To think you just don't do this?

[Cupcakecafe]

Been handing out wedding invites recently. We were away for the weekend, so gave a couple to mil to give out to people they see on a Saturday night.

Saw mil today and asked if she gave out the invites and did they say they were coming. She said yeah "Julie" said she's coming and she's going to bring "Lisa" with her.
Now it's only an evening invite but still. Surely you don't just say oh I'll bring someone with me who isn't invited?!
I just looked at mil like excuse me what, then looked at fiance. He said well it's only an evening one so I guess it's ok.
Aibu to think no it isn't ok and you don't just invite your random friend along to a wedding you're invited to?

If I was invited to a wedding where I didn't know anyone I would just make an excuse and decline. Bringing an uninvited guest is rude.

But it is. If a few people didnt take a +1, which people only do so they arent alone, then single people would have someone to talk to and be inclined to go alone. Same with dinner parties etc.
I dont have issues sitting on a table with strangers making conversation though and get a lot of people have anxiety.
And no dont have baggage its an obvious observation. Social events are constructed around couples.

I wouldn't go to a wedding reception on my own. I think it's odd that you'd expect that OP.

She wouldn't be on her own, 5 of her friends who live nearby and go to the pub together frequently are all coming to the evening. She doesn't have a partner and every event she's been to since we've known her has been by herself, she's never taken a plus one even if one was invited.

It isn't that we don't like Lisa, it's that neither of us know her, she's just a woman who goes to the pub where Julie goes occasionally. She isn't one of the group of 5 who are invited, she just acknowledges them at the bar and things.

The wedding is a very small wedding, family only during the day. We also have to pay per head for the evening guests, not just the day guests (A smaller amount obviously), and if she comes it would mean adding an extra table as we'd been careful with numbers to fit our budget and fill a certain number of tables.

Then just tell her no.

That's why I'd never do that. We posted them ourselves and gave out the local ones ourselves.
Was different as wedding was small, close family and friends, NO separate evening as I don't like that at all, and everyone got a plus one as I'd never invite someone without the option to bring their partner or a guest of their choice if they're single or partner could not come.
That way there can be no confusion.

I can't believe so many people think it's weird for your mil to hand deliver invites - my mil did ours for her family and friends - they live in another town so it made sense (she also delivers most of the Christmas cards to them too).

I get what some people were saying about not wanting to be alone but op and clarified she isn't alone and is invited as part of a group of mil friends. If she is happy to socialise at the pub alone I don't see the difference of an evening wedding reception.

Although as pp has said, often people don't come to an evening do who said they will do it will probably be ok however it's the night if CF to just assume you can take someone.

Tell MIL to say no to Julie bringing Lisa. It's her mess to sort.

Did MIL know it wasn't a plus one OP?

Duck
Yeah the invite clearly just said Julie, and we'd spoke previously and we had said can you give Julie her invite when you give out "Jane and Rick's" "Mark's" etc