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Just Said Yes January 2024

Surprise significant other on rsvp

Meghan, on November 7, 2023 at 7:26 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 7
My fiance and I are planning a super intimate and small destination wedding. We are only having 20 guests and included in our invitations that we wanted to be able to spend quality time on our wedding day with those closest to us. Our venue also has a limit of only 22 people, so with 20 guests plus ourselves, we are at capacity.
My fiance has had a strained relationship with his mother for many years. In fact, they were estranged for over ten years before he and I met. In the last several years, he has started reaching out to her again and initiates plans to see her about twice a year. She does not initiate plans to see him. We included her in the wedding weekend, which consists of events we have planned and are paying for spanning three days. We chose to pay for everything ourselves and not ask for financial assistance from any of our parents. In his mother’s RSVP, she stated that she would be attending all wedding events along with her fiance. This rsvp card was the first we learned she was even in a relationship, let alone engaged. The invitation was addressed to her only because the last we had heard, she was single.
Are we obligated to include her fiance that we only just found out about in the wedding events? We have never met him, and our wedding weekend would be the first time us and others in the family have ever met this person. We would also risk issues with the venue for the wedding itself since we would then be over capacity. The other weekend events do not have the same capacity restrictions. Or should we stick to our original plans of having an intimate celebration with those closest to us, which doesn’t include a stranger we only just learned about, but risk hurting his mother’s feelings?I have told my fiance that I support whatever decision he makes and feel that he should be the one to decide since it is his mother. But he is conflicted and is seeking advice.

7 Comments

Latest activity by David, on November 21, 2023 at 10:17 PM
  • C
    CM ·
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    Ideally, you'd ask anyone you aren't sure about if there is anyone you need to know about. Any guest list should have enough of a buffer to allow for partners you didn't know about, whether known or unknown to you.

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  • Connie
    Dedicated September 2023
    Connie ·
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    It’s ok I was a bridesmaid and attended a close family friend’s wedding and didn’t get to bring my plus one who became my fiancé around that same time. It’s understandable with venue capacity
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  • P
    Devoted April 2023
    Peyton ·
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    I think the fiance should be invited. Otherwise, all sorts of hurt feelings will follow and I wouldn’t want to risk that since positive gains have been slow. Nonetheless, it is ultimately up to you and your FH

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  • LM
    Super December 2022
    LM ·
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    The Mom is trying to share her life with you two and her life includes her fiancé. Refusing the fiancé is essentially placing conditions on your future relationship with her. Whoever did what first before doesn't matter; the past is over. For your future, aim for equal openness, equal responsibility, equal acceptance. Plus, it's against etiquette to deny a partner an invitation. Ask the venue if you can make accomodations for family because venue guidelines may just be for comfortability, not specifically fire code.

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  • R
    Rockstar June 2018
    Rae ·
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    I think you should invite the fiance. Since you don't see/speak often this could be her first opportunity to introduce him. If FI wants to continue to mend the relationship, invite. Whether right or wrong, it will only set back their progress.

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  • Jacks
    Rockstar November 2054
    Jacks ·
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    It would be disrespectful to the couple if you don’t invite the fiancé.
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  • D
    Savvy April 2024
    David ·
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    I think it would be nice to talk with the venue and see if they can accommodate one more guest. I know you haven’t met him yet, but it would mean a lot to your fiancé’s mother, and it’s a good opportunity to get to know him better. After all, he’s going to be part of your family soon. 😊

    I hope everything goes well with your wedding planning and you have a wonderful day! 💕

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