{"id":54612,"date":"2019-05-10T09:00:56","date_gmt":"2019-05-10T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eventsource.ca\/blog\/?p=54612"},"modified":"2025-12-11T06:24:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T11:24:54","slug":"the-plus-one-paradox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eventsource.ca\/blog\/the-plus-one-paradox","title":{"rendered":"The Plus One Paradox"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the hardest parts of planning a wedding is deciding who to invite, and who needs to be left off the guest list. Generally, if the wedding is more intimate, you might only receive a plus one if you are in a long-term relationship. Wondering what the protocol is for plus ones? Here are some frequently asked questions regarding this tricky situation.<\/span><\/p> <hr \/> <h3>Q: Can I bring a friend if I don\u2019t have a significant other?<\/h3> <p><b>A: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your invitation says<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cYour name + Guest\u201d <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you are typically free to bring whomever you would like. The bride and groom have budgeted for your guest\u2019s plate. However, if your invitation says, \u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your name + your S\/O\u2019s name\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and you are no longer with that person, check with the couple to see if you\u2019re still able to bring a guest, they might have only included them since you were in a relationship.<\/span><\/p> <p><h3 class=\"related-posts-title toc_show\">You May Also Be Interested In<\/h3><ul class=\"display-posts-listing\"><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventsource.ca\/blog\/wedding-captions-for-instagram\"><img alt=\"ultimate last minute wedding planning checklist, 1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCA0MjUgNDI1IiB3aWR0aD0iNDI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQyNSIgZGF0YS11PSJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5ldmVudHNvdXJjZS5jYSUyRmJsb2clMkZ3cC1jb250ZW50JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRjIwMjYlMkYwMiUyRkVTLUhlYWRlcnMtV2VkZGluZy1DYXB0aW9ucy1mb3ItSW5zdGFncmFtLWNvbXAtNDI1eDQyNS5qcGciIGRhdGEtdz0iNDI1IiBkYXRhLWg9IjQyNSIgZGF0YS1iaXA9IiI+PC9zdmc+\" data-spai=\"1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" srcset=\" \" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 642px, (min-width: 576px) 510px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventsource.ca\/blog\/wedding-captions-for-instagram\">Wedding Captions for Instagram: 150+ Ideas Organized by Photo Type<\/a><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventsource.ca\/blog\/how-to-choose-your-bridal-party\"><img alt=\"ultimate last minute wedding planning checklist, 2\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCA0MjUgNDI1IiB3aWR0aD0iNDI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQyNSIgZGF0YS11PSJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5ldmVudHNvdXJjZS5jYSUyRmJsb2clMkZ3cC1jb250ZW50JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRjIwMjYlMkYwMSUyRkVTLUhlYWRlcnMtQnJpZGFsLVBhcnR5LTQyNXg0MjUucG5nIiBkYXRhLXc9IjQyNSIgZGF0YS1oPSI0MjUiIGRhdGEtYmlwPSIiPjwvc3ZnPg==\" data-spai=\"1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" srcset=\" \" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 642px, (min-width: 576px) 510px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventsource.ca\/blog\/how-to-choose-your-bridal-party\">How to Choose Your Bridal Party: A Wedding Planning Guide<\/a><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventsource.ca\/blog\/ultimate-last-minute-wedding-planning-checklist\"><img alt=\"ultimate last minute wedding planning checklist, 3\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCA0MjUgNDI1IiB3aWR0aD0iNDI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQyNSIgZGF0YS11PSJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5ldmVudHNvdXJjZS5jYSUyRmJsb2clMkZ3cC1jb250ZW50JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRjIwMjUlMkYxMSUyRkVTLUFydGljbGUtSGVhZGVycy13ZWRkaW5nLWNoZWNrbGlzdC00MjV4NDI1LnBuZyIgZGF0YS13PSI0MjUiIGRhdGEtaD0iNDI1IiBkYXRhLWJpcD0iIj48L3N2Zz4=\" data-spai=\"1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" srcset=\" \" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 642px, (min-width: 576px) 510px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventsource.ca\/blog\/ultimate-last-minute-wedding-planning-checklist\">The Ultimate Last-Minute Wedding Planning Checklist<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p> <h3>Q: Does my plus one bring a gift, or do I have to cover both of us?<\/h3> <p><strong>A:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally, there is one gift per couple, so your plus one does not need to provide their own gift. If your plus one is your significant other, split on the gift and get the bride and groom something bigger. If your plus one is just a friend who you invited because you needed a date, don\u2019t expect them to pitch in for the gift unless they offer.<\/span><\/p> <h3>Q: Should I bring someone who knows the couple but wasn\u2019t invited, or someone who doesn\u2019t know the couple?<\/h3> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A:<\/strong> When the couple made their guest list, there was likely a master list of everyone they would have loved to invite but had to narrow down due to budget or space concerns. If your plus one is a friend of the couple and they are on good terms, bringing them shouldn\u2019t be an issue. I would suggest checking with the couple to make sure there wasn\u2019t a specific reason that friend was left off.<\/span><\/p> <p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventsource.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Rhythm-Photography-001.jpg\"class=\"link-image link-image_wide\" rel=\"gallery\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"full-size-image alignnone wp-image-54397 size-full\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCA4OTkgNjAwIiB3aWR0aD0iODk5IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjYwMCIgZGF0YS11PSJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5ldmVudHNvdXJjZS5jYSUyRmJsb2clMkZ3cC1jb250ZW50JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRjIwMTklMkYwNCUyRlJoeXRobS1QaG90b2dyYXBoeS0wMDEuanBnIiBkYXRhLXc9Ijg5OSIgZGF0YS1oPSI2MDAiIGRhdGEtYmlwPSIiPjwvc3ZnPg==\" data-spai=\"1\" alt=\"Plus One\" width=\"899\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><span class=\"caption\">Photo Courtesy of <a class=\"listing-mentionable listing-mentionable-disabled listing-mentionable-disabled\" href=\"#\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-listing=\"5345\">Rhythm Photography<\/a><\/span><\/p> <h3>Q: I wasn\u2019t given a plus one, but I don\u2019t want to go alone\/recently started dating someone\u2026 Can I ask for one?<\/h3> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A:<\/strong> One of the hardest parts about planning a wedding is the guest list. Due to budget and space constraints, it is near impossible to invite everyone let alone give everyone a plus one. If you weren\u2019t given a plus one, in general, do not ask for one. That being said, if you have recently moved in to significant other territory, let the couple know that if they have space, you would love to bring your S\/O, but that there is no pressure for them to do so.<\/span><\/p> <h3>Q: I was given a plus one, who should I bring?<\/h3> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A:<\/strong> Well, the most obvious answer is your boyfriend\/girlfriend, however, sometimes they can\u2019t come or you\u2019re living that solo dream. If that\u2019s the case you can really bring whomever you want, but there are some things you should take into consideration. Is your guest outgoing, or will you need to stay by their side all night? Are they fun at parties, and can they handle their alcohol? If you\u2019ve recently started dating them, do you want them in all your pictures from this wedding should the two of you break up? Is it better to go solo? Overall, make sure whoever you bring is going to reflect well on you!<\/span><\/p> <hr \/> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deciding which guests get a plus one is a daunting part of wedding planning, since most couples do not want to disappoint any one. Make sure you are always keeping the couple\u2019s best interests in mind before you address the plus one issue.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the hardest parts of planning a wedding is deciding who to invite, and who needs to be left off the guest list. Generally, if the wedding is more intimate, you might only receive a plus one if you are in a long-term relationship. Wondering what the protocol is for plus ones? Here are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":55938,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[136],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-54612","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tips-tricks"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\r\n<title>Wedding Guest Etiquette: The Plus One Paradox<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Invited to a wedding and wondering what the plus one protocol is? 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