Organising a wedding is hard enough by itself. But dealing with plus one drama makes it even worse. You somehow have to explain who can come (and who can’t), which is never a good experience. 

This post takes a look at managing plus one drama and what you need to do. Here’s everything to know: 

Where Does Plus-One Drama Come From? 

Unfortunately, plus one drama can come from all sorts of areas. In some situations, you might not want someone to come because of a recent break-up – that’s always awkward.

In other cases, you might also have undecided guests. Their relationships might not be as stable and secure as they would like, and you don’t want to lay table seating just in case they don’t show up. 

Then there are boundary issues. You simply don’t want some people to be there. Perhaps you had a run-in with them in the past, or you’re worried about what they’ll say to other guests. 

Finally, plus-one drama can sometimes come from your partner. They might want to invite their friends and partners, but you don’t. 

How To Deal With Plus-One Drama

Fortunately, there are several ways you can deal with plus-one drama and prevent it from becoming the story that dominates your wedding. You don’t want to get into a situation where everyone seems happy, except you. 

Delegate

One option if you’re a conflict-avoiding individual is to delegate. Passing the job of organising invitations over to a family member takes the pressure off you. It’s not you who’s having to tell Aunty Mabel she can’t bring her new boyfriend with her. 

The best people for this job are the toughest souls in your family. Putting them in charge of sending each postcard to your guests exonerates you from responsibility. 

Be Fair

Next, ensure that you’re always fair when applying a plus-one policy. Don’t allow some people to bring their partners but not others. That’s never going to go down well. 

The trick here is to send invitations to individual people you know. This way, you can specify exactly who’s on the list. 

For example, you should send invitations to both parties in a couple (and even the kids if they have a family). Providing them with invitations on an individual basis clears up any confusion about bringing partners. 

Put A Note

You could also say that you don’t have a plus one policy at your wedding. Instead, only guests with invitations addressed to them can attend. 

Placing the note high on the invitation makes it simpler for everyone to see. It also removes any claims of unfair treatment. 

Make sure that if you invite the partners on your side of the family you do the same for the groom. Otherwise, you could again receive accusations of unfairness. 

Develop Alternatives

Lastly, you could explore alternatives. Plus ones might be okay at the reception but not at the ceremony if you’re limited for space, or vice versa. Keep it as flexible as possible while explaining why you’re doing it to your guests at the same time.

When it comes to choosing a wedding venue, there are so many different things to consider and it can be really easy to paralyze yourself with choices. You’ve probably checked out a dozen or more wedding venues already, or perhaps you don’t even know where to start. It’s a daunting process–that’s for sure! But there are a couple of ways to make the entire thing easier, especially if you’re willing to do a bit of research and have a few months (or even a whole year) to get prepared.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at a couple of things to consider when choosing the ideal wedding venue for you and your partner, or even when helping your friends and family members.

Accessibility can be really important

When choosing a wedding venue, one of the most important factors has to be accessibility. Imagine if you picked a really fancy and beautiful location, only to realize that most of your guests won’t be able to make the trip because it’s way too far from where they live. Maybe you want to have a nice wedding overseas, but you can’t justify it because most of the people on your guest list can’t really pay for a weekend flight just for a wedding.

Depending on your guest list, you’ll need to pick a location that is fairly accessible to everyone. In most cases, it’s best if you can pick a location that is close to you and your dearest friends and family members, but we know that it’s not always possible given the circumstances and distances between people. However, it’s often in your best interests to try and find a location that everyone is content with.

The venue capacity and the size of your guest list

Next, think about venue capacity. Locations such as St Osyth Priory are huge and can offer plenty of space for all of your guests, but you might also prefer something a little smaller (especially if the location is more ideal) so it’s always a good idea to look around. Try to get a rough estimate from the venue on how many people can attend, then compare it to your guest list. This will help you pick a venue that is suitable for the number of people that you plan to invite.

Look at the amenities and services

Don’t forget to look at things such as catering. Many venues offer in-house catering that is taken care of by a team of cooks. They might not offer this option all the time. In some cases, you might need to contact another catering service, or even look for a reception team that can use the amenities at the venue. You’ll also want to ask your catering team about dietary needs, and also look into any additional services they can offer, such as a buffet later on in the day.

Whether it’s your wedding day or if you’re helping to plan for a friend or family member, it’s vital that you consider these things when picking a wedding venue. The more time you spend planning it, the more magical and memorable the wedding will be.

You may think that a wedding costing £10K is an expensive one, but the truth is it is pretty cheap these days. Indeed, you certainly can have a great celebration for 10K and under but you will need to decide where to spend and where to save to meet your budget. Luckily, you can get some guidance on this very subject in the post below. 

Wedding dress 

Some folks are happy with getting a cut-price dress from a sale, or even a preloved gown. After all, it has only been worn once! However as a rule I wouldn’t recommend scrimping on your wedding dress as it’s a very important party of the day for the bride. 

Not only will you want to look your best for the day and the photos that you will review and probably display in your home for the rest of your life, but your wedding dress is symbolic of the change and commitment you are about to make. With that in mind, finding a dress that makes your heart soar is almost like a good omen for the marriage and life to come, and that is why, in my opinion, this is definitely a spending item and not a saved one. That said, if you find a dress that you love I think it would be madness not to shop around. 

Rings 

Rings, including engagement and wedding rings, are also very symbolic. The circular nature of the ring and the inclusion of diamonds represent the eternity that you promise to be with your partner. Although many people do worry about the cost of such items. 

Of course, the answer here is to do your research before you buy and check out posts like this 3 Carat Diamond Ring Price Revealed article for the in-depth information you need. Then you will be able to see whether it’s worth spending on diamond rings, or whether it’s better to save and go for something more simple that will keep you on budget. 

Cake 

Opinions really vary on whether you should spend a fortune on your wedding cake, or whether it’s a great place to save. Personally, I think it’s up to you, but the cake and the cutting of the cake tend to be one of the central points of the day, which means you’ll want to make sure it looks its best. It’s also something that you won’t want to have to worry about making yourself or going wrong so investing in a professional baker, and some professionally made toppers makes sense to me. 

Venue 

Believe it or not, you can actually save on your wedding venue if you are willing to go for a less-than-traditional option. For many people that means the back garden of their parents or a relative that is big enough to put up a marquee. MrG and I got married in a victorian water tower!

A favourite restaurant or even a private room in a pub can also be a great option for a venue that won’t break the bank. Just make sure you can get in to decorate them beforehand, and that you assign some of your wedding party to clear up duty when the celebration is over.