life.</div><div>I'd use guest going forward, but partner works too, especially if it is coming from a place of respect, which it sounds like it is.

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anniversaryontheway

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invitation-names-etiquette?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0a6360d9-3b0e-460b-bc91-446116e4bf0bPost:e29b01a1-667d-43a8-9c34-15489f828335">Re: invitation names etiquette</a>:
[QUOTE]I'd also use guest. The only way I'd *maybe* use "partner" is if it was to a gay couple in a state that doesn't allow marriage, and I only knew one name. Even then, I'd probably go with "Guest"
Posted by Knittibell[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I have a few straight friends who are in committed relationships and use the word "partner." Usually they are real grown ups, and girlfriend seems too young to reflect where they are in life.</div><div>I'd use guest going forward, but partner works too, especially if it is coming from a place of respect, which it sounds like it is.

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