LifestyleWedding planner reveals plus-one etiquette: Who gets one and who doesn’t?

By Kathy October 24, 2024

2 Min Read

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Privacy NoticePlanning a wedding can be a stressful time for many couples, especially cutting down the wedding guest list without stirring up any tension. Most couples want to keep catering and seating costs to a minimum as extra heads are more expensive – they often require another meal, drinks and favours. The tricky trade-offs with the guest list can be difficult, but deciding who should get a plus-one can be an uncomfortable task. If you don’t extend the invitation, you run the risk of offending a close friend or impacting their decision to attend. LA-based wedding planner, Melissa Andrew, has shared her top tips for couples who are struggling with plus-one invitations. Taking to TikTok, the expert shunned the “no ring, no bring” rule as it is too “limiting” and guest lists should be more “inclusive”. This restriction means an invited guest cannot bring a plus-one unless they are married or engaged to them. Melissa added: “Obviously if the couple is married they should get a plus-one, if they live together, or if they are in a long-term relationship. “I usually say if you know the significant other, if you have hung out with them and especially if you know their name then yes (they should get an invite).” Want the latest royal headlines straight to your inbox? Sign up for our royal newsletter HERE

Deciding who should get a plus-one at a wedding can be an uncomfortable task
(Image: Getty)

The wedding expert explained that if you are planning a destination wedding, guests should get a plus-one. “If someone is travelling to your wedding, definitely give them a plus-one. It is obviously much nicer to travel with someone that you know.” Guests who may not know anyone at the wedding, such as a co-worker or client, deserve a plus-one, claims Melissa. She added: “I always recommend giving your bridal party a plus-one as well.” So, how do you decide which guests don’t need a plus-one? According to wedding planner Ivy Jacobson, couples should avoid granting guests who are casually dating a plus-one invitation. If the invited guest in question has a new significant other every few months, or hasn’t been dating very long, giving them a plus-one isn’t a priority. Ivy added that single guests who the couple are not especially close to and who will know other attendees don’t need a plus-one invitation either.
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