Bringing a friend instead of your partner?

skea56

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I'll speak to the couple and ask - its only manners to let them know. My main reason for taking someone is I only really know the groom and his family who I assume will be at a different table. Also the hotel is a good 2 1/2 hr drive from my home and I'm not too sure of the road so just didn't want to do it on my own.

Regarding the leaving early, I should have clarified I mean't about 8/9pm (thats early for me lol!)

Thanks again

sk56

clearing_out_my_pockets

Oddly enough, I had both of these issues from different guests on our wedding day.

One of my aunts brought her grand-daughter instead of my uncle. She'd RSVPed to say my uncle was coming and said nothing to me beforehand. This caused problems with the meal, her favour etc. Now even though I am related to this girl, I hardly know her. I didn't invite cousins to the ceremony and wedding breakfast as I didn't have space - it felt odd and probably looked like favouritism that a cousin's child was there. If you ask, the worst she can do is say no.

The second issue was with another aunt (my godmother, as it happens). She'd been a bit late with her RSVP and she told my mum that she'd been invited to somthing else that day but she "should be able to get away with turning it down". Our wedding breakfast was at 5pm, speaches were at 6pm (I think). She left before the speaches because she was 'ill'. Other guests who had travelled some distance to be with us understandably left early, but I was just delighted they'd been able to join us!

ZebrasMum

At my wedding, guests who knew no one else had a plus one, those who were part of a couple had their partner invited. I would only be happy with a friend if you knew no one else. Weddings are expensive. I would not take your random friend out for a slap up meal so why should I do so at my wedding.

Poppleminster

If you think about how expensive weddings are, it was polite to ask your partner but if he couldn't go then they could add another person they know that they otherwise might not have been able to afford. I would hate to be paying for someones friend when my own friends couldn't come because of the unknown person.

I can understand you don't want to drive on your own but if it was your wedding and you were paying and people took along others, would you be happy looking back at the photos of people you don't know?