Inviting Workmates without Partners

Nelbell

Hi
Just looking for some opinions on this. A friend and I were discussing the idea of inviting all workmates to your wedding without partners or a 'select' few with their partners. If numbers are a little tight you have to start getting selective. You can (obviously) invite more of your workmates if they all come individually, e.g. 10 people as opposed to only 5 of them if you invite their partners too. I think you spend the most part of your week with these people so why not invite all individually, therefore maximizing the numbers, whereas if you choose a few then you also get their partners whom you don’t know. Personally I wouldn’t like to be invited to a wedding without my OH, but if it was to a work ‘do’ I don’t think it would bother me as much. I think I would understand if numbers were tight.
Anyone have any views on this cos I’m a bit on the fence!

kandr10

I think it really depends on the situation. If it's normally the case that a group of work colleagues go out drinking together without partners then maybe it would be ok. But at the end of the day, it's not a work do, it's a wedding. Some people might think it strange that their partner wasn't invited, especially if the partner is talked about/known to the group. I'd apply an all or none policy myself!

Toto Wolfcastle

If the workmates all know each other well then invite them without partners, unless you know the partners well as well. It would be better to have 10 people you know from work there rather than 5 people you know and 5 partners you don't know. Also, if the partners don't know anyone there is would be a chore for your workmates to look after them for the night.

tinkerbell

If your workmates are all friendly anyway and know each other pretty well, then I see no problem with inviting workmates only and not partners. Because if you start inviting partners, then the numbers start to go up, and then you are trying to pick only a few and people will get insulted or whatever. So as long as your workmates know each other, I see no reason to invite partners.

Heineken Helen

I agree with Tinkerbell on this. I went to a colleagues wedding last summer and she only invited the work people. I didn't for a second wonder why or think 'oh I can't go without my OH'. I simply planned to get ready with the other girls and stayed at a friend nearby.

Although for our wedding, the other half invited some workmates and their spouses. I only invited one guy from work though cos I've sat beside him for the last two years, but I didn't invite a plus one.

fuddy1

I've found with all the work weddings i've been to, partners were only invited if they knew the couple getting married well. I'd rather 10 workmates there without their partners, dont think anyone would think twice about being invited to 'work' wedding without partner.

janbaby

I've said to people I work with that partners won't be invited. The reason is that we're having a small wedding and I'd like to share the day with the people I see every day but we can't fit partners. The venue only holds 100 max. Everyone I work with gets on great together so they won't feel left out or excluded on the day.
People take wedding invited so personally. You should think about the couple who have to go through the process of picking people. Its not easy knowing that some people will be offended. I don't understand why people have to take it so personally. At the end of the day it only one day and your there to celebrate it with the bride and groom.