Deciding who to invite to your wedding can be a daunting task for some people. You want to make sure you do not leave anyone out, but at the same time, how will you afford all these guests!?
If you are trying to scale down the guest list, the first thing that usually goes is the 'plus one'. When doing this, however, you need to make sure that your guest will not feel left out if they cannot bring someone. A rule of thumb for this is, you can eliminate their 'plus one' if you are inviting a group of friends to which they belong. For example, you are inviting a group of your friends from college and no one in that group has a 'plus one' unless they are engaged. The exception to this would be if a friend is travelling from a different location than everyone else in the group, as they are less likely to make the trip alone than if they brought someone with them.
A 'plus one' should also be given to those who will not know many people at the wedding, even if they are not travelling a great distance to come to your wedding. It can be awkward to go to a wedding where you do not know anyone except for the bride and groom because they will not be able to spend the whole time with you.
If you are inviting several families anyone over the age of 16 should get their own invitation. There are some people however, that say you can wait until the individual is 18 before they need their own invitation, even if they are living in the same household. In this case it is what you feel comfortable with. If the individual has their own invitation it is customary to give them a 'plus one'. If you are trying to scale back the guest list it is often here that 'plus one's' are taken out. If the entire family is coming and the individual is not dating someone you are close with it is alright not to give them a 'plus one'. However, it is best to make sure the individual know why they are not going to be able to bring their significant other. For this reason all the individuals living in the household may be sent one invitation. Although this is not customary, it can help you to avoid the awkward situation of being asked about their 'plus one'.
There is no set in stone way to determine who will get a 'plus one' but you should make note of who will take offense and who may not come because they will have travel alone or may not know anyone.
If you are trying to scale down the guest list, the first thing that usually goes is the 'plus one'. When doing this, however, you need to make sure that your guest will not feel left out if they cannot bring someone. A rule of thumb for this is, you can eliminate their 'plus one' if you are inviting a group of friends to which they belong. For example, you are inviting a group of your friends from college and no one in that group has a 'plus one' unless they are engaged. The exception to this would be if a friend is travelling from a different location than everyone else in the group, as they are less likely to make the trip alone than if they brought someone with them.
A 'plus one' should also be given to those who will not know many people at the wedding, even if they are not travelling a great distance to come to your wedding. It can be awkward to go to a wedding where you do not know anyone except for the bride and groom because they will not be able to spend the whole time with you.
If you are inviting several families anyone over the age of 16 should get their own invitation. There are some people however, that say you can wait until the individual is 18 before they need their own invitation, even if they are living in the same household. In this case it is what you feel comfortable with. If the individual has their own invitation it is customary to give them a 'plus one'. If you are trying to scale back the guest list it is often here that 'plus one's' are taken out. If the entire family is coming and the individual is not dating someone you are close with it is alright not to give them a 'plus one'. However, it is best to make sure the individual know why they are not going to be able to bring their significant other. For this reason all the individuals living in the household may be sent one invitation. Although this is not customary, it can help you to avoid the awkward situation of being asked about their 'plus one'.
There is no set in stone way to determine who will get a 'plus one' but you should make note of who will take offense and who may not come because they will have travel alone or may not know anyone.