Dinner with friends predicament...

[alwaysstrivingforinnerpeace]

Rather than asking if I'm being unreasonable, I think I'd just like some honest advice please!
For my birthday my employer gifted me a voucher for an expensive restaurant in my local town. The voucher was for £300 and to be honest, at that restaurant, you could easily spend that on dinner for two once you've had a few cocktails and a bottle of wine!
Me and my partner don't get to go out much - we rarely have a babysitter and not a lot of spare cash to be dining out together, especially somewhere like that!
We had friends round a few weeks ago and I told them about my voucher and after a few wines thought it would be a great idea to invite my friend and her girlfriend to join us. They have no kids so a lot more spare cash than us, so dining out is a weekly thing for them.
I'm a real over-thinker and as the date is approaching I'm starting to worry.
When the bill arrives how would you expect to split in? Would you put the voucher in then split the remainder between the two couples? Would you put the voucher in then expect them to pay the rest of the bill? The closer it gets the more anxious I'm getting. I don't want to upset our friends but also can't really afford to fork out loads on the night.
What do you think? What would you do? I'm regretting inviting them now but I know uninviting them isn't an option!
Please help!

What's your predicament?

Have you thought of taking in ironing?

Seems like you missed off some of your post. But do you have to take friends? Take A friend, or partner/parent/sibling who you can be a bit clearer with about money.

On the face of it, it sounds like a very nice "predicament"!

I'm guessing you want to go with friends and are trying to work out whether you should use your voucher for just your (and DP) meal or share it between everyone?

Personally, I think you should share it. If you don't want to pay, then use the voucher for dinner for 2 and see your friends at another time.

Sorry, managed to post before I'd finished!!

Cannot comprehend why you told them about the voucher tbh. Now it's all become stressful rather than a lovely treat.

I don't understand

Yes, another vote for not sure why you mentioned the voucher. I wouldn't have overshared that.

I agree, I wish I hadn't.

It's your birthday present so I think the £300 covers all your share and the rest if the bill gets split 3 ways - your partner and your 2 friends.

That way you benefit mainly, as you should, but the other 3 also gain some equally.

Honestly, you were a fool to invite them. But what's done is done.

As money is tight, why don't you send a message saying, "really looking forward to seeing you for dinner. I was thinking that I'll use the voucher to pay for the wine for all of us, as well as DP and my meals. Does that sound okay - money is a bit tight so even with the voucher we'd struggle otherwise."

But it's not ideal so she could respond badly.

I was just excited. I've never received a gift like that, especially from an employer.

Now you've told the friends about the voucher, if you go for a meal at that restaurant then you should put the £300 credit into the kitty and split the remainder of the bill between the four of you.

I agree, I wish I hadn't.

I wasn't meaning to snark btw. Feeling sorry for you

OP has now edited and completed her original post, no need to be so narky is there!

Great idea, thank you.

they key word here is "friend". pick up the phone and have a chat

Cancel citing a family commitment or something vague and then don’t rearrange it. Then go on your own with your husband.

otherwise, share the voucher.

If I was asked I would assume that the voucher would go in part payment towards the whole bill, then the other voile pay the remainder

Not very helpful. I'm just looking for advice on what I should do, not what I shouldn't have done.

Honestly I would cancel the friends and just go on the quiet with husband.

You and your partner never really get to go out together? So, you thought it was a good idea to ruin what could be a lovely romantic night for the two of you by inviting a friend along?

How does your partner feel about this? I’d be quite disappointed and feel a little rejected if my partner did this. A chance for a rare night out together and you bring people along.

Cancel the dinner. Tell them you can’t go. Then use the voucher with your partner and tell them you had to use it before it expired if they mention it again. If they don’t, then you don’t bring it up either.