Invited friends to my home for lunch but they each want to bring someone else too.People I don't know well.

[Motheroffive999]

As title.
Invited 3 school friends over for lunch next week end.
First friend texted and said they are looking forward to lunch and could they bring their adult daughter too ?
Then this morning another girl phoned and said she has family visiting and can she bring her mum?
2 minutes ago the 3rd friend phones to ask what time we are eating and could she bring her kids aged 14 and 15 ?
Is this normal?

No I don’t think it’s normal. I think it’s rude. I would just say no

Just say that you'll reschedule as you didn't realise they were all busy with family and dont.

Its half term is not surprising people are getting together. However it’s rude, due to unforeseen circumstances you can’t host.

It’s rude. Just reply and say you will rearrange.

Even if you did know them, it's grown from making lunch for 4 to lunch for 8!

Not normal in my circle. I’d call that cheeky. Say no, sorry, it was an invitation for a light informal lunch, you’re not up for catering for 8 people. So it’s no to everyone.
Bonkers that they even asked, but quite flattering too, shows they really do want to come, even though they have other commitments. It should still be a no, though.

No, its not normal at all to ask to bring a plus 1 or a plus 2 to a friends group like that. I too would re-schedule saying that THEY are clearly busy and that you'd been looking forward to a school friend catch up. Not everyone would have space for others nor want children or someone's mum to a school friend, adult get together!

Thats mad and cheeky. Say no or you cant make it now

Oh no, what a shame. You think you've got Covid. Got to cancel. Take the money you would have spent on feeding the gannets and go somewhere nice. If they see you, even better. There are words for people like this OP. Better start using them.

Suggest a cafe meet up instead. No way would I be feeding all those extra people!!

I'd just cancel it. It's quite cheeky of them.

This is the best response

Totally depends on your situation I suppose. I’d try and make the best of it all and probably be okay with it but I’d never think to bring an uninvited guest to something.
A lady in our book club (we are a group of 8 and have been going for over 15 years) occasionally asks if she can bring her daughter and grandaughter along - they live abroad and see each other once a year, we’ve only met them about 3 times in 10 years and each time it just feels weird, they obviously haven’t read the book and while we make them feel welcome (or at least I hope they feel that way!) the dynamic is different. Not bad, just not quite like normal. And we all just wonder why she doesn’t just let us know she has other plans and cancel on us - we’d all be fine with it 😂

They are being very unreasonable. I'd cancel it and tell them why!

^This
They are being incredibly rude!

That’s not normal, and change the dynamics of the event. They should decline if not convenient.

As others have said, reschedule the event.

Rude. Extremely rude.

Invitations require a yes or no answer, not counter negotiation.

Id Just send a group message saying as we are all busy with family this date, let's reschedule

I wouldn't be happy with this at all - it'll change the dynamic and you have no idea if they'll even get on.
Definitely reschedule.

No it is not. Apart from anything else it's massively inconsiderate on the basic level that you hadn't planned lunch for that many! I invite friends over for lunch knowing how many and what I need to have available...! This is very rude on many levels.

I'd say the first two are ok, but bringing two teens, would change the dynamic. As said, just rearrange. They've just thought of it as an informal meet up, something simple to eat, some of the reactions on here are ridiculous.

Bringing one’s mum to a lunch with friends would change the dynamic as much as bringing teens would!

OP: cancel due to the unforeseen cheeky fuckery of guests!

Reschedule. Say you realise family comes first and due to everyone having family commitments it's now far more people than you can cater for, but if everyone still wants to do lunch then what about a pub lunch as there are now so many of you and everyone can choose what they like for lunch.

It really depends on how close you are to them and the type of relationship you have with them. I have friends who I know that if my mum was visiting me and I went to their place for lunch and hadn't told them she was visiting and asked if she could come they would ask me what the fuck I was thinking leaving her because they know her well. I have other where I wouldn't even think of taking my mum to see.

I think I’d say ‘If you’re not free then, some other time, then’ and leave it at that.