Should We Allow Plus-Ones — and How Do We Say It on the Invitation?

You should offer plus-ones to guests who are married, engaged, living with a partner, or in a long-term relationship. Beyond those situations, giving plus-ones is completely optional and can depend on your venue capacity, budget, and comfort. To communicate your policy clearly, use specific envelope addressing and simple wording on your invitation, details card, or RSVP card.

Most importantly, your decision should reflect what feels right for your celebration.

If you’d like a deeper breakdown — including when plus-ones are customary and the exact wording to use — keep reading.

When You Should (and Should Not) Offer Plus-Ones

Many couples struggle with the plus-one question, but etiquette gives you flexibility. The general rule is simple:

Offer plus-ones when it’s customary. Skip them when it’s optional.

Here’s how to decide:

When a Plus-One Is Customary

You should (or may want to) include a plus-one for:

• Married couples
  

• Engaged couples
  

• Couples living together
  

• Long-term relationships
  

• Wedding party members who may want to bring a date
  

• A guest who won’t know anyone (optional, but considerate)
  

When a Plus-One Is Not Required

You can confidently skip plus-ones when:

• You’re keeping the wedding small
  

• You’re staying within a budget
  

• You prefer to invite only people you know personally
  

• Your venue has limited seating
  

• It’s a destination wedding with tight logistics
  

Consistency keeps things fair and avoids awkward situations.

How to Say It Clearly on Your Invitation

Your wedding invitation should communicate who is invited through three main elements:
(1) The envelope, (2) the invitation or details card, and (3) the RSVP card.

Below are wording options for both scenarios—when someone does and does not have a plus-one.

How to Indicate Someone Does Have a Plus-One

Envelope Addressing

• Formal:
  Mr. Jonathan Reyes and Guest
  

• Semi-formal:
  Jonathan Reyes & Guest
  

• Casual:
  Jonathan + Guest

On the Main Invitation or Details Card

• “We have reserved two seats in your honor.”
  

• “Jonathan Reyes and guest are invited.”
  

• “You are welcome to bring a guest.”
  

• “You and a guest are cordially invited.”
  

On the RSVP Card

• Guest Name(s): _______________________
  

• Guest’s Name (if bringing a plus-one): ______________

How to Indicate Someone Does Not Have a Plus-One

Envelope Addressing

List only the invited guest:

• Ms. Emily Carter
  

• Emily Carter (casual)
  
  

On the Invitation

If you want the invitation itself to clarify that no plus-one is included, here are gentle, elegant options:

• “We have reserved one seat in your honor.”
  

• “Your invitation is for one guest.”
  

• “We look forward to celebrating with you — please note this invitation is for one person.”
  

• “Your presence means so much — this invitation is for one guest only.”
  

(These are short, formal enough for the main card, and do not disrupt the design.)

On the Details Card

If you prefer to explain your plus-one policy more directly, the details card is the best place to do it. Here are soft, clear wording options:

• “Due to space limitations, we are unable to accommodate additional guests.”
  

• “As we’re hosting an intimate celebration, we kindly request no additional guests.”
  

• “Our guest list is limited to those listed on the invitation.”
  

• “We’re able to invite only individually addressed guests and appreciate your understanding.”
  

• “We regret that we cannot accommodate plus-ones for this event.”
  

• “We kindly ask that only those named on the invitation attend.”
  

(These are clearer and more explanatory, which suits the details card better.)

On the RSVP Card

Your RSVP card can also make it clear that a guest does not have a plus-one. These wording options keep things polite and unmistakable:

1. Guest Name Line

Best for simple, minimalist RSVP cards.

• Guest Name: ____________________
  

Because there is no second line, it naturally indicates the invitation is for one person only.

2. Number Attending (Pre-Filled)

This option removes any possibility of confusion.

• Number attending: 1
  

This tells the guest that the invitation is limited to one seat.

3. Reserved Seats Format

Elegant wording that reinforces the single invitation.

• We have reserved 1 seat in your honor.
  

This is one of the clearest (and most popular) ways to show there is no plus-one.

4. Accepts / Regrets With Seat Count

A traditional, formal approach that still signals the guest limit.

• Accepts with pleasure — 1 guest
  

• Regretfully declines
  

This keeps things gracious while making the “one seat only” policy obvious.

Using Digital RSVPs to Manage Plus-Ones Easily

Digital RSVP platforms make it incredibly simple to control plus-ones, pre-fill guest limits, and collect names for seating charts.

If you prefer a streamlined, stress-free process, you can set your RSVP form to:

• Allow or restrict plus-ones
  

• Pre-assign the number of seats per guest
  

• Collect guest names for place cards
  

• Track responses in one organized dashboard
  

You can try RSVPify — it’s an easy and elegant way to manage guest lists and plus-one rules. It’s one of the simplest ways to avoid awkward guest list conversations and keep everything organized behind the scenes. 

Gentle Wording for the Details Card or Website

If you need to clarify your policy, these soft, polite lines work beautifully:

If You’re Allowing Select Plus-Ones:

• Partners and significant others are welcome.

• You are welcome to bring a date.

• We’d love for you to attend with a guest of your choice.
  

If You’re Not Allowing Plus-Ones:

• We kindly request no additional guests.
  

• Due to limited space, we’re able to invite only those listed on the envelope.
  

• We appreciate your understanding as we celebrate with a small, intimate group.
  

Common Guest List Questions

Do we need to offer plus-ones to all single guests?

No. It’s a courtesy, not a rule. Choose what fits your budget and be consistent.

Should we ask for the plus-one’s name?

Yes—ask on the RSVP card (e.g., “Guest name: _______”) so you can prepare seating and place cards.

How do we handle someone asking for an uninvited plus-one?

Kindly but firmly reiterate your limitations:
“We’d love to celebrate with you, but we’re unable to accommodate extra guests due to our venue and budget.”

Can I allow plus-ones only for family or close friends?

Yes. Your guest list doesn’t need to be perfectly symmetrical — it just needs to feel fair to you. The key is staying consistent within each group (for example, all siblings may receive plus-ones, or all members of the wedding party).

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