AITA for not giving my sister a plus one to my wedding?

The user, a bride-to-be, has a complicated relationship with her sister, who has a history of short-lived relationships and prefers dating rich men. Due to the venue’s size and a desire to avoid having a stranger in her wedding photos, the user decided not to give her sister a plus one.

After receiving her invitation with only one seat reserved, the sister became upset and claimed it was unfair. The user doubts her sister will find a serious relationship by the wedding date. read the original story below…

‘ AITA for not giving my sister a plus one to my wedding?’

Hi reddit, I (25F) am a Winter 2024 bride, and am marrying the absolute love of my life. My sister and I have always had a great/interesting relationship. Most sisters would know, one day you start fighting because she wore your clothes, and the next day you’re having Dunkin together, typically sisterly things.

Well my sister has always been to put it frankly a pick me girl. She has no friends that are women because and she says “she sees them as competition” and she likes to be friends with boys. She will only date rich men, and refuses to settle for less (a little bit to that later).

My sister has not had a relationship last longer than 2 months, and she always has a new guy on her shoulder. My mother and Fiancé were recently talking about this before I sent out my invitations.

I had mentioned since our venue was on smaller side, we didn’t want strangers in our wedding, nor did we want them in our wedding photos. My mom had made a comment about how anyone my sister would bring would be a fling, since she currently was not in a relationship.

When we went home that night, I brought it up to my Fiancé (we’ll call him Bertram). I told Bertram that I really did not want a complete stranger in my wedding pictures, and certainly not someone my sister would only have been dating a few weeks, maybe a month.

Well just this past week Bertram and I sent out our wedding invitations, and they read “We have reserved __ seat(s) in your name.” So for example for my Fiancé’s family his reads, “We have reserved 4 seat(s) in your name.” When my sister received her invitation, hers read “We have reserved 1 seat(s) in your name”.

And boy was she upset. She called me and told me that it was not fair that she could not bring a plus one. I mentioned to her that she didn’t have the best track record with men, and that Bertram and I really didn’t want some random person nobody would talk about in our wedding pictures.

She said that I was s**fish, and that since our Wedding was towards the end of December (the 29th) she had 6 months to find a boyfriend, and that it would be a serious relationship.

Now here I might’ve gotten mean, but I told her I would seriously doubt if she found anyone, given her track record for the absolutely worse men alive. (As I mentioned before rich men, who think buying gifts will excuse cheating, and lying).

She got upset, hung up, and said she will be attending my wedding with a boyfriend of 4 plus months because she will find one. AITA for not giving her a plus one? And would I be an a**hole for considering to uninvite her all together ?

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Active-Anteater1884 −  INFO: I don’t understand why you feel your sister’s date has to be in your wedding pictures. I mean, can’t she bring a plus one and only she appears in family photos?

NotCreativeAtAll16 −  NTA. For the last time, for everyone in the back, you don’t have to invite anyone to your wedding just because someone expects it. Just like people are free to take that invitation and respond to it how they see fit.

growsonwalls −  Gonna go against the grain and say YTA. You come across as very judgy and contemptuous of your sister, and i bet that tone was apparent when you explained to her the rule. You might win the battle but if you value your sister at all you need to find more respectful, empathetic ways of communicating with her.

Internal-Pineapple84 −  More info is needed. Is absolutely no one allowed to bring a plus one? If that’s the case, then no, you’re NTA. But if all of your other guests are allowed to bring a plus one and you are excluding her, then yes, YTA. 

whatsername235 −  Oh, god YTA.. Just the way you wrote this… Close family always get a plus one, even if it’s a friend so they’re comfortable and happy. Unless you have about twenty guests, your sister gets a guest. Your writing of this is seriously judgemental. It’s not cute or fun. Actually, don’t invite her at all, the whole thing sounds insufferable

[Reddit User] −  I don’t know, you tell me? You’re placing yourself on a pedestal and using your wedding as an excuse to belittle and shame your sister’s love-life, because her plus-one might be in some photos? If I were her I wouldn’t even come, and years down the road when people ask why you can tell them you cared more about the wedding photos than your sister. Get over yourself, seriously.. YTA.

spicymorenaaa −  I feel like people tend to forget that plus ones also aren’t free 🤷🏻‍♀️ it’s your wedding at the end of the day

PurpleStar1965 −  I’m over here thinking about the poor guy the sister is gonna rope into a “relationship” for the rest of the year, drag to the wedding like a trophy, then d**p at the New Year. 🤣🤣🤣

applebum8807 −  INFO: What is the plus one policy for your wedding overall?

Jyqm −  NTA. There is never any obligation to offer single people a +1 to a wedding. (But I certainly hope this is a blanket policy you applied across the board rather than singling out your sister.)

Is the user justified in not offering a plus one to her sister, or should family ties take precedence over her preferences? What do you think? Share your thoughts below!