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Why You Cannot Bring A Date To The Wedding

It was something that came up this morning that we have never talked about. But it is a subject a lot of parents have had to deal with, and it’s…

A couple looking at a wedding invitation.

A couple looking at their wedding invite.

Zinkevych via Getty IImages

It was something that came up this morning that we have never talked about. But it is a subject a lot of parents have had to deal with, and it's the reason why you cannot bring a date to the wedding.

The Mike & Carla Morning Show once again tried to solve this serious problem on the morning show! In fact, it was personal since it was Carla's friend and the conversation they had that started this whole thing.

Carla has a friend whose daughter was getting married. It was a very nice wedding and truth be told, $200 a head. With that said, you know it was very nice right?

Here's Why You Can't Bring A Date To The Wedding

Some family friends have a son and he tells the father of the bride that he's coming to the wedding. . .and he's thinking about bringing a date. Well, first of all, why would you bring sand to a beach?

Secondly, at $200 a plate, the father quickly told him, "uh no you're not! You're not bringing a 'date' to the wedding...take her out to dinner if you want to impress her, but not to the wedding."

This brings up the question of why anyone would want to bring someone -- they've only been dating for a few weeks -- to a wedding?

Having established that, this question also comes into play, "does the father have that right to say 'NO' you're not allowed to bring anyone?"

Most listeners agreed that indeed he had the right. Especially if he's the one paying for it. Others said that if the invitation reads your name solely that means ONLY you are invited. If it were to say your name plus one then you are okay with bringing a date.

Of course, according to Wedding Wire, the forum basically agreed with a lot of our listeners. So our conclusions about this discussion: If the wedding invite is addressed only to you then it's you are the only one invited -- not your boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend. If the invitation has your name and "guest," then you should still make sure the wedding party is OK with you bringing a guest.

After all, it is slightly strange to attend someone's wedding if you barely know them.

We loved the listeners who called in. Some actually had been through something like this. So, take a couple of minutes, listen to the segment and see what you think.

It's easy to become overwhelmed when planning a wedding. From booking the venue and the caterer to the guest list and music selections, there's a lot of decisions leading up to the big day. The latest trend to take social media by storm is "anti-bride." Many soon-to-be brides are embracing the trend that encourages people to ditch the pressure of wedding traditions and go for more of a personal experience.

Last year, a Pinterest x Zola wedding report showed an increase in searches for "anti-bride wedding." On TikTok, Zola, the wedding planning platform, shared posts about the trend. They described it as a way for couples to take the reins on wedding planning, giving them the freedom to do what they want with no rules.

Amy Shack Egan, or who some call "The Anti-Wedding Wedding Planner" mentioned in a 2022 interview with The Cut that "love parties" are meant to reflect the couple rather than adhere to societal expectations.

Anti-wedding doesn’t mean no wedding at all. Some people see it as having a micro wedding with a smaller guest list or saying no to party favors and excessive extras. It could also be having a wedding at home, wearing an inexpensive dress from Target that’s not white at all. Many anti-brides are even opting to walk down the aisle by themselves or with their partner, or not walking down the aisle. This trend become a financial necessity for some people.

Throughout the years, plenty of celebrities have followed the anti-wedding trend. For instance, in 1997, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick had an anti-wedding. People reported that the couple exchanged vows at New York City’s Angel Orensanz Synagogue. The pair invited friends and family to the event under the guise that it was just a party. In the end, they surprised roughly 100 guests with a wedding. Parker said "I do" in a black dress rather than the traditional white.

In 2022, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got married in Vegas with a very relaxed wedding ceremony. Entertainment News reported that the couple got married next to a Caesar’s Palace blackjack table. Affleck changed into the white jacket he'd grabbed out of his closet in the men's room. Meanwhile, Lopez wore a dress she used in an old movie.

Check out some anti-wedding trends below.

Ditching White Gowns

While most conventional wedding dresses feature white dresses with trains, a new trend has hit the scene. Many soon-to-be brides are opting for dresses with pops of color or even daring to wear the color black. Google Trends had high searches for "black wedding dress" over the past 12 months, CNN reported. In fall 2021 specifically, "black wedding dress" was searched more times than “white wedding dress” on Google. Another traditional gown switch-up is not wearing a gown at all and wearing a suit, or a romper.

Back view of a beautiful black wedding gown, in Victorian style, with long, black flowing veil

MarinaZg/ Getty Images

Swapping Veils For Dramatic Capes

More brides are saying goodbye to veils and going to wedding capes. Some brides just don't find veils to be a comfortable accessory. It can easily be removed without destroying your hair and is perfect for chilly weather. We can't forget to mention that it adds a majestic timeless feel.

Married Couple Playing Table Football

Dziggyfoto/ Getty Images

Dining table in backyard at home. Cozy space in patio or balcony. Terrace outdoor with brick wall and plants, table and wooden bench. Garden in summer with patio, wooden garden furniture and barbecue

Тодорчук Екатерина/ Getty Images

Attractive young woman in wedding dress putting on sports shoes and smiling while sitting on the sofa

g-stockstudio/ Getty Images

A mature bride and groom toasting with guests at wedding reception outside in the backyard.

Halfpoint/ Getty Images

Young woman in incredibly dress with feathers. Creative cloak embroidered with stones, silver and down. White dress with a corset and a long skirt with tulle fluttering in the wind. Art photography

Kharchenko_irina7/ Getty Images

Quiet Receptions

Keeping it casual is a very bold and anti-wedding move. You can just gather your friends after an elopement and head to a restaurant to celebrate. The key to this is to make restaurant accommodations in advance and to make sure the food tastes good. You don't want your family and friends to leave disappointed.

bride and groom inside a cocktail bar in a bright atmosphere with a glass of drink

Andreua/ Getty Images

Non-Wedding Activities

You may have been seeing this a lot more at weddings. People are ditching the first dance, cake-cutting, and speeches. Some people are taking a didn't approach to the typical wedding program and stepping outside of the box. If you're more into the idea of having board games, forming your own newlywed band performance, or non-conventional forms of activities, you should go for it.

Married Couple Playing Table Football

Dziggyfoto/ Getty Images

Minimal Decor

One anti-wedding trend that could save you some coin is scaling back on decorations. There's always the pressure of making your wedding Instagram-worthy. But with anti-weddings, this isn't the case. Think low-key set-up with cozy seating with an at-home feel. Some people even go as far as not having chairs at their outdoor ceremony, trading them in for blankets.

Dining table in backyard at home. Cozy space in patio or balcony. Terrace outdoor with brick wall and plants, table and wooden bench. Garden in summer with patio, wooden garden furniture and barbecue

Тодорчук Екатерина/ Getty Images

The Chosen Ones Guest List

Keeping your guest list small is another anti-wedding trend to look into. Think about it, the more people mean a bigger venue, more food, higher costs, and higher expectations. A smaller wedding and reception makes it more intimate. It also gives you more options when it comes to budget.

A mature bride and groom toasting with guests at wedding reception outside in the backyard.

Halfpoint/ Getty Images

The Aisle Walk

Some people may dream of recreating the scene from Father of the Bride, but not the anti-bride. Anti-weddings often consist of walking down the aisle solo, with your pet, your mom, both parents, your soon-to-be Mr. or Mrs., or anyone other than your father. The big moment where you truly shine on your wedding day is your processional or the start of the ceremony. It’s the first time your guests and maybe even your soon-to-be spouse, will see you in your big-day attire. So, why not do it the way that you want?

Attractive young woman in wedding dress putting on sports shoes and smiling while sitting on the sofa

g-stockstudio/ Getty Images

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Mike O’Brian is the Program Director and Morning Show host on 96.3 KKLZ in Las Vegas, along with Carla Rea. He has been with the Beasley Media Group for almost 23 years. Mike was named one of the “Best Program Directors In America” by Radio Ink magazine. Over the years, “The Mike & Carla Morning Show” have been presented with a number of proclamations for their work in the community and numerous awards. Having lived in Las Vegas for over 35 years, he writes articles on living in Las Vegas, sports, and odd stories happening within the state of Nevada. Mike is the host of the morning show and program director of 96.3 KKLZ/Las Vegas. He has been doing mornings in Las Vegas for the past 38 years. Over the years, he has hosted a numerous amount of community events and has been the P.A. announcer for a number of sports teams in Las Vegas. He has written on living in Las Vegas, the sports teams here, as well as odd & little-known facts about Las Vegas & Nevada.