These are the biggest things that’ll seriously p*ss off your wedding guests

Our advice to brides and grooms-to-be? Offer plus ones if you can.

Almost half (49%) of Brits said they would be bothered if they didn’t get a plus one to a wedding, according to a survey of more than 2,000 Brits by wedding supplier Ginger Ray, shared exclusively with Metro.co.uk.

In fact, people feel so passionately about this issue that 10% would go as far as decline an invite altogether if they didn’t get a plus one.

High costs of weddings can also divide the crowds. A third of wedding guests (34%) think those tying the knot should pay for guest accommodation. And interestingly, those who earn more expect more.

Nearly half of Brits with a salary of £55,000 per year or more said they would be bothered if their accommodation wasn’t paid for, compared to just 31% of those who earn £15,000 or less a year.

You’ll also want to keep the purse strings of bridesmaids and groomsmen in mind, as 63% of Brits said it was acceptable to decline an invitation to be in the wedding party because of the costs and responsibilities associated with it.

Separate research by jeweller F. Hinds backed up that money is a real sticking point for guests.

Around third of the 2,000 surveyed said they would skip part of a wedding to save money. One in five would skip the reception and just attend the ceremony while 16% would skip the nuptials and head for the party.

With Brits spending an average of £604 to attend each wedding, one in six Brits claimed they would decline the invite altogether in a bid to save some cash.

Then you’ve got the cost of destination weddings which, while they look great on the Instagram, can burn a hole in your pocket.

When it comes to children-free weddings, things can sometimes get pretty heated between the future married couple and guests who have young kids.

But interestingly, the Ginger Ray survey found over half of Brits said they wouldn’t be bothered if their kids weren’t invited to the wedding and only 9% wouldn’t attend as a result. Maybe it would be a welcome break to have a little adult time.

How to avoid these wedding mishaps

Ginger Ray’s wedding planning expert Jess Martin shared her advice for navigating some common, tricky situations during wedding season.

Declining an invite due to finances

‘The way you go about it is what really matters, and if someone loves you enough to have invited you to be in their wedding, then they will completely understand the reasons why you can’t accept.

Budgeting as a guest/bridesmaid/groomsman

‘Questions like: “I’m trying to budget for your big day, can you let me know what things I will need to pay for myself so I can plan for it?” or “So I know how much to budget for, can you let me know what you will be paying for and what I’ll need to pay for myself?”

‘This shows the couple you’re aware there will be additional costs, but leaves the onus on them to explain what costs you might incur as part of the wedding party.

Telling guests they DO NOT have a plus one

‘The best way to avoid this question is to make it really clear on your wedding invitations who the invite is for, specifically.

‘I’d go so far as to write on the invitations something like: “no additional guest invited” or “no +1 allowed” or “this invite is for Jane and Jane only” to just make your point totally clear!

‘Whether you don’t want a plus one from a financial perspective, from a capacity point of view, or because you simply do not want people you don’t know at your wedding, it’s your wedding and your rules!’

‘If it bothers your guests so much that they cannot bring another person to the wedding of one of their friends, then perhaps they shouldn’t come at all.’

Making sure there’s no surprise little guests

‘The best way to make the point clear, is again to make sure it’s written in the invitations. Including the message “this wedding is for adults only” or “please note: children are not invited on this occasion” are simple disclaimers that get the point across in a clear and concise way.

‘If after that you still are asked the question, all you need to do is respond with: “as mentioned in the invitations, we have decided to make our wedding day an adults-only event, and there will not be any facilities or catering options for children. We’re really sorry if this means you can’t make the wedding, but we totally understand!”‘

Telling family they’ll have to pay for their own accomodation

‘Most people won’t expect you to pay for accommodation as just a guest. However, clarity is key when it comes to family members and those in the wedding party.

‘Let them know as soon as possible whether they will need to find and book their own place to stay. 

‘In your wedding invitations or save the dates, it can be nice to include a list of suggested accommodation options. It also serves as a handy hint that people will need to find and book their own.

‘If you are lucky enough to have some rooms available for guests to stay in at your venue, make it very clear who is staying where otherwise people may automatically presume they can stay and let people know as soon as possible.’

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