Is It Ever Okay to Bring an Uninvited Plus-One?

By now, you're probably familiar with the rules regarding plus-ones (guests with serious relationships should get them, but ones dating casually don't have to; and the wedding party always should, among other guidelines). But what if someone doesn't adhere to these rules, and decides to bring a surprise guest (even though they weren't invited)?

It might sound far-fetched, but according to a recent study by jewelry company Brilliant Earth, 33 percent of respondents said they either would, or have, brought an uninvited plus-one to a wedding (and this number increases to 45 percent for those aged 18 to 24). Scary, right?

For the record: It's never okay to bring an uninvited friend or partner to someone else's wedding. Not only is it uncomfortable for the couple who are already attempting to accommodate all of their guests who actually are invited, but you also run the risk of making your plus-one feel extremely awkward when they realize (if they hadn't already) there won't be a table setting for them, or the venue chosen by the couple literally doesn't hold more people than they've allotted.

Don't forget, the couple is paying for each individual head at their wedding (it can easily run into the hundreds of dollars per person)—so every wedding crasher that shows up is depleting the resources that they've paid top dollar for. And that's not fair to anyone.

In the case that one or more of your guests decides to bring an uninvited plus-one—and you're subsequently put into a seemingly sticky situation—don't freak out. It may be possible to work with the venue or your wedding planner to put out an extra chair and table setting. If seating arrangements are particularly tight, the surprise guest may have to sit far from their date. But remember that's their problem, not yours, and you shouldn't bend over backward to accommodate someone who wasn't invited to begin with (even if it goes against your instincts).

Uninvited plus-ones might be inevitable in some cases, but there are some preventative steps you can take to try to avoid them. For instance, establish a rule from the get-go that plus ones are reserved for guests who are married, engaged or living together—and for those who give you a hard time, simply explain to them that you have budget and space constraints. Triple-check your RSVPs so you can call the guest if you see they've added an uninvited guest (most times, they'll totally understand—they were probably just confused).

Moral of the story: If you're the to-be-wed, make it clear to your guests what your plus-one policy is if you get any pushback; and if you're someone else's guest considering bringing someone who didn't score an invite—just don't do it. You'll be doing a disservice to pretty much everyone, and that's not cool.