Couple of 9 Years Gets Wedding Plus-One Invite Rescinded Because They’re Not Married: ‘Only Want Committed Couples’

Mar. 15, 2025

Groom and bride with crossed arms standing back to back (stock image).Photo:Tetra Images/Getty

Bride and Groom with crossed arms standing back to back

Tetra Images/Getty

An individual had their wedding invitation rescinded because they aren’t married or engaged.

The uninvited wedding guest expressed their frustration with the “married couples only” rule in aposton Reddit’s “Wedding Shaming” forum. They noted that the rule is hypocritical, considering they have been in a committed relationship for longer than the bride and groom.

“It honestly does hurt to be told in an around-the-houses way that someone thinks my relationship is less than theirs because we are not going to get married,” the Redditor wrote.

A woman and a man’s hand wearing wedding bands (stock image).Tabitha Arn/Getty

A woman and a man’s hand wearing wedding bands

Tabitha Arn/Getty

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the uninvited wedding guest and their partner have hung out with the couple getting married at least once a month. The four live in the same city and spend a lot of time together, so it wasn’t surprising when the bride and groom sent them their save-the-date a year in advance, and then their wedding invitation — which was addressed to each of them — three months ago.

Suddenly, with the wedding just a month away, the groom informed the Redditor’s partner that they would no longer be getting a plus-one.

“He was so sorry, but unfortunately I was having my invite rescinded as they have decided that all plus-ones have to be engaged or married,” the poster explained. “I and several other girl/boyfriends have been removed from the attendee list, and even some of their aunts and uncles are being told that their partners cannot attend anymore.”

The individual continued: “When asked why, they have supposedly decided that they want their day to be a true ‘celebration of love,’ and therefore only want ‘committed’ couples in attendance.”

The ex-wedding guest doesn’t think the “committed couples” policy makes any sense, considering they have been in a serious relationship with their partner for nine years, which is three years longer than the bride and groom have been dating. Yet to them, their decision to not tie the knot demonstrates a lack of commitment.

“Neither of us have any interest in getting married, and everyone in our lives knows this and (we thought) respected our decision,” the former plus-one said.

Upset wedding guest (stock image).JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty

Upset woman sitting on a couch in formal attire

JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty

The Redditor’s partner is still invited to the wedding due to his close relationship with the groom, but he is questioning whether or not he should go.

“Thankfully the wedding is in the local area so there were no pre-paid expenses for us, though I know some of the other couples won’t be so lucky,” the poster wrote. “My partner still hasn’t made his mind up on whether or not to attend.”

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The individual is “content either way on his decision” and is not going to argue with the couple’s decision.

“I am choosing to sit back and watch it unfold rather than get upset on someone else’s behalf,” they concluded their post.

“That is so tacky it’s crazy. You were already invited!” the top comment read in part. “It’s obviously because they have run out of money and think that excuse is less embarrassing than saying they can’t afford the size of wedding they initially wanted.”

Other commenters said it was unfair for the poster’s partner to still be invited when they seem to spend almost just as much time with the couple. They encouraged him to skip the wedding in solidarity, and predicted that the wedding rule will make their next group hangout “awkward.”

“Rescinding an invitation is such a gross violation of etiquette that it’s mind-boggling,” another Redditor commented. “Your partner’s friend is telling him that you don’t matter. Does he agree with that? If he attends, it sends the message that he does. I’d decline the invitation and drop the couple from my social calendar.”

source: people.com