Wedding Etiquette Forum

Plus 1 "issue"

FI and I (and my parents who are paying for the entire wedding) had decided a while back that we wouldn't be giving people the option to bring a guest, unless they were in a relationship with someone (dating, engaged, married) This worked for us because our guests are close family & friends and everyone being invited knows at least 10-15 ppl there.

Here are our three different plus 1 issues.....

BM (who is FI's sister) apparently wants to bring a date to our wedding. This would be fine by me, but she's not in a relationship with anyone, and still doesnt know who she may or may not bring. We've also never talked about whether or not she'd be given a "plus 1" option in the first place. From what I've heard, she is hoping that this guy she likes will break up with his GF in time for the wedding so she can bring him (ugh.)

A while ago, I was talking to one of my MOHs who asked if she was going to be able to bring a date to the wedding...I said sure, figuring that there was a good chance that she'd be dating someone by the time of the wedding. She was dating someone about 6 months ago but just broke up with him one month ago. In a more recent casual conversation, she said "oh its ok, maybe I'll bring "so and so" since we're good friends.

FI's father, jokingly to my FI & his friend, asked if he could bring a "plus 1" to the wedding, and that he was going to start "searching" (both online & at bars) for a date to bring.

Given their current relationship status' can I address their invitations to just them and not with a "plus 1" or "and guest" ?? Should I talk to MOH and tell her that my parents vetoed the "plus 1 for a friend" (which is true?)

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Re: Plus 1 "issue"

  • Um, this is all family or friends who are close enough to be family. Do you really want to piss them off over 3 extra people? ESPECIALLY for you FIL and your SIL??

    COME ON. Common sense.

  • When dinner is costing my parents a fortune...I'd prefer it that people actually think before trying to quickly come up with a random date.

    Also, I plan on asking these people, before I send the invites out, if they are bringing a date, and if so, what their names are. I'd rather not write "& guest" on any invitation.

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  • wedding party should always get a +1
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  • And how much time, money and effort is your bridal party spending on being there for you on your big day? How much time, effort and money has FFIL spent on raising your FI? Suck it up and let them have a date.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_plus-1-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:030500d7-cb56-4aac-b478-b156abb1af0cPost:6d2ead07-141f-4539-a9c4-c61700722733">Re: Plus 1 "issue"</a>:
    [QUOTE]And how much time, money and effort is your bridal party spending on being there for you on your big day? How much time, effort and money has FFIL spent on raising your FI? Suck it up and let them have a date.
    Posted by Rummi302[/QUOTE]

    true...I'm glad I posted and got these responses because I wasn't thinking this way, and now I am. I just don't like to feel taken advantage of and thats how I was feeling with people wanting to bring "random" people to our wedding just to say they have a date.
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  • I'd let these three have +1s. They are future family and a really close friend. Plus, you already verbally told your friend that she can bring a date.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_plus-1-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:030500d7-cb56-4aac-b478-b156abb1af0cPost:ccaef756-dca2-4692-a8aa-5fab6e24e84f">Re: Plus 1 "issue"</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Plus 1 "issue" : true...I'm glad I posted and got these responses because I wasn't thinking this way, and now I am. <strong>I just don't like to feel taken advantage of and thats how I was feeling with people wanting to bring "random" people to our wedding just to say they have a date.</strong>
    Posted by cpm1223[/QUOTE]

    <div>And if these were your FI's college roommate and your former tennis coach, that would be totally normal - they wouldn't get a +1 if they were truely single.  VIPs are different.  They aren't taking advantage - just give the +1.</div>
  • I'm glad you've seen the error of your ways OP. Just remember these are your nearest and dearest and get a little more leniency with this whole thing. I'd much rather keep these people happy than worry about an extra couple hundred bucks.
  • I say give them all a plus one.  These people are VIP considering they are family or part of your wedding party. 
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  • edited February 2012
    Agreed with PP - give them the plus one - were allowing our WP to bring a date whether they are single or in a relationship, and honestly now that I think of it, none of them are bringing a random, one is bringing a girl hed LIKE to be dating, but isnt quite yet. and the rest are bringing their SO or noone at all - at least as of now.
    WP and immediate families (parents, siblings) are the only people we offered the choice of an "and guest" when they werent in a relationship.
  • Try to not look at it as random people coming to your wedding, but instead as showing your nearest and dearest that you care.
  • One is wedding party - definitely do +1
    One you already TOLD could have a +1 - don't go back on that now.
    Fi's Dad?  VIP-est of VIPs.  Don't be rude. 

    If these were casual friends, non-WP, second cousins.... different story for people 1 and 3 scenarios.  I'm cutting +1s for singles too, EXCEPT wedding party, who get a +1 no matter what for standing up for us and supporting us on our wedding day. 
  • Agree with everything PPs have mentioned, they are putting a lot of time, effort, and money into your day too so it is just another way to show your thanks.  If it was someone who wasn't family or in the WP you could totally say no but since they asked you realy should allow it.
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  • I agree with the PPs.  These people are your family and closest friends.  How is this even a question?

  • I definitely think, given the fact that these are your VIPs, that you should be open to them bringing dates.  That said, I'm not a fan of the whole "and guest" thing and would call them up the week you're sending the invitations out and say "okay, the time is here, are you bringing someone?"  so you can address them by name on the invitation. (and perhaps they'll think twice about asking a random friend just to fill a seat)

    I don't know if your friends are thinking of it this way, but I would hate to bring a rando to a wedding that I'm playing a significant role in, as they'd be on their own for a decent portion of the day.  Even if you seat them with their dates their still solo pre-ceremony, during the ceremony, likely during cocktail hour for photos, etc. 
  • edited February 2012
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_plus-1-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:030500d7-cb56-4aac-b478-b156abb1af0cPost:3dec1121-c928-47be-8370-05d72c708afd">Re: Plus 1 "issue"</a>:
    [QUOTE]I definitely think, given the fact that these are your VIPs, that you should be open to them bringing dates.  That said, I'm not a fan of the whole "and guest" thing and would call them up the week you're sending the invitations out and say "okay, the time is here, are you bringing someone?"  so you can address them by name on the invitation. (and perhaps they'll think twice about asking a random friend just to fill a seat) I don't know if your friends are thinking of it this way, <strong>but I would hate to bring a rando to a wedding that I'm playing a significant role in, as they'd be on their own for a decent portion of the day.  Even if you seat them with their dates their still solo pre-ceremony, during the ceremony, likely during cocktail hour for photos, etc. 
    </strong>Posted by Kate61487[/QUOTE]

    this was my thought exactly, I have attended a wedding with someone who was in the WP, and especially not knowing anyone else, it makes for a really akward day, and that wedding I didnt even get to sit with him because they did a WP only head table. They didnt do assigned seating so I had to do the akward walk around to tables and find somewhere to sit, and knew NOONE. SUCKED. I felt really akward, and really out of place. Cant imagine why anyone would want to be the "and guest" in this scenario..but to each their own I guess.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_plus-1-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:030500d7-cb56-4aac-b478-b156abb1af0cPost:5b3221ab-adf1-4de6-8f81-25f32cf9a668">Re: Plus 1 "issue"</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Plus 1 "issue" : this was my thought exactly, I have attended a wedding with someone who was in the WP, and especially not knowing anyone else, it makes for a really akward day, and that wedding I didnt even get to sit with him because they did a WP only head table. They didnt do assigned seating so I had to do the akward walk around to tables and find somewhere to sit, and knew NOONE. SUCKED. I felt really akward, and really out of place. Cant imagine why anyone would want to be the "and guest" in this scenario..but to each their own I guess.
    Posted by stefaniewattie[/QUOTE]

    I do agree with this train of thought, but I still think the B&G should give them the option of a +1 and then let them decide.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_plus-1-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:030500d7-cb56-4aac-b478-b156abb1af0cPost:e78a7da7-f45e-4030-9a12-1014f72fc213">Re: Plus 1 "issue"</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Plus 1 "issue" : I do agree with this train of thought, but I still think the B&G should give them the option of a +1 and then let them decide.
    Posted by amys325[/QUOTE]

    Oh I 100% agree, I said so in an earlier post, they should definitly be given the plus 1 in this situation.
    Just speaking as someone whos been the "and guest".. its not fun, If FI coudlnt attend a wedding, I would never have someone who didnt know anyone come to a wedding with me that I was in the WP at, because I know how crappy feeling it is. haha
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