Plus ones

I had that issue with my younger guest (early 20s) which were basically all my friends and I just told them that they don't get a plus one. So many people don't understand wedding etiquette and it's infuriating. I'd definitely address these people as soon as possible

“Hey X, hope you’re doing well! We got your RSVP and I’m so glad you’re able to make it to the wedding. I apologize for any confusion, but as we have space and budget limitations, the invitation was meant for you only. I hope you’ll still be able to make it!”

I don't know for sure, but Im guessing if you have them RSVP online it won’t give them an option of a plus one unless you put that in

Reading the OP and replies... I'm rather shocked. I've always known & attended weddings that people (not married) have the ability to RSVP for a +1 due to them bringing a date to the wedding so they weren't alone.
That was traditional from since I was a kid. Now, if you have limits on how many can attend due to Covid, then yes, absolutely, no plus ones. But otherwise, +1 were normal.

I also want to add, that my cousin recently got married this summer and blew up because one of the groomsmen (related) asked to bring his +1 (his serious girlfriend) to the wedding.
She hadn't been to many weddings and I told her that it was normal that people bring +1s. But seeing some many people post, I wonder if it's becoming a Gen Z thing? (I'm asking seriously since this didn't used to be a thing).

View Quoted Comment I’m sure there are a number of reason why people no longer do +1. I’m not; unless we know the person or the person is married. I also didn’t want a lot of people at my wedding, let alone someone I don’t know.
But the main reason could be money. Best way to save money is by minimizing your guest list.

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Thank you for replying! It's good to hear the why behind decisions from other people. I do understand not wanting a lot of people at your wedding (I always thought I'd be a courthouse bride myself, though now I'm not going to be).

View Quoted Comment Of course! I wanted a courthouse wedding as well lol but my parents really wanted a wedding. So now I’m planning a wedding luckily enough they offered to pay for food and drinks.

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I'm so over this issue.... i am not officially engaged yet, but I am filling out the cards for them at this point.... envelope will be addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, and the reply card will say "we have 2 seats reserved in your honor" then on the name line I will write in "Mr. and Mrs. Jones" and then leave the section blank for them to fill in with accepts or declines...

this is ridiculous!!! I can't believe the nerve of some people to add extra names or ask for plus ones... though with my current list of guests i only have 2 single people on it. all the others are married. (and the single people are not dating anyone at this point, haven't in years)

View Quoted Comment We address our married couples invites like that as well, someone put a friend in place for their wife since the wife will not make the wedding. The nerve of people.
I was shocked; they dealt with the same problem for their wedding, why would they think that is ok for someone else’s wedding.

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I know right?! totally hear you on that

This is a pain. I agree that you should just say that you can't have the plus one due to limited seating.

We wrote on the response card we have reserved X seat(s) in your honor and people are still asking.

Thankfully, we haven't because our RSVPs are online through minted and I can select the max party number for the RSVP. However I did have a family member say their 2 kids would probably be bringing their girlfriends....who were not invited and there was no plus 1s for them because these relationships happened within the last 5 months. We are addressing that one but it would throw off all the table arrangements and everything....I found it pretty rude to TELL ME who is invited

I never understood why people have ever felt entitled to bring extra people to someone else's event, ever, but especially a wedding.

Say they have not been allocated a plus one. Use Covid as an excuse if you need to (its a darn good one). But either way be firm. No one should be inviting extra people to someone else's wedding.

The seriously frustrating part is that currently they are single (or that you knew of). If they just invite their plus one, but then break up before your wedding, now you're sitting with a bunch of extra food you paid for. We had over $800 worth of food wasted with no-show's to our wedding. We held out for their RSVP's, tracked people down, and then they no-showed!!