At What Age Is It Appropriate to Invite Someone to a Wedding With a Guest?
Wedding invitation etiquette can be a tricky thing. You want to make sure that you include everyone without blowing your invitation budget or stepping on any toes. Questions always arise concerning the addition of "and Guest" on invitations for single friends or family members. Many brides who have decided to extend the offer are left scratching their heads about age appropriateness when, in fact, the answer is really quite straightforward.
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Young Guests
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The general rule of thumb accepted by most wedding experts is that guests over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation regardless of whether or not they still live at home. If they do live with their parents, they should be addressed separately despite the fact that their younger siblings are all listed on their parents' invitation. This might add a bit to the total number of invitations you have to purchase, but it is a commonly practiced and often expected tradition.
College Age
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Of course, many of your family members or friends who are over 18 will be living away from home, most likely attending college. Again, the correct etiquette is to extend an invitation to them separately to ensure that they know they are included in the festivities. Otherwise, particularly in this situation, it could be interpreted that they are not invited.
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Adding the 'and Guest'
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Living at home or on their own, it is appropriate for those over 18 who are receiving their own invitation to also be extended the opportunity to bring a guest. If you and your spouse-to-be are planning to give single guests the option of bringing someone with them to the event, then any invited guests over 18, or those who have reached "college age", should be given the same option.
Choice
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It is not imperative that couples let their single guests bring someone with them. You do have the option to invite only those you know, if you prefer to have only personal friends and family attending. However, if the single guest, who is over the age of 18, is engaged or has a steady significant other with whom you are at least familiar, they must be included and also listed on the invitation.
Tight Budgets
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When your wedding invitation budget is minimal and simply does not allow for any extras, you can still avoid hurting people's feelings or making them feel unimportant. If you cannot afford a separate invitation for college-aged guests, it is courteous to give them a phone call or meet with them in person to extend the invitation verbally. Likewise, if you feel that you just can't include unknown guests of single friends without breaking the bank, consider calling or meeting them to explain the situation. Most guests are more than understanding when they know that you are thoughtful enough to tell them personally.
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