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This is a true bridezilla story: A young woman, we'll call her Young Woman, recently received a wedding invitation addressed to Young Woman and guest. The young woman had recently ended a long term relationship, but she didn't know many people who would be at the wedding, so she invited a friend as her "and guest" and RSVP'd for two, Young Woman and New Guy.

Upon receipt of this RSVP, the bride called the young woman to say that she could not bring the new guy. "Only people in serious relationships are allowed to bring guests," said the bridezilla. That's funny, since the invitation only specified "guest," not a specific person. Surely there's space at the reception for the new guy if there was space for the ex, so why is the bride forcing her friend to un-invite her date? Because she's being unreasonable, that's why.

If the ex-boyfriend (that the bride thought was current) was invited, why wasn't his name on the invitation? And if the young woman couldn't bring any guest but the (ex-)boyfriend, then why did she get an "and guest" on her invitation? Because the bride is not well-versed in etiquette. And that's the story of how one friendship ended.

It's fine for you to only want people you know at your wedding, but if you have someone specific in mind, the proper thing to do is put that person's name on the invitation. If you only specify "and guest," you are giving your guests the freedom to invite a person of their choosing, and it is wrong to take that freedom away once you have extended it.


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