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As anyone who\u2019s gotten married will tell you, figuring out who to invite and who to not invite is one of the most difficult parts of wedding planning. Most brides and grooms want to invite just about everyone they\u2019re related to, been friends with or worked with. We get it. This is your big day we\u2019re talking about, so why wouldn\u2019t you want everybody you know to be there and share the special moment with you?<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, every wedding has a budget, and every single person added to the guest list counts as money against that budget. It\u2019s a harsh way to look at things, but it\u2019s reality. What this ultimately means is you need to make some cuts, and the place to start is with +1\u2019s. Unless you\u2019re part of the Windsor royal family, you\u2019re just not going to be able to give everyone a +1. Here\u2019s how you should decide where to start cutting guests.<\/p>\n
Your Wedding Party<\/strong><\/p>\n If someone is in your wedding party, then they\u2019re likely one of the most important people in your life after the person you\u2019re about to say \u201cI do\u201d to and your parents. This means that you need to offer everyone in the wedding party a +1, but you shouldn\u2019t make them feel pressured to use it. They\u2019re going to go through a lot for you, dedicating massive amounts of time and money to your wedding and bachelor or bachelorette parties. Give them the courtesy of a +1, but let them make the choice of whether or not to use it.<\/p>\n Casual Dates<\/strong><\/p>\n Does someone on your guest list seem to change significant others as often as the seasons change? Then you don\u2019t need to give them a +1 for their latest girlfriend\/boyfriend. Immediately start by putting these in the \u201cnot essential\u201d category. If you ultimately find you can fit them in, that\u2019s a great gesture on your part to add them, but leave anyone like this off until everyone else is accounted for.<\/p>\n VIP Guests Who Don\u2019t Know Anyone Else<\/strong><\/p>\n Your best childhood friend is flying in from across the country to attend your wedding and doesn\u2019t know much of anyone else going except for you and your immediate family. Oh, and he or she is single. If you don\u2019t give your VIP a guest, he or she is going to be miserable at your wedding, and that\u2019s the last thing you want. Give them a +1 and don\u2019t think twice about it.<\/p>\n Single Guests You\u2019re Not Particularly Close To<\/strong><\/p>\n Distant cousins, friends of friends and otherwise estranged relatives and peripheral friends don\u2019t need +1\u2019s unless they\u2019re married or in serious relationships. Not everyone will like this, but you can overcome it some by sitting them next to people whom you\u2019re confident they know very well and\/or will get along with.<\/p>\n Anyone Who\u2019s Married, Engaged or Living with Their Significant Other<\/strong><\/p>\n If a couple has been living together or is engaged or married and doesn\u2019t fall into one of the categories we\u2019ve explicitly said don\u2019t need +1\u2019s, give them one. And while you don\u2019t have to<\/em> give a guest spot to everyone who\u2019s been dating someone for more than a year but not living with them, you should consider it and use your best judgement.<\/p>\n