Should Single People Always Get a Plus One at Weddings? What’s Your Take?

Weddings come with their own set of rules and regulations, and with smaller ceremonies now in vogue, plus ones are becoming less common.

A woman recently shared her opinion that single individuals should always be allowed to bring a guest to weddings. This viewpoint arose after her experience at a wedding where she found herself without someone to converse with.

During an episode of the Stop The Internet Podcast, host Kelee Bovelle and guest Erin delved into the topic of wedding guest etiquette, particularly focusing on the provision of plus ones for single guests. Erin recounted feeling isolated at a table surrounded by couples, highlighting the importance of having someone to interact with at such social events.

‘I went to a wedding where I happened to be sat in between two couples,’ Erin explained in the podcast, which was released at the end of December.

She said she tried to talk to the couple seated either side of her, but they were engrossed in their own conversations. 

‘I vividly recall turning to the person seated next to me to initiate a conversation, only to realize they couldn’t hear me as they had their back turned towards me while engaged in conversation with their own date,’ she shared.

‘So I turned to my left, said the exact same thing,’ she recalled, irritated. 

‘Exact same thing happened,’ she continued. ‘Back was turned, no one was looking at me.’

On the Stop The Internet Podcast, host Kelee Bovelle and guest Erin discussed the etiquette surrounding giving your single pals a plus one at weddings

Erin went on explain due to the large round weddings tables, the other guests were too far away to talk to.

‘I’m like “I can’t see that person over there to talk to them,”‘ she complained.

‘So I literally was like “oh okay,” put my head back in my whatever I was eating at that wedding and kept to myself for the remainder of the meal until someone else scoped me out to say something to me,’ she said.

Erin continued: ‘It’s not because I need someone to come to me, it’s because I literally tried but people are taken by the people they’re with, and that’s the fact of the matter.’

‘I’m not saying this is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, I’m not making it a big deal.

‘But if we’re gonna talk about the topic I’m gonna explain to you why this is uncomfortable for you single friends,’ Erin concluded the segment. 

Many single viewers agreed with Erin’s take, sharing their own experiences with attending weddings alone.  

‘As the single friend! I’m in my mid 30s. I’ve been to a ton of weddings over the years and I AWLAYS make sure to ask if I can bring a plus one (my plus one is always a friend) because it is hard,’ one user shared.

Erin claimed that single people should always be given a plus-one to weddings, after recently attending a celebration and having no one to talk to (stock image)

Many single viewers agreed with Erin’s take, sharing their own experiences with attending weddings alone

‘If I don’t know anyone, I don’t go anymore… too many awkward, wasted evenings,’ complained another. 

‘I’ve told people who don’t offer me a plus one that I’ll attend the ceremony but not the reception,’ chimed in another.

‘I went to a family friend’s wedding with my parents and was not given a plus one. Fine because I thought I’d be sat with my parents. Nope, they were put at a different table with their friends.’

Previously, etiquette expert Julie Lamberg-Burnet urged brides and grooms to think carefully about their guest list and whether it felt right not to invite plus ones or partners. 

‘For a small intimate wedding, it is perfectly fine to indicate spaces are limited and if an opportunity for the partner to attend an after wedding event that is a nice gesture,’ she explained.

‘It is up to the wedding couple to make the final choices. If budget allows, be sure to include spouse, fiancée or live-in partner. Must haves are your close family and good friends.

‘Consideration, communication and compromise is important for wedding planning and guest lists.

‘How you manage the conversation with your friends regarding your guest list is key to putting people at ease about who is attending and who is not and a gracious reason to avoid been perceived as rude.’